A fowler caught a partridge

For his evening meal

The partridge pleaded, “Spare me

I’ll make you a very good deal

I’ll bring you other partridges

If you show me mercy

Permit me to live now

And make this deal with me.”

The fowler replied, “I shall

Now take your life away

With less scruple because

Of what I heard you say

You want to make a deal

Where you will betray

All your friends and family

To save your wings of bay.”

Upon a horn of a bull

A gnat settled calm and cool

Sitting there he felt fine

He sat there for some time

As he was ’bout to fly

He gave the bull his goodbye

“About I am to fly away

Do you want me to stay?”

The bull replied, “I didn’t know

All along you’re with me so

Even if you bid me adieu

I shall not be missing you.”

A wolf once caught a lamb

And was taking it to his lair

When a lion saw him

And took the entire share

The wolf, angry but helpless

Cried, “This is just so wrong

You have taken what is mine

Just because you are strong.”

“Is this really yours?”

The lion laughed out loud

“Was the lamb a gift?

Or you snatched it from the crowd?”

A flea annoyed a man

But was caught by him at last

Who asked her to explain

Why she dared to have him harassed

The flea pleaded, “O’ dear Sir

Pray spare me, destroy me not

I cannot do you much harm

This life is all that I have got.”

“To me you are an evil,”

Spoke the man with determination

“Be it big, or be it small

You will meet your resolution.”

A lamb pursued by a wolf

Found refuge in a temple

She thought she’d stay there

For there was cover ample

The wolf called out to her

“You will be cut and sliced

If the priest finds you there

You will soon be sacrificed.”

The lamb replied to him

“‘Tis best for me this way

Than to die between your teeth

And serve as your buffet.”

A man took all his belongings

Then he had them sold

With the money that he got

Bought himself a lump of gold

…

This lump he went and buried

Outside in a little hole

Spent a too many visits

Like it was his soul

…

One of his cunning workmen

Found his little secret

Fled away with the lump of gold

And left his master bereft

…

A neighbour seeing him grieve

Said, “Just pick up a stone

Place it in the hole you dug

As if it’s the gold you own.

…

“You never meant to use the gold

So just pretend that it is there

The stone is as good as your lump

Stop tearing up your hair.”

A man was driving a wagon

Along a rough country lane

When the wheels sank in a rut

The driver cried out in pain

He went down on his knees

To beg and pray and plead

“Oh Hercules, please help me

Help me in my need.”

Hercules then did appear

Addressed the man as thus

“Put your shoulders to the wheel

And never again pray to us

Unless you have done your best

To help yourself and strain

Or depend upon it you

Will henceforth pray in vain.”

Once a crow, without a creak

Sat with fine cheese in his beak

On a stout branch of a tree

As happy as he could be

A clever fox was passing by

Worked his wits for he was sly

Thus he spoke, “O’ noble bird

For your charms I have no word

If only your voice was sweet

Your beauty would be complete.”

At this, the crow gave a caw

And the cheese fell in his paw

Off the fox went running by

“You have no voice nor wits to ply.”

There was once a hungry cat

Who had lost all of his fat

Several days without a mouse

So he went and found a house

Overrun with big fat mice

He didn’t have to think that twice

He went and ate them one by one

And he had a lot of fun

Then the mice took out a poll

Went and hid inside a hole

Then they didn’t come out at all

The hungry cat then took a call

A genius idea struck his head

He lied down and acted dead

Thinking it would coax the mice

To come out and steal the rice

But the mice had a clever air

They spoke to their foe lying there

“Your evil intents once kicked us

Your innocence now won’t trick us.”