There are some books I’ve been aware of since childhood; this is one of them. Recently, I asked myself if I could recall ever having read it from start to finish. So I gave it a try. These are charming tales, some of which suffer from overexposure. I was interested to see the fox featured in many of them, the relatively powerless creature who has to live by his wits. An appropriate stand-in for the fabulist and his listeners.
There are also many tales warning against the danger of trying to pass yourself off as something you’re not. I guess the big bluff is not only a modern plague.
The translation offered here is agreeably colloquial and appropriate for passing on these common-sense bits of folk wisdom. ( )

While scholars are uncertain about the identity of Aesop or whether he was even an actual person, there is no doubt that the stories originally collected under his name over 2,000 years ago in Greece are among the world's most beloved tales. Combining a moral lesson with an entertaining story, the fables still retain their power to charm and instruct.

Table of Contents:
The Ant and the Grasshopper
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
The Jackdaw and the Pigeons
The Belly and the Members
The Lion and the Four Bulls
The Goatherd and the She-Goat
The Fox and the Stork
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
The Cock and the Jewel
The Serpent and the Man
The Travelers and the Plane Tree
The Eagle and the Arrow
The Two Crabs
The Fox and the Woodman
The Lark and Her Young Ones
The Wolf and the Watchdog
The Dog and His Shadow
The Old Man, His Son and the Ass
The Fox and the Lion
The Leopard and the Fox
Minerva's Olive
The Countryman and the Snake
The Wolf and the Kid
The Young Mouse, the Cock and the Cat
The Vain Jackdaw
Belling the Cat
The Covetous Man
The One-Eyed Doe
The Cock and the Fox
The Hare and the Tortoise
Jupiter's Two Wallets
The Stag Looking into the Pool
The Old Woman and the Doctor
The Gnat and the Bull
The Boy and the Figs
Socrates and His Friends
The Wolf and the Ass
The Crow and the Pitcher
The Mule Laden with Corn and the Mule Laden with Gold
The Fox and the Goat
The Kid and the Wolf
The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg
Mercury and the Woodman
The Wolf and the Crane
The Boys and the Frogs
The Hare and the Hound
The Ape and the Dolphin
The Goat and the Lion
The Ploughman and Fortune
The Fox and the Ass
The Cats and the Mice
The Peacock and the Crane
The Man and the Lion
The Old Hound
The Two Travelers
The Ass and the Little Dog
The Fox and the Grapes
The Fox in the Well
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
The Hart and the Vine
The Sow and the Wolf
The Frog and the Ox
The Lion and the Mouse
The Stag and the Fawn
The Hen and the Fox
The Farmer and the Eagle
The Dove and the Ant
The Mischievous Dog
The Ass Laden with Salt and with Sponges
The Goatherd and the Goats
The Farmer and His Sons
The Horse and the Lion
The Ass, the Lion and the Cock
The Lion, the Tiger and the Fox
The Fortune-Teller
The Oak and the Reeds
The Fox and the Mask
The Sick Lion
Hercules and the Wagoner
The Travelers and the Bear
The Falconer and the Partridge
The Wind and the Sun
The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass
The Fox and the Crow
The Wanton Calf
The Old Man and His Sons
The Satyr and the Traveler
The Maid and the Pail of Milk
The Frogs Asking for a King
The Farmer and The Stork
The Dog in the Manger
The Boasting Traveler

3.5*

I liked these but you can only read a few at a time! The illustrations were worth having though the ones by Milo Winter (available online courtesy of the Library of Congress's edition of Aesop's Fables for Children) are much better.

I was surprised by how many common aphorisms were from these fables! ( )

Eis, na sua suma, 24 morais das efabulações de Esopo
(i) A roupa disfarça o tolo, mas suas palavras o denunciam.
(ii) Vale mais ser um pobre despreocupado do que um rico preocupado.
(iii) Vale mais aprender com o infortúnio alheio do que com o próprio.
(iv) Na hora crítica, até o forte precisa do fraco.
(v) É fácil sentir coragem quando a distância é segura.
(vi) As paixões, como o fogo e a água, são bons criados, porém mais patrões.
(vii) Não confies no conselho de um homem em dificuldades.
(viii) A persuasão é muitas vezes mais eficaz do que a força.
(ix) Quanto menor a mente, maior o conceito.
(x) Enforcamos o pequeno ladrão, mas nomeamos o grande para um cargo público.
(xi) Que cabeça esplêndida, só lhe falta um cérebro!
(xii) Coloca o teu ombro no volante.
(xiii) Os deuses ajudam a quem se ajuda.
(xiv) Contenta-te com teu lote; não podes ser o primeiro em tudo.
(xv) Sê miserável, prepara-te hoje para a miséria de amanhã.
(xvi) A união faz a força.
(xvi) Não percas o brilho agarrando-te à sombra.
(xvii) Muitas vezes ressentes-te do outro quando ele não te diverte.
(xviii) Emplumando a haste da flecha com uma pluma da própria águia, muitas vezes provemos o inimigo com o meio de nossa destruição.
(xix) Sem dúvida as uvas estão azedas.
(xx) A auto-estima pode levar à autodestruição.
(xxi) A intimidade é a mãe do desdém.
(xxii) Podes impressionar-te com a obra dos grandes, mas não partilharás do despojo dos grandes.
(xxiii) A lesão que provocamos e a que sofremos raramente são pesadas na mesma balança.
(xxiv) Unidos, de pé; divididos, caímos. ( )

Delightful morality tales that have stayed with me all of my life. ( )