Translate the following Aesop’s fables to Amharic
1. THE CAT AND THE BIRDS
A Cat was growing very thin. As you have guessed, he did not get enough to eat. One day he heard that
some Birds in the neighborhood were ailing and needed a doctor. So he put on a pair of spectacles, and
with a leather box in his hand, knocked at the door of the Bird's home. The Birds peeped out, and Dr.
Cat, with much solicitude, asked how they were. He would be very happy to give them some medicine.
"Tweet, tweet," laughed the Birds. "Very smart, aren't you? We are very well, thank you, and more so, if
you only keep away from here."
Theme: Be wise and shun the quack.
2. THE ANTS AND THE GRASSHOPPER
One bright day in late autumn a family of Ants were bustling about in the warm sunshine, drying out the
grain they had stored up during the summer, when a starving Grasshopper, his fiddle under his arm,
came up and humbly begged for a bite to eat. "What!" cried the Ants in surprise, "haven't you stored
anything away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last summer?" "I didn't have time to
store up any food," whined the Grasshopper; "I was so busy making music that before I knew it the
summer was gone." The Ants shrugged their shoulders in disgust. "Making music, were you?" they cried.
"Very well; now dance!" And they turned their backs on the Grasshopper and went on with their work.
Theme: There's a time for work and a time for play
3. THE BOYS AND THE FROGS
Some Boys were playing one day at the edge of a pond in which lived a family of Frogs. The Boys amused
themselves by throwing stones into the pond so as to make them skip on top of the water. The stones
were flying thick and fast and the Boys were enjoying themselves very much; but the poor Frogs in the
pond were trembling with fear. At last one of the Frogs, the oldest and bravest, put his head out of the
water, and said, "Oh, please, dear children, stop your cruel play! Though it may be fun for you, it means
death to us!"
Theme: Always stop to think whether your fun may not be the cause of another's unhappiness.
4. THE DOG AND HIS MASTER'S DINNER
A Dog had learned to carry his master's dinner to him every day. He was very faithful to his duty, though
the smell of the good things in the basket tempted him. The Dogs in the neighborhood noticed him
carrying the basket and soon discovered what was in it. They made several attempts to steal it from him.
But he always guarded it faithfully. Then one day all the Dogs in the neighborhood got together and met
him on his way with the basket. The Dog tried to run away from them. But at last he stopped to argue.
That was his mistake. They soon made him feel so ridiculous that he dropped the basket and seized a
large piece of roast meat intended for his master's dinner. "Very well," he said, "you divide the rest."
Theme: Do not stop to argue with temptation.
5. THE PLANE TREE
Two Travelers, walking in the noonday sun, sought the shade of a wide-spreading tree to rest. As they
lay looking up among the pleasant leaves, they saw that it was a Plane Tree. "How useless is the Plane!"
said one of them. "It bears no fruit whatever, and only serves to litter the ground with leaves."
"Ungrateful creatures!" said a voice from the Plane Tree. "You lie here in my cooling shade, and yet you
say I am useless! Thus ungratefully, O Jupiter, do men receive their blessings!" Our best blessings are
often the least appreciated.
Theme: Be wise and shun the quack.
6. THE DONKEY CARRYING THE IMAGE
A sacred Image was being carried to the temple. It was mounted on an Donkey adorned with garlands
and gorgeous trappings, and a grand procession of priests and pages followed it through the streets. As
the Donkey walked along, the people bowed their heads reverently or fell on their knees, and the
Donkey thought the honor was being paid to himself. With his head full of this foolish idea, he became
so puffed up with pride and vanity that he halted and started to bray loudly. But in the midst of his song,
his driver guessed what the Donkey had got into his head, and began to beat him unmercifully with a
stick. "Go along with you, you stupid Donkey," he cried. "The honor is not meant for you but for the
image you are carrying."
Theme: Do not try to take the credit to yourself that is due to others.
7. THE FARMER AND THE SNAKE
A Farmer walked through his field one cold winter morning. On the ground lay a Snake, stiff and frozen
with the cold. The Farmer knew how deadly the Snake could be, and yet he picked it up and put it in his
bosom to warm it back to life. The Snake soon revived, and when it had enough strength, bit the man
who had been so kind to it. The bite was deadly and the Farmer felt that he must die. As he drew his last
breath, he said to those standing around:
Theme: Learn from my fate not to take pity on a scoundrel.
8. THE FROGS AND THE OX
An Ox came down to a reedy pool to drink. As he splashed heavily into the water, he crushed a young
Frog into the mud. The old Frog soon missed the little one and asked his brothers and sisters what had
become of him. "A great big monster," said one of them, "stepped on little brother with one of his huge
feet!" "Big, was he!" said the old Frog, puffing herself up. "Was he as big as this?" "Oh, much bigger!"
they cried. The Frog puffed up still more. "He could not have been bigger than this," she said. But the
little Frogs all declared that the monster was much, much bigger and the old Frog kept puffing herself
out more and more until, all at once, she burst. Do not attempt the impossible.
9. THE LION AND THE DONKEY
One day as the Lion walked proudly down a forest aisle, and the animals respectfully made way for him,
an Donkey brayed a scornful remark as he passed. The Lion felt a flash of anger. But when he turned his
head and saw who had spoken, he walked quietly on. He would not honor the fool with even so much as
a stroke of his claws.
Theme: Do not resent the remarks of a fool. Ignore them.
10. THE WOLF AND HIS SHADOW
A Wolf left his lair one evening in fine spirits and an excellent appetite. As he ran, the setting sun cast his
shadow far out on the ground, and it looked as if the wolf were a hundred times bigger than he really
was. "Why," exclaimed the Wolf proudly, "see how big I am! Fancy me running away from a puny Lion!
I'll show him who is fit to be king, he or I." Just then an immense shadow blotted him out entirely, and
the next instant a Lion struck him down with a single blow.
Theme: Do not let your fancy make you forget realities.
