FAVOURITE FABLES. 103

work, and with his sharp little teeth gnawing asunder the
knots and fastenings of the toils, set the royal brute at
liberty.

MORAL.

There is none so little, but that even the greatest may at
some time or other stand in need of his assistance.

———()

 

FABLE LXXIV.
THE TRUMPETER TAKEN PRISONER.

A TRUMPETER, being taken prisoner in a battle, begged
hard for quarter, declaring his innocence, and protesting that
he neither had nor could kill any man, bearing no arms but
only a trumpet, which he was obliged to sound at the word of
command. “For that reason,’’ replied his enemies, ‘‘ we are
determined not to spare you; for though you yourself never
fight, yet with that wicked instrument of yours, you blow up
animosity between other people, and so become the occasion
of much bloodshed.” .

MORAL.

The hand may rest quiet by the side, and yet the tongue
be the means of doing more injury than a thousand hands.