Roger L'Estrange (7)

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 Tree and a Wedge

A Workman was cutting down a Tree to make Wedges of it. Well! says the Tree, I cannot but be extreamly troubled at the Thought of what I am now a doing; and I do not so much complain neither, of the Ax that does the Execution, as of the Man that guides it; but it is Misery that I am to be destroy’d by the Fruit of my own Body.

Nothing goes nearer a Man in his Misfortunes, than to find himself undone by his own folly, or but any way accessary to his own Ruin.

A Dog in a Manger

A churlish envious Cur was gotten into a manger, and there lay growling and snarling to keep the Provender. The Dog eat none himself, and yet rather ventur’d the starving his own Carcase than he would suffer any Thing to be the better for’t.

Envy pretends to no other Happiness than what it derives from the Misery of other People, and will rather eat nothing itself than not to starve those that would.

illustration from a 19th-century children's Aesop

A Fox and a Weazle

A slim thin-gutted Fox made a hard shift to wriggle his Body into a Hen-roost, and when he had stuff’d his Guts well, he squeez’d hard to get out again, but the Hole was too little for him. There was a Weazle a pretty way off, that stood leering at him all this while. Brother Reynard (says he) your Belly was empty when you went in, and you must e’en stay till your Belly be empty again, before you come out.

Temperance keeps the whole Man in order, and in a good Disposition, either for Thought or Action, but the indulging of the Appetite brings a Clog both upon the Body and Mind.

A Stag and a Horse

Upon a Dispute betwixt a Stag and a Horse about a Piece of Pasture, the Stag got the better on’t, and beat the other out of the Field. The Horse, upon this Affront, advis’d with a Man what Course to take; who told him, that if he would submit to be bridled and saddled, and take a Man upon his Back with a Lance in his Hand, he would undertake to give him the Satisfaction of a Revenge. The Horse came to his Terms and for the gratifying of a present Passion, made himself a Slave all the Days of his Life. Stesichorus made use of this Fable to divert the Himerenses from chusing Phalaris the Tyrant for their General. This horse’s Case, says he, will be yours, if you go on with your Proposals. ‘Tis true, you’ll have your Revenge, but you’ll lose your Liberties: Upon which Words the Motion fell.

Let every Man make a true Measure of himself, what he is able to do, and what not, before he comes to any peremptory Resolution how to proceed. He is a Madman, that to avoid a present and less Evil, runs blindfold into a greater; and for the gratifying of a froward Humour, makes himself a Slave all the Days of his Life.

illustration from Steinhowel's Aesop

A Thrush and a Swallow

Ah my dear Mother! Says the Thrush, never had any Creature such a Friend as I have, of this same Swallow. No, says she, nor ever any Mother such a Fool to her Son as I have, of this same Thrush: To talk of a Friendship betwixt People that cannot so much as live together in the same Climate and Season. One is for Summer, t’other for Winter; and that which keeps you alive, kills your Companion.

‘Tis a necessary Rule in Alliances, Matches, Societies, Fraternities, Friendships, Partnerships, Commerce, and all manner of civil dealings and Contracts, to have a strict Regard to Humour, the Nature, and the Disposition of those we have to do withal.