Recording by Kristen Lemoine, greenkri.com. Aesop's Fables.The Old Woman and the Doctor
An old woman became almost totally blind from a disease of the eyes, and after consulting a doctor, made an agreement with him, in the presence of witnesses,that she should pay him a high fee if he cured her, while if he failed he was to receive nothing. The doctor accordingly prescribed a course of treatment, and every time he paid her a visit he took away with him some article out of the house, until at last, when he visited her for the last time, and the cure was complete, there was nothing left. When the old woman saw that the house was empty, she refused to pay him his fee, and after repeated refusals on her part, he sued her before the magistrates for payment of her debt. On being brought into court, she was ready with her defence. "The claimant", said she, "has stated the facts about our agreement correctly. I undertook to pay him a fee if he cured me, and he, on his part, promised to charge nothing if he failed. Now he says I am cured, but I say, that I am blinder than ever, and I can prove what I say. When my eyes were bad, I could at any rate see well enough to be aware that my house contained a certain amount of furniture, and other things. But now, when according to him I am cured, I am entirely unable to see anything there at all." End of The Old Woman and the Doctor.
Category : audio
RSS feed for this sectionThis category will contain audio resources for learning English.
Here you can listen to native English speakers using everyday words and phrases in English as a teaching tool.
The Mischievous Dog
Recording by Kristen Lemoine, greenkri.com. Aesop’s Fables. The Mischievous Dog There was once a dog who used to snap at people, and bite them, without any provocation, and who was a great nuisance to everyone who came to his master’s house. So his master fastened a bell round his neck to warn people of his […]
The Cat and the Mice
Recording by Kristen Lemoine, greenkri.com. Aesop’s Fables. The Cat and The Mice. There was once a house that was overrun with mice. A cat heard of this and said to herself “that’s the place for me”, and off she went, and took up her quarters in the house, and caught the mice, one by one, […]
The Fox & the Grapes
Aesop’s Fables. The Fox and The Grapes A hungry fox saw some fine bunches of grapes hanging from a vine that was trained along a high trellis… And did his best to reach them by jumping as high as he could into the air. But, it was all in vain, for they were just out […]
At the Library : conversation
This is a conversation between a young woman taveller, and a librarian, aimed at helping speakers of other languages learn English. He gives directions to local facilities and events.
The Lion and the Hare
A lion found a hare sleeping in her form [ ‘a shallow depression or flattened nest of grass’ ] , and was just going to devour her when he caught sight of a passing stag. Dropping the hare, he at once made for the bigger game, but finding, after a long chase, that he could […]
Buying Milk and Bread : conversation
Below is a typical conversation, using everyday English, in what we in New Zealand call ‘dairy’. An indecisive man is buying milk. And bread.
About Your University Study : conversation
This is a conversation between a young student and an older family member. The student has just started University in Auckland, New Zealand.
Directions to the bus-stop : conversation
Here a tourist asks a local ( person ) for directions to a bus-station. The local tells her about two bus stations, one which services inner-city patrons, and the other which services inter-city patrons.
The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs
This is the first of a series of Aesop’s Fables which will appear soon on the website.