I'm going to try to blog 5 fables every day here and see how that goes! So.... here are the first 5 fables. These all come from Sir Roger L'Estrange's Fables of Aesop and Other Eminent Mythologists, a 17th-century Aesop book that is my go-to resource for English fables. It contains 500 fables, and I know that many of them will end up being included in my book. Here are a few to get us started:
A Nightingale and a Hawk.
As a Nightingale was Singing in a Bush, down comes a Rascally Kite of a Sparrow-Hawk, and whips her off the Bough: The Poor Wretch pleaded for her self, that alas! her Little Carcass was not worth the while, and that there were bigger Birds enough to be found. Well, says the Hawk, but am I so mad, d'ye think. as to part with a Little Bird that I have, for a Great One that I have not? Why then, says she, I'll give you a delicate Song for my Life: No, no, says the Hawk, I want for my Belly, not for my Ears.
A Bird in the Hand is worth Two in the Bush.
A Country-Fellow and a River.
A Blockheaded-Boy that was sent to Market with Butter and Cheese by the Good Old Woman his Mother, made a stop at a Quick River in the way, and laid himself down upon the Bank there, till it should run out. About Midnight, Home he goes to his Mother, with all his Market-Trade back again. Why how now Son, says She, what have we here to do! Why Mother, says this Booby, yonder's a Scurvy River that has been running all this day, and I staid till just now for the Running of it out, and there 'tis Running still. The Lord help thee Son, says the Good Woman, for thy Head and mine will be laid many a Fair Day before this River runs Dry.
A Boar and a Fox.
As a Boar was whetting his Teeth against a Tree, up comes a Fox to him. Pray, what do you mean by That? (says he) for I see no occasion for't. Well, says the Boar, but I do; for when I come once to be set upon, 'twill be too late for me to be Whetting when I should be Fighting.
Jupiter and a Farmer.
Jupiter had a Farm a long time upon his hand, for want of a Tenant to come up to his Price, 'till a Bold Fellow at last was content to Take it, upon Condition that he Himself might have the Ordering of the Air and the Seasons, as he thought fit. So Jupiter Covenanted with him, that it should be Hot or Cold, Wet or Dry, Calm or Windy, as the Tenant should Direct. In Conclusion, this Man had effectually a Climate of his own, that his very next Neighbours felt nothing of: And it was well they did not; for when they had a Plentiful Harvest and Vintage, the Farmer himself had hardly any Corn of Grass upon his Ground. He took other Measure the Year following, which (as it fell out) prov'd the more Unkindly of the Two. He held on however, till he was upon the very Point of Breaking; and when it came to that once, he was e'ev glad to Petition Jupiter to Release him of his Bargain; for he was now Convinc'd, that Providence knows Better what is good for us, then we know what is good for our Selves.
A Wolf turn'd Shepherd.
There was a Crafty Wolf that Dress'd himself up like a Shepherd, with his Crook, and all his Trade about him, to the very Pipe and Posture. This Masquerade succeeded so well with him, that in the Dead of the Night once, when the Men and their Dogs were all fast Asleep, he would be offering at the Shepherd's Voice and Call too: But there was somewhat of a howle in the Tone, that the Country presently took an Alarm at, and so they fell in upon him in his Disguise; when he was so Shackled and Hamper'd, that he could neither Fight nor Fly.
'Tis the highest Pitch of a Public Calamity, when the People are Worry'd and Seduc'd by those that should Protect and instruct them. No Impostor is so Exquisite, as not to lye open some way or other to a Discovery.
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