Aesop's Phrases

The Milk-Woman and Her Pail. 122 by Townsend.

A FARMER'S daughter was carrying her Pail of milk from the field to the farmhouse, when she fell a-musing. "The money for which this milk will be sold, will buy at least three hundred eggs. The eggs, allowing for all mishaps, will produce two hundred and fifty chickens. The chickens will become ready for the market when poultry will fetch the highest price, so that by the end of the year I shall have money enough from my share to buy a new gown. In this dress I will go to the Christmas parties, where all the young fellows will propose to me, but I will toss my head and refuse them every one." At this moment she tossed her head in unison with her thoughts, when down fell the milk pail to the ground, and all her imaginary schemes perished in a moment.

Laf7.9, Jacobs76, CS106 , TMI J2060.1.1. J2061.2 Type1430, 1430A
Grimm's Tales KHM164
This fable is from India. Pancatantr 5.9, Hitopadesa 4.4, Kalila and Dimna (adapted in Arabian)

The Day-dreaming Brahmin. (Pancatantra 5.9)

quotation from http://www.urday.com/fifthtantra4.htm

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Once upon a time there lived a Brahmin who was very miser in nature. He used to collect whatever he got as alms in an earthern pot and kept that earthern pot hanging right over his bed. He also used to guard that pot jealously.

One night, while lying on his bed he thought -

'If there occurs a famine in this city, I would sell my grains at a high price. With that money I would purchase many goats. After selling the goats I would purchase cows. After selling the cow I would purchase buffaloes. After selling the buffaloes, I would purchase mares. They will certainly litter many colts and finnies which will grow into horses and mares. Then I would sell them and purchase gold. I would then have my own house and get married with an extremely pretty woman.'

'After marriage I would become a proud father of a son. I would name my son as Somsharma. When Somsharma starts crawling, I would sit in a stable with a book in my hand to test his intelligence. After seeing me sitting in the stable, Somsharma would try to crawl near me.'

'I would order my wife to hold Somsharma, but because of many household chores, she would not listen to me. I would then kick her.'

Thinking like that the Brahmin kicked the earthern pot and the pot broke into pieces shattering all his dreams into bits.

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