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The World’s Wit and Humor: An Encyclopedia in 15 Volumes. 1906.

Æsop (c. 620–560 B.C.) (attributed)

The Frog and the Ox

ONCE on a time a frog espied an ox in a meadow, and, moved with envy at his vast bulk, puffed out her wrinkled skin, and then asked her young ones whether she was bigger than the ox. They said “No.” Again, with still greater efforts, she distended her skin, and in like manner inquired which was the bigger. They said, “The ox.” At last, full of indignation, she tried to puff herself out with all her might, and burst her body on the spot.

The obscure man comes to ruin through trying to imitate the great.