Roger L'Estrange (5)

Here are some more fables from Roger L'Estrange's Fables of Aesop and Other Eminent Mythologists, and you can click here for all the L'Estrange fables at this blog.

A Dog, A Sheep and a Wolf

A Dog brought an Action of the Case against a Sheep, for some certain Measures of Wheat, that he had lent him. The Plaintiff prov'd the Debt by three positive Witnesses, the Wolf, the Kite, and the Vulture. (Testes probi & legales.) The Defendant was cast in Costs and Damages, and forc'd to sell the Wool off his Back to satisfy the Creditor.

'Tis not a Straw matter whether the main Cause be right or wrong, or the Charge true or false; where the Bench, Jury and Witnesses are in a Conspiracy against the Prisoner.

illustration from Steinhowel's Aesop

An Ass, an Ape and a Mole

An Ass and an Ape were conferring Grievances. The Ass complain’d mightily for want of a Horns, and the Ape was as much troubled for want of a Tail. Hold your Tongues both of ye, says the Mole, and be thankful for what you have, for the poor Moles are stark blind, and in a worse Condition than either of ye.

There’s no Contending with the Orders and Decrees of Providence. He that made us knows what’s fittest for us; and every Man’s own Lot (well understood and managed) is undoubtedly the best.

illustration by Bewick

A Dog and a Butcher

As a Butcher was busy about his Meat, a Dog runs away with a Sheep's-Heart. The Butcher saw him upon the Gallop with a piece of Flesh in's Mouth, and call'd out after him, hark ye Friend (says he) you may e'en make the best of your Purchase, so long as y'ave made me the wiser for't.

It may serve as a Comfort to us in all our Calamaties and Afflictions, that he that loses any Thing and gets Wisdom by it, is a Gainer by the Loss.

illustration from the Medici Aesop

A Lark and her Young Ones

There was once a Brood of young Larks in the Corn, and the Dam, when she went abroad to forage for them, laid a strict Charge upon her little ones, to pick up what News they could get against she came back again. They told her at her Return, that the Owner of the Field had been there, and order’d his Neighbors to come and reap the Corn. Well, says the Old One, there’s no Danger yet then. They told her the next Day that he had been there again, and desir’d his Friends to do’t. Well, well, says she, there’s no hurt in that neither: and so she went out progging for Provisions as before. But upon the third Day, when they told their Mother, that the Master and his Son appointed to come next Morning, and do’t themselves. Nay then, says she, ‘tis time to look about us: As for Neighbors and Friends, I fear ‘em not; but the Master I’m sure will be as good as his Word, for ‘tis his own Business.

He that would be sure to have his Business well done, must either do it himself, or see the doing of it; beside that many a good Servant is spoil’d by a careless Master.

illustration by Tenniel

A Horse and an Ass

In the Days of old, when Horses spoke Greek and Latin, and Asses made Syllogisms, there happen’d an Encounter upon the Road, betwixt a proud pamper’d Jade in the full Course of his Carriere, and a poor creeping Ass, under a heavy Burden, that had chopt into the same Track with him. Why, how now Sirrah, says he, d’ye not see by these Arms and Trappings, to what Master I belong? And, d’ye not understand that when I have that Master of mine upon my Back, the whole Weight of the State rests upon my Shoulders? Out of the Way thou slavish insolent Animal, or I’ll tread thee to dirt. The wretched Ass immediately slunk aside, with this envious Reflection betwixt his Teeth, What would I give to change Conditions with that happy Creature there. This Fancy would not out of the Head of him, ‘till it was his hap some few Days after to see this very Horse doing Drudgery in a common dung Cart. Why how now Friend (says the Ass) how comes this about? Only the Chance of the War, says the other: I was a Soldier’s Horse, you must know; and my Master carried me into a Battle, where I was shot, hack’d and maim’d; and now you have here before your Eyes the Catastrophe of my Fortune.

The Folly, and the Fate of Pride and Arrogance. The Mistake of placing Happiness in any Thing that may be taken away, and the Blessing of Freedom in a mean Estate.

illustration by Barlow