Pronunciation dialect: Canadian English.
O/S: Debian Squeeze.
Audio Processing: no.
Copyright (C) 2012 [Brenda J. Butler]
These files are free software; you can redistribute them and/or
modify them under the terms of the GNU General Public License
as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 3
of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
These files are distributed in the hope that they will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
GNU General Public License for more details.
vf31-01 No sooner said than done the two mice set off for the town
vf31-02 and arrived at the Town Mouse's residence late at night.
vf31-03 You will want some refreshment after our long journey,
vf31-04 said the polite Town Mouse, and took his friend into the grand dining-room.
vf31-05 There they found the remains of a fine feast,
vf31-06 and soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes and all that was nice.
vf31-07 Suddenly they heard growling and barking.
vf31-08 What is that? said the Country Mouse.
vf31-09 It is only the dogs of the house, answered the other.
vf31-10 Only! said the Country Mouse. I do not like that music at my dinner.
vf31-11 Just at that moment the door flew open, in came two huge mastiffs,
vf31-12 and the two mice had to scamper down and run off.
vf31-13 Good-bye, Cousin, said the Country Mouse, What! going so soon?
vf31-14 said the other. Yes, he replied; Better beans and bacon in peace
vf31-15 than cakes and ale in fear
vf31-16 a Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese
vf31-17 in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree.
vf31-18 That's for me, as I am a Fox, said Master Reynard,
vf31-19 and he walked up to the foot of the tree.
vf31-20 Good-day, Mistress Crow, he cried.
vf31-21 How well you are looking to-day how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye.
vf31-22 I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does;
vf31-23 let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds.
vf31-24 The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best,
vf31-25 but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground,
vf31-26 only to be snapped up by Master Fox.
vf31-27 That will do, said he. That was all I wanted.
vf31-28 In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future.
vf31-29 Do not trust flatterers
vf31-30 a Lion had come to the end of his days and lay sick unto death
vf31-31 at the mouth of his cave, gasping for breath.
vf31-32 The animals, his subjects, came round him and drew nearer
vf31-33 as he grew more and more helpless.
vf31-34 When they saw him on the point of death they thought to themselves
vf31-35 Now is the time to pay off old grudges.
vf31-36 So the Boar came up and drove at him with his tusks;
vf31-37 then a Bull gored him with his horns;
vf31-38 still the Lion lay helpless before them
vf31-39 so the Ass, feeling quite safe from danger,
vf31-40 came up, and turning his tail to the Lion
vf31-41 kicked up his heels into his face.
vf31-42 This is a double death, growled the Lion.
vf31-43 Only cowards insult dying majesty