TheFrogandtheOx
byAesop
“Oh,Father,”saidalittlefrogtothebigonesittingbythesideofapond,“Ihaveseensuchaterriblemonster!Itwasasbigasamountain,withhorns①onhishead,andalongtail,andithadhoofsdividedintwo②.
“Tush③,child,tush,”saidtheoldfrog,“thatwasonlythefamrer'sox.Itisn'tsobigeither,hemaybealittlebittallerthanI,butIcouldeasilymakemyselfquiteasbroad;justyouwatch.”Soheblewhimselfout,andblewhimselfout,andblewhimselfout.“Washeasbigasthat?”heasked.
“Oh,muchbiggerthanthat,”saidtheyoungfrog.
Againtheoldoneblewhimselfout,andaskedtheyoungoneiftheoxwasasbigasthat.
“Bigger,Father,bigger,”theyoungfrogreplied.
Sotheoldfrogtookadeep,deepbreath,andblewandblewandblew,andswelledandswelledandswelled.Andthenhesaidinastrained④voice:“I'msuretheoxisnotasbigas….”Butatthatmomentheburst.