The Farmer and the Dogs

A Farmer, during a severe winter, being shut up by the snow in his farm-house, and sharply pressed for food, which he was unable to get about to procure, began consuming his own sheep. As the hard weather continued, he next ate up his goats. And at last-for there was no break in the weather-he betook himself to the plough-oxen. Upon this, the Dogs said to one another, "Let us be off; for since the master, as we see, has had no pity on the working oxen, how is it likely he will spare us?" When our neighbour's house is on fire, it is time to look to our own.