OOTM Aesop classics

These are the fables for he "Aesops Classic Gone Viral" OOTM long term project (2015-2016)
These were sourced from Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/21/21-h/21-h.htm

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The Bear and the Two Travelers
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TWO MEN were traveling together, when a Bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them 
climbed up quickly into a tree and concealed himself in the branches. The other, seeing that 
he must be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and when the Bear came up and felt him with 
his snout, and smelt him all over, he held his breath, and feigned the appearance of death 
as much as he could. The Bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch a dead body. 
When he was quite gone, the other Traveler descended from the tree, and jocularly inquired 
of his friend what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear. "He gave me this advice," his 
companion replied. "Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger."

Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.

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The Mischievous Dog
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A DOG used to run up quietly to the heels of everyone he met, and to bite them without 
notice. His master suspended a bell about his neck so that the Dog might give notice 
of his presence wherever he went. Thinking it a mark of distinction, the Dog grew proud 
of his bell and went tinkling it all over the marketplace. One day an old hound said 
to him: "Why do you make such an exhibition of yourself? That bell that you carry is 
not, believe me, any order of merit, but on the contrary a mark of disgrace, a public 
notice to all men to avoid you as an ill mannered dog."

Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.

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The Donkey and His Purchaser (NB: I replaced "Ass" with "Donkey" but made no other modification)
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A MAN wished to purchase an Donkey, and agreed with its owner that he should try out 
the animal before he bought him. He took the Donkey home and put him in the straw-yard 
with his other Donkeys, upon which the new animal left all the others and at once 
joined the one that was most idle and the greatest eater of them all. Seeing this, 
the man put a halter on him and led him back to his owner. On being asked how, in so 
short a time, he could have made a trial of him, he answered, "I do not need a trial; 
I know that he will be just the same as the one he chose for his companion."

A man is known by the company he keeps.

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The Dog in the Manger
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A DOG lay in a manger, and by his growling and snapping prevented the oxen from 
eating the hay which had been placed for them. "What a selfish Dog!" said one of 
them to his companions; "he cannot eat the hay himself, and yet refuses to 
allow those to eat who can."

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The Hawk, the Kite, and the Pigeons
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THE PIGEONS, terrified by the appearance of a Kite, called upon the Hawk to 
defend them. He at once consented. When they had admitted him into the cote, they 
found that he made more havoc and slew a larger number of them in one day than 
the Kite could pounce upon in a whole year.

Avoid a remedy that is worse than the disease.

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Hercules and the Wagoner
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A CARTER was driving a wagon along a country lane, when the wheels sank down deep 
into a rut. The rustic driver, stupefied and aghast, stood looking at the wagon, 
and did nothing but utter loud cries to Hercules to come and help him. Hercules, 
it is said, appeared and thus addressed him: "Put your shoulders to the wheels, 
my man. Goad on your bullocks, and never more pray to me for help, until you have 
done your best to help yourself, or depend upon it you will henceforth pray in vain."

Self-help is the best help.

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The Boy and the Nettles
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A BOY was stung by a Nettle. He ran home and told his Mother, saying, "Although 
it hurts me very much, I only touched it gently." "That was just why it stung you," 
said his Mother. "The next time you touch a Nettle, grasp it boldly, and it will 
be soft as silk to your hand, and not in the least hurt you."

Whatever you do, do with all your might.

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The Fox and the Grapes
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A FAMISHED FOX saw some clusters of ripe black grapes hanging from a trellised vine. 
She resorted to all her tricks to get at them, but wearied herself in vain, for she 
could not reach them. At last she turned away, hiding her disappointment and saying: 
"The Grapes are sour, and not ripe as I thought."

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The Dogs and the Fox
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SOME DOGS, finding the skin of a lion, began to tear it in pieces with their teeth. 
A Fox, seeing them, said, "If this lion were alive, you would soon find out that his 
claws were stronger than your teeth."

It is easy to kick a man that is down.

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The Thief and the Innkeeper
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A THIEF hired a room in a tavern and stayed a while in the hope of stealing something 
which should enable him to pay his reckoning. When he had waited some days in vain, he 
saw the Innkeeper dressed in a new and handsome coat and sitting before his door. The 
Thief sat down beside him and talked with him. As the conversation began to flag, the 
Thief yawned terribly and at the same time howled like a wolf. The Innkeeper said, 
"Why do you howl so fearfully?" "I will tell you," said the Thief, "but first let me 
ask you to hold my clothes, or I shall tear them to pieces. I know not, sir, when I 
got this habit of yawning, nor whether these attacks of howling were inflicted on me 
as a judgment for my crimes, or for any other cause; but this I do know, that when I 
yawn for the third time, I actually turn into a wolf and attack men." With this speech 
he commenced a second fit of yawning and again howled like a wolf, as he had at first. 
The Innkeeper, hearing his tale and believing what he said, became greatly alarmed 
and, rising from his seat, attempted to run away. The Thief laid hold of his coat and 
entreated him to stop, saying, "Pray wait, sir, and hold my clothes, or I shall tear 
them to pieces in my fury, when I turn into a wolf." At the same moment he yawned the 
third time and set up a terrible howl. The Innkeeper, frightened lest he should be 
attacked, left his new coat in the Thief's hand and ran as fast as he could into the 
inn for safety. The Thief made off with the coat and did not return again to the inn.

Every tale is not to be believed.