Page:Fables of Aesop.pdf/17

 As a Waggoner was driving his team, his waggon wheels sunk into a hole, and stuck fast. The poor man immediately fell upon his knees, and prayed to Hercules that he would help him to get his waggon out of the hole again. Hercules, hearing his solicittion, gave him the following answer: ‘Thou fool, if thou wouldst whip thy horses, and put forth thine own exertions by setting thy shoulders to the wheels, thou mightest help thyself; but if thou art really unable, then call upon Hercules, he will help thee.Lazy wishes never do a man any service.A tall Fir Tree that stood towering up in the midst of the forest, was so proud of his dignity, that he overlooked the little shrubs that grew beneath him. A Bramble desired to know what he meant by such haughty conduct? ‘Because,’ says the Fir Tree, ‘I think myself the first tree, for beauty and rank, of any in the forest.’ ‘This may be true,’ replied the bramble, ‘but when the woodman has marked you out for public use, and the axe is at your root, I am mistaken if you would not change condition with the worst of us.'Self-conceit is ridiculous, and seldom escapes being exposed.