Cuentos cortos
Fábulas y cuentos de dominio público —Esopo, La Fontaine, Jataka— para leer en dos minutos. Publicamos uno o dos nuevos cada día. 62 disponibles.
The Sick Kite
A KITE, sick unto death, said to his mother: “O Mother! do not mourn, but at once invoke the gods that my life may be prolonged.” She replied, “Alas! my son, wh… leer →
The Cat and the Cock
A CAT caught a Cock, and pondered how he might find a reasonable excuse for eating him. He accused him of being a nuisance to men by crowing in the nighttime an… leer →
The Mountain In Labour
A mountain was in travail pang; The country with her clamour rang. Out ran the people all, to see, Supposing that the birth would be … leer →
The Fox and the Grapes
A FAMISHED FOX saw some clusters of ripe black grapes hanging from a trellised vine. She resorted to all her tricks to get at them, but wearied herself in vain,… leer →
The Swan And The Cook
The pleasures of a poultry yard Were by a swan and gosling shared. The swan was kept there for his looks, The thrifty gosling for the cooks; The first t… leer →
Why The Juniper Has Berries
Three cranberries once lived together in a meadow. They were sisters, but they did not look alike, for one was white, and one was red, and one was green. Winter… leer →
The Frogs Asking A King
A certain commonwealth aquatic, Grown tired of order democratic, By clamouring in the ears of Jove, effected Its being to a monarch's power subjected. … leer →
How The Blossoms Came To The Heather
Only a little while after the earth was made, the trees and plants came to live on it. They were happy and contented. The lily was glad because her flowers were… leer →
The Wise Servant
How fortunate is the master, and how well all goes in his house, when he has a wise servant who listens to his orders and does not obey them, but prefers follow… leer →
The Fox and the Drum
It is related that a Fox was once prowling over a moor, and was roaming in every direction in hope of scenting food. Presently he came to the foot of a tree, a… leer →
The Lion And The Gnat
'Go, paltry insect, nature's meanest brat!' Thus said the royal lion to the gnat. The gnat declared immediate war. 'Think you,' said he, 'your roy… leer →
Los Dos Perros
A MAN had two dogs: a Hound, trained to assist him in his sports, and a Housedog, taught to watch the house. When he returned home after a good day’s sport, he … leer →
First Version
THERE was once an old fox with nine tails, who wished to put his wife's affection to proof, pretended to be dead, and stretched himself under the bench quite st… leer →
THE WONDERFUL STORY
"Ah, little mother, little mother, come, tell me a pretty fairy tale!" "Well, would you like to hear the story of the Black Bear and the Ram? It is a very sad … leer →
El Zorro Con Su Caudal Cortado
A cunning old fox, of plundering habits, Great crauncher of fowls, great catcher of rabbits, Whom none of his sort had caught in a nap, Was finally caught… leer →
Cogia borrowed a cauldron of a brazier, and carrying it…
One day the Cogia borrowed a cauldron of a brazier, and carrying it home, put a little saucepan into it, and then carrying it back, returned it to its owner. Th… leer →
One of them answered and said: "Be not offended at what you…
One of them answered and said: "Be not offended at what you have heard, for some days back a thief joined us in the garb of a dervish, and strung himself upon t… leer →
El Perro y la Ostra
A DOG, used to eating eggs, saw an Oyster and, opening his mouth to its widest extent, swallowed it down with the utmost relish, supposing it to be an egg. Soon… leer →
The Horseshoe Nails
I A blacksmith was shoeing a horse. "Shoe him quickly, for the king wishes to ride him to battle," said the groom who had brought him. "Do you think there wi… leer →
The Quail and the Falcon
There once was a young Quail that lived on a farm. When the farmer ploughed up the land, Quailie used to hop about over the clods and pick up seeds, or weeds, o… leer →
The Gnat and the Lion
A GNAT came and said to a Lion, “I do not in the least fear you, nor are you stronger than I am. For in what does your strength consist? You can scratch with yo… leer →
The Fox and the Monkey
A MONKEY once danced in an assembly of the Beasts, and so pleased them all by his performance that they elected him their King. A Fox, envying him the honour, d… leer →
Tit for Tat
There had been a great famine in the land for many months. Meat had become so scarce that only the rich chiefs had money enough to buy it. The poor people were … leer →
Tenth Evening
"I knew an old maid," said the Moon. "Every winter she wore a wrapper of yellow satin, and it always remained new, and was the only fashion she followed. In sum… leer →
The Peasant and the Devil
There was once on a time a far-sighted, crafty peasant whose tricks were much talked about. The best story is, however, how he once got hold of the Devil, and m… leer →
A chariot departed for the Castle of Siouri.
One day a chariot departed for the Castle of Siouri. The Cogia also set off for that place, running quite naked. The drivers, on arriving at the town, having gi… leer →
He Never Smiled Again
The bark that held the prince went down, The sweeping waves rolled on; And what was England's glorious crown To him that wept a son? He live… leer →
The Ass and His Purchaser
A MAN wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed with its owner that he should try out the animal before he bought him. He took the Ass home and put him in the straw… leer →
The Sprightly Tailor
A sprightly tailor was employed by the great Macdonald, in his castle at Saddell, in order to make the laird a pair of trews, used in olden time. And trews bein… leer →
Nasr Eddin Efendi had two daughters.
