The Man and the Satyr.


[Illustration]

A Man and a Satyr once formed a bond of alliance. One very cold wintry
day, as they talked together, the Man put his fingers to his mouth and
blew on them. On the Satyr inquiring the reason, he told him that he did
it to warm his hands. Later on in the day they sat down to eat, the food
prepared being quite scalding. The Man raised one of his dishes towards
his mouth and blew in it. On the Satyr again inquiring the reason, he
said that he did it to cool the meat. "I can no longer consider you as
a friend," said the Satyr; "a fellow who with the same breath blows hot
and cold I could never trust."

A man who talks for both sides is not to be trusted by either.




The Oak and the Reeds.


[Illustration]

A very large Oak was uprooted by the wind, and thrown across a stream.
It fell among some Reeds, which it thus addressed: "I wonder how you,