Bourne (1)

William Bourne's book Gems from Fable-land, subtitled "a collection of fables illustrated by facts," is a combination of Aesop's fables and historical anecdotes (some of the anecdotes more historical than others). I've selected both fables and anecdotes from this book to include here at the blog. This use of historical anecdotes fits in with the traditional Aesop, as Phaedrus included anecdotes about the Roman imperial family in his collection of fables (the most ancient extant collection).

DIOGENES EXPOSING PRIDE

Diogenes, being at Olympia, saw at that celebrated festival some young men of Rhodes, magnificently dressed. Smiling, he exclaimed, "This is pride." Afterwards meeting some Lacedemonians, who were in a mean and sordid dress, he said, "This also is pride." 

The keen observation of the philosopher enabled him to detect pride in these two opposite exhibitions of human nature.

THE PHILOSOPHER OUTDONE

A learned philosopher being in his study, a little girl came for some fire. The doctor said, "But you have nothing to take it in," and as he was going to fetch something, the girl, taking some cold ashes in one hand, put the live coals on with the other.

The astonished sage threw down his books, saying, "With all my learning I never should have found out that expedient."

THE BROOK AND THE FOUNTAIN

   A Fountain varied gambols played,

Close by an humble brook;

While gently murmuring thro' the glade.

Its peaceful course it took.

   Perhaps it gave one envious gaze

Upon the Fountain's height,

While glittering in the morning rays,

Pre-eminently bright.

   In all the colours of the sky,

Alternately it shone:

The Brook observed it with a sigh,

But quietly roll'd on.

   The owner of the Fountain died;

Neglect soon brought decay;

The bursting pipes were ill supplied;

The Fountain ceased to play.

   But still the Brook its peaceful course

Continued to pursue;

Her ample, inexhausted source,

From Nature's fount she drew.

   "Now," said the Brook, "I bless my fate

My showy rival gone;

Contented in its native state

My little stream rolls on.

   And all the world has cause, indeed,

To own, with grateful heart,

How much great Nature's works excel

The feeble works of art."

Moral. Humble usefulness is preferable to idle splendour.

                                    (from the Polish fables of Krasicki)

illustration from the book

THE ST. PETERSBURGH MISER

A Russian merchant, who was so immensely rich, that on one occasion he lent the Empress Catharine II a million of rubles, used to live in a small obscure room in St. Petersburgh, with scarcely any fire, furniture, or attendants, though his house was larger than many palaces. He buried his money in casks in the cellar, and was so great a miser, that he barely allowed himself the common necessaries of life. 

He placed his principal security in a large dog of singular fierceness, which used to protect the premises by barking nearly the whole of the night.

At length the dog died; when the master, either impelled by his avarice from buying another dog, or fearing that he might not meet with one that he could so well depend on, adopted the singular method of performing the canine service himself, by going his rounds every evening, and barking as well and as loud as he could, in imitation of his faithful sentinel.  

THE MOUSE AND THE ELEPHANT

A pert young Mouse, but just arriv'd

From Athens, where some time he'd liv'd;

And daily to the portico,

To pick up learning, used to go;

Vain of the wisdom he had stor'd,

And of the books he had devour'd;

Puff'd up with pride, and self-conceit,

And proud to show his little wit,

Thus to an Elephant, one day,

He took it in his head to say,

"Nay, not so pompous in your gait,

Because Dame Nature made you great;

I tell you, sir, your mighty size

Is of no value in my eyes;

Your magnitude, I have a notion,

Is quite unfit for locomotion;

When journeying far, you often prove

How sluggishly your feet can move.

Now, look at me: I'm made to fly:

Behold, with what rapidity

I skip about, from place to place,

And still unwearied with the race;

But you, how lazily you creep,

And stop to breathe at every step!

Whenever I your bulk survey,

I pity—" What he meant to say,

Or with what kind of peroration

He'd have concluded his oration,

I cannot tell; for, all at once,

There pounc'd upon the learned dunce

An ambush'd Cat; who, very soon,

Experimentally, made known,

That between Mice and Elephants

There is a mighty difference.

MORAL.

When fools pretend to wit and sense,

And wish to shine at your expense,

Defy them to the proof, and you

Will make them their own folly shew.

     (from the Italian fables of Pignotti.)