THE HORSE AND THE STAG
A Horse had the whole range of a meadow to himself; but a Stag coming and damaging the pasture, the Horse, anxious to have his revenge, asked a Man if he could not assist him in punishing the Stag.
“Yes,” said the Man, “only let me put a bit in your mouth, and get upon your back, and I will find the weapons.”
The Horse agreed, and the Man mounted accordingly; but instead of getting his revenge, the Horse has been from that time forward the slave of Man.
Revenge is too dearly purchased at the price of liberty.
Story Title: The Horse and the Stag
Book Title: Aesop's Fables: A new version
Author: Thomas James
Published: 1848
Rights: CC0 Public Domain
Online Source: Aesop's Books
Process: Light editing for punctuation and paragraphing.
Additional Notes: Here are more versions of the story, and more illustrations; it is classified as Perry 269.
