Bennett (1)

Here are some fables from Charles H. Bennett's book The Fables of Aesop and Others Translated Into Human Nature, which is most remarkable for its illustrations, also by Bennett. You can find the book at the Internet Archive, and there is also an edition with colored illustrations at Hathi Trust.

THE WOLVES AND THE SICK ASS

These were certain hungry carrion-hunting Wolves, who, in a qualm of wonderful charity, paid a visit to a fat old Ass, who lay ill of a bean-surfeit, and was like to die.

"Pray, my good friend," said they, after many protestations of regard, "whereabouts is your greatest pain?"

"Oh, gently! gently!" replied the Ass, as they proceeded to feel his pulse, "for it pricks me just there, where you lay your fingers."

MORAL. The kindness of a legacy-hunter is apt to be killing. 

THE LION AND THE GNAT

As a great majestic Lion was gathering himself up within his lair, to astonish mankind with the wondrous powers of his roar, there came buzzing under his very nose a troublesome Gnat, who challenged him to combat.

"What avail your tremendous lungs and cavernous throat, compared to the melodious pipes of my little organ? And, as for your strength, endurance, and resolution, I defy you to put that point to an issue at once."

The Lion, finding the insect would not be brushed away, was fain to accept the challenge; so to it they went. But the Lion had no chance, for the Gnat charged direct into the drum of the Lion's ear, and there twinged him until in very despair he tore himself with his own paws. In the end the Gnat gained the victory over the noble beast, upon which he flew away, but had the misfortune afterwards in his flight to strike into a Cobweb, where he, the conqueror, fell a prey to a large Blue-bottle Spider.

MORAL. Little miseries are the greatest torments. 

THE DOG AND THE WOLF

There was a gaunt, ragged, gipsy of a Wolf who fell into company with a sleek jolly Dog belonging to the spaniel tribe, on the King's highway. The Wolf was wonderfully pleased with his companion, and was inquisitive to learn how he had brought himself to that commendable state of body.

"Why," said the Dog, "I keep my Master's house, and I have the best of meat, drink, and lodging for my pains; indeed, if you'll go along with me, and do as I do, you may fare as I fare."

The Wolf readily agreed, and so away they trotted together; but as they approached the house the Wolf caught sight of the Dog's curiously embroidered collar, from which a kind of gold chain hung down over the shoulder. "Brother," said he, "what is this I see?"

"Oh, that's nothing," says the Spaniel; "a mere social Badge to let the world know whose Dog I am."

"Indeed!" says the other. "If those be the conditions, good bye. Bare bones and independence, rather than cold chicken with a chain and dog-collar."

MORAL. To the independent spirit, gold fetters are as galling as iron ones. 

THE FOX AND THE CROCODILE

There happened to be an argument once between a quiet cynic of a Fox and a conceited vulgar Crocodile upon the point of Blood and Extraction; the Crocodile boasted of his descent and the renown of his Ancestors.

"Our family," said he, "is of the greatest antiquity. We were princes in Egypt before the foundation of the Pyramids."

"Friend," said the Fox, smiling, and pointing with his claw to certain dabs of mud resting between the coarse excrescences of the speaker's hide, "there will need no herald to prove your gentility, for you carry the marks of your origin on your very skin."

MORAL. No difgrace can arife from a humble origin but the tolly of denying it.

THE MOLE AND HER SON

A young conceited Mole one day prevailed upon his mother to take him out of their dwelling-hole to see some of the fine sights so much admired by the people above them. He proceeded to criticise the surrounding beauties.

"What an execrable view this is," said he, pausing in sight of a beautiful landscape, and twirling his scanty whiskers with an air. "You don't mean to tell me that sky is blue! And the idea of purple grass is positively ridiculous. There's a horse, too, with six legs, and a man taller than his own house. And I'm sure we ought to be able to see the flowers growing on those mountains at this distance! Out of all reason, colour, and proportion. Preposterous!"

"My son, my son," said the mother, "as you are incapable of appreciating what you affect to despise, it is unfortunate that you are not dumb as well as blind, and so might have escaped this exposure of your ignorance."

MORAL. The fool's tongue is like the rattlesnake's alarum, the providential sign by which we may avoid him.