Nasr Eddin Efendi had two daughters. One day the two coming to see their father, the Cogia said to them, 'Well, daughters, how do things go on with you?' Now, t… leer →
The Woodpecker and the Lion
One day while a Lion was eating his dinner a bone stuck in his throat. It hurt so that he could not finish his dinner. He walked up and down, up and down, roari… leer →
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A pedestrian, naked from head to foot, left Cufah with the caravan of pilgrims for Hijaz, or Mecca, and came along with us. I looked at and saw him destitute of… leer →
Yang Oerlang
The second daughter of the Ruler of Heaven once came down upon the earth and secretly became the wife of a mortal man named Yang. And when she returned to Heave… leer →
El Zorro y el Mora
A FOX swimming across a rapid river was carried by the force of the current into a very deep ravine, where he lay for a long time very much bruised, sick, and u… leer →
The Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour by Itself
There had been another great famine throughout the land. The villagers looked thin and pale for lack of food. Only one family appeared healthy and well. This wa… leer →
The Shepherd of Myddvai
Up in the Black Mountains in Caermarthenshire lies the lake known as Lyn y Van Vach. To the margin of this lake the shepherd of Myddvai once led his lambs, and … leer →
Why The Peetweet Cries For Rain
"Come to me, every bird that flies," said the Great Father. "There is work to be done that only my birds can do." The birds were happy that they could do somet… leer →
El Asno, el Gallo y el León
AN ASS and a Cock were in a straw-yard together when a Lion, desperate from hunger, approached the spot. He was about to spring upon the Ass, when the Cock (to … leer →
The Man of Luck and the Man of Pluck
A King in the East said to his Minister; "Do you believe in luck?" "I do," said the Minister. "Can you prove it?" said the King. "Yes, I can," said the Minis… leer →
El Rincón Cuac
A FROG once upon a time came forth from his home in the marsh and proclaimed to all the beasts that he was a learned physician, skilled in the use of drugs and … leer →
Teeny-Tiny
Once upon a time there was a teeny-tiny woman lived in a teeny-tiny house in a teeny-tiny village. Now, one day this teeny-tiny woman put on her teeny-tiny bonn… leer →
The Tortoise and the Eagle
A TORTOISE, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the sea-birds of her hard fate, that no one would teach her to fly. An Eagle, hovering near, heard her lame… leer →
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A person coming to Nasr Eddin Efendi, requested him to let him have a rope. The Cogia went into his house, and coming out again, said, 'The rope is striking ten… leer →
El Arquero y el León
A VERY SKILLFUL BOWMAN went to the mountains in search of game, but all the beasts of the forest fled at his approach. The Lion alone challenged him to combat. … leer →
Why the Leopard Can Only Catch Prey on Its Left Side
At one time leopards did not know how to catch animals for food. Knowing that the cat as very skilful in this way, Leopard one day went to Cat and asked very po… leer →
The Three Evils
Once upon a time, in the old days, there lived a young man by the name of Dschou Tschu. He was of more than ordinary strength, and no one could withstand him. H… leer →
The Spirit of the Wu-Lian Mountain
To the west of the gulf of Kiautschou is the Wu-Lian Mountain, where there are many spirits. Once upon a time a scholar who lived there was sitting up late at n… leer →
The Bear And The Two Companions
Two fellows, needing funds, and bold, A bearskin to a furrier sold, Of which the bear was living still, But which they presently would kill-- … leer →
The Lion And The Ass Hunting
The king of animals, with royal grace, Would celebrate his birthday in the chase. 'Twas not with bow and arrows, To slay some wretched sparrows;… leer →
The Story Of The First Woodpecker
In the days of long ago the Great Spirit came down from the sky and talked with men. Once as he went up and down the earth, he came to the wigwam of a woman. He… leer →
Nineteenth Evening
"I come from Rome," said the Moon. "In the midst of the city, upon one of the seven hills, lie the ruins of the imperial palace. The wild fig tree grows in the … leer →
TRINITY-MONDAY
You would hardly know the village. As you looked down the street it would seem as if a forest of tall masts and poles had suddenly sprung up. Before every house… leer →
THE DISAPPOINTED BEAR
Once upon a time a little old woman, who was walking in the forest, climbed up into a wild-cherry tree to gather cherries. Now a Bear espied her, and he came un… leer →
Cogia's wife, having washed the Cogia's kaftan, hung it…
One day the Cogia's wife, having washed the Cogia's kaftan, hung it upon a tree to dry; the Cogia going out saw, as he supposed, a man standing in the tree with… leer →
El Águila y Su Captor
AN EAGLE was once captured by a man, who immediately clipped his wings and put him into his poultry-yard with the other birds, at which treatment the Eagle was … leer →
El Cordero Enfermo
A SICK STAG lay down in a quiet corner of its pasture-ground. His companions came in great numbers to inquire after his health, and each one helped himself to a… leer →
The Sagacious Monkey and the Boar
Long, long ago, there lived in the province of Shinshin in Japan, a traveling monkey-man, who earned his living by taking round a monkey and showing off the ani… leer →
The Boy And The Schoolmaster
Wise counsel is not always wise, As this my tale exemplifies. A boy, that frolick'd on the banks of Seine, Fell in, and would have found a watery grave,… leer →
The Fox and the Geese
The fox once came to a meadow in which was a flock of fine fat geese, on which he smiled and said, “I come in the nick of time, you are sitting together quite b… leer →
The Pious Wolf
Once there was a flood, and there was a large rock with a Wolf sleeping on the top. The water came pouring around the rock, and when the Wolf awoke he found him… leer →