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 Rh How many Geese there are, without wings, who, because of similar pretentions become a laughing stock to their neighbours.

(Lessing, Fables, Book I, No. 14. Translated by G. Moir Bussey.

THE OAK AND THE PIG

GLUTTONOUS Pig was feeding beneath a lofty Oak tree, upon the fallen acorns. Even while he ate one acorn, he was already casting a greedy eye upon another.

"Ungrateful beast!" at length exclaimed the Oak, "you fatten yourself upon my fruit without bestowing a single thought of gratitude upon the source of it.

The Pig, interrupting his feeding for a moment, grunted in reply: "My grateful regards should not be wanting, if only I could feel sure that you had let your acorns fall on my account."

(Lessing, Fables, Book I, No. 15. Translated by G. Moir Bussey.)

THE SPARROWS

HERE was once an ancient church in the chinks and crannies of which the Sparrows had built countless nests. In the course of time this old church was repaired. As it stood in all the lustre of its new stone and plaster, the Sparrows returned to look for their old homes; but they found that these had all been carefully bricked up. "Of what earthly use," cried the Sparrows, "can so large a building now be? Come, let us leave this useless pile of stone to its fate!"

(Lessing, Fables, Book I, No. 17. Translated by G. Moir Bussey.)