Jonathan Birch (1)

Here are some stories from Jonathan Birch's 51 Original Fables, published in 1833, with illustrations by Robert Cruikshank. You can find out more about Jonathan Birch at Wikipedia. He is best known as a translator from German, and he also did an emblem book, also illustrated by Cruikshank.

The Palfrey and the Old Horse

A pampered Palfrey, not having been saddled for many days, was turned into the yard for exercise, but finding the gate ajar he got on to the highway, and strayed about until he came to the village-pound, in which was confined an old half-starved Horse; the latter earnestly besought him to step back to his abode of plenty and fetch him a mouthful of hay, alleging that the pound-keeper had neglected to bring him his scanty pittance of provender for two days. 

"Not I!" said the Palfiey. "You but receive the just reward of your thievery and trespassing. It would be abetting you in your crimes were I to do as you wish; besides it would be robbing my mistress! I'd have you to know, Sirrah, that I am scrupulously honest."

"Alas!" replied the old worn-out Stager; "to reprimand is easy; and it is but too common to be haughty in affluence, and vain of untried virtues; you have never felt the pangs of hunger!"

The Bee, the Spider, and the Tomtit 

A Tomtit, who had listened for some considerable time to a conversation between a Spider and a Bee, relative to the skill and mathematical knowledge displayed in the construction of their web and comb, fancied he could take a part, in equally erudite terms: so down he flew, thinking to silence and astonish them by discussing the superior merits of his nest. "I have overheard you," said he, "disputing a length of time about the lines and proportions of your worthless webs and combs, without so much as once mentioning my inimitable habitation. What are they when compared with the delicate skill, just assortment of material, and glowing warmth displayed in the fabrication of my nest? There you have Mathematics, if you please!"

The Spider and Bee stared with astonishment, and at length burst very unceremoniously into a laugh, which so nettled the Tomtit that he quickly took to his tree again.   

The Monkey and the Wasp 

A Monkey, whilst munching a ripe pear, was pestered by the bare-faced importunities of a Wasp, who, nolens volens, would have a part. After threatening the Monkey with his anger if he further hesitated to submit to his demand, he settled on the fruit; but was as soon knocked off by the Monkey. 

The irritable Wasp now had recourse to invective, and, after using the most insulting language (which the other calmly listened to), he so worked himself up into violent passion that, losing all consideration of the penalty, he flew to the face of the Monkey, and stung him with such rage that he was unable to extricate his weapon, and was compelled to tear himself away, leaving it in the wound thus entailing on himself a lingering death, accompanied by pains much greater than those he had inflicted.

The Stork and Jupiter

A young stork, who was bearing his aged sire to a distant wilderness, espied a company of sportsmen dispersed over the field in search of game; too fatigued to soar to any height, he preferred a hasty prayer to Jupiter, that "in the execution of his filial duties, he would shield them from harm!" 

Jupiter instantaneously commanded a thick cloud to envelop them until they were out of danger.

The Hog and the Goat 

"Good morning to ye," said a goat sarcastically to an enormous hog destined by the farmer to obtain the "prize," and whom he had known when only a curly tailed grunter. "Methinks, our master is killing you with kindness; surely you cannot feel comfortable under so great a load of flesh and fat: are you not dreadfully troubled with dyspepsia?"

"I am," replied he.

"If so," said the goat, "then tell me, thou beautiful piece of rotundity, what (being so circumstanced) can induce you to go on thus gluttonizing!" 

"Am I not admired, you fool?" grunted the hog.