Roger L'Estrange (16)

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.

Wasps, Partridges, and a Husbandman

A Flight of Wasps, and a Covey of Partridges that were hard put to’t for Water, went to a Farmer, and begg’d a Soup of him to quench their Thirst. The Partridges offer’d to dig his Vineyard for’t, and the Wasps to secure him from Thieves. Pray hold your Hand, says the good Man; I have Oxen and Dogs that do me these Offices already, without standing upon Terms. And therefore it will become me to provide for them in the first Place.

Charity begins at home, but the necessary Duty of it in one place does not discharge the christian Exercise of it in another.

illustration from the Medici Aesop

A Peach, an Apple and a Blackberry

There happen’d a Controversy once betwixt a Peach and an Apple, which was the fairer Fruit of the two. They were so loud in their Discourse, that a Blackberry, from the next Hedge, over-heard them. Come (says the Blackberry) we are all Friends, and pray let’s have no jangling among ourselves.

Every thing would be thought greater in the World than it is; and the Root of it is this, that it first thinks itself so.

illustration by Detmold

Fishermen Disappointed

Some Fishermen that had been out a whole Day with a drag-Net, and caught nothing, had a Draught toward the Evening, that came home very heavy, which put ‘em in hope of a Sturgeon at least; but upon bringing the Net a-shore, it prov’d to be only one great Stone, and a few little Fishes. Upon this Disappointment they were down in the Mouth again; but says one of the Company that was a little graver than the rest, you are to consider, my Masters, that Joy and Sorrow are two Sisters that follow one another by Turns.

All our Purchases in this World are but the catching of a Tartar, as we say, but it is some Comfort yet to consider, that when Things are at worst they’ll mend.

illustration from the Medici Aesop

A Lark in a Net

A poor Lark enter'd into a miserable Expostulation with a Bird-Catcher, that had Taken her in his Net, and was just about to put her to Death. Alas, (says she) What am I to Die for now? I am no Theif; I have Stol'n neither Gold, not Silver; but for making Bold with One Pitiful Grain of Corn am I now to Suffer.

'Tis to no Purpose to stand Reasoning, where the Adversary is both Party and Judge.

illustration from a 19th-century Croxall

A Snake and a Crab

There was a Familiarity Contracted betwixt a Snake and a Crab. The Crab was a Plain Dealing Creature, that Advis'd his Companion to give over Shuffling and Doubling, and to Practise Good Faith. The Snake went on in his old Way: So that the Crab finding that he would not MenD his Manners, set upon him in his Sleep, and Strangled him; and then looking upon him as he lay Dead at his Length: This had never befall'n ye, says he, if you had but liv'd as Straight as You Dy'd.

There's Nothing more Agreeable in Conversation, than a Frank, Open way of Dealing, and a Simplicity of Manners.

illustration from the Medici Aesop