Roger L'Estrange (20)

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.

Fishing in Troubled Waters

A Fisherman had order'd his Net for a Draught, and still as he was gathering it up, he dash'd the Water, to fright the Fish into the Bag. Some of the Neighbourhood that look'd on, told him that he did ill to muddle the Water so, and spoil their Drink. Well (says he) but I must either Spoil your Drink, or have nothing to Eat my self.

There's no Engaging the Mobile in a Sedition, till their Heads are so muddled first with Frights and Visions, that they can neither See, Hear, nor Understand.

illustration from the Medici Aesop

An Old Woman and the Devil

'Tis a common Practice, when People draw Mischiefs upon their own Heads, to cry, the Devil's in't and the Devil's in't. Now the Devil happen'd to spy an Old Woman upon an Apple-tree. Look ye (says he) you shall see that Beldam catch a Fall there by and by, and break her Bones, and then say 'twas all along of me. Pray, good People, will you bear me Witness, that I was none of her Adviser. The Woman got a Tumble, as the Devil said she would, and there was she at it, The Devil ought her a Shame, and it was the Devil that put her upon't: But the Devil clear'd himself by sufficient Evidence that he had no Hand in't at all.

We are apt to ascribe our Successes in this World, and to impute our Misfortunes to wrong Causes. We assume the One to our selves, and charge the other upon Providence.

A Wolf and a Sheep

A Wolf that lay Licking of his Wounds, and extreamly Faint and Ill upon the Biting of a Dog, call’d out to a Sheep that was passing by. Hark ye Friend (says he) if thou wouldst but help me to a Soup of Water out of the same Brook there, I could make a Shift to get my self somewhat to Eat. Yes, said the Sheep, I make no Doubt on’t; but when I bring ye Drink, my Carcase shall serve ye for Meat to’t.

It is a Charitable and Christian Office to relieve the Poor and the Distressed; but this Duty does not Extend to Sturdy Beggars, that while they are receiving Alms with One Hand, are ready to Beat out a Man’s Brains with the Other.

illustration by Conde

Jupiter and Fraud

Jupiter appointed Mercury to make him a Composition of Fraud and Hypocrisy, and to give every Artificer his Dose on't. The Medicine was prepar'd according to the Bill, and the Proportions duly Observ'd, and Divided: Only there was a great deal too Much of it made, and the Overplus remain'd still in the Mortar. Upon Examining the whole Account, there was a mistake, it seems, in the Reck'ning; for the Taylors were forgotten in the Catalogue: So that Mercury for Brevity sake, gave the Taylors the whole Quantity that was Left; and from hence comes the Old Saying; There's Knavery in all Trades, but Most in Taylors.

It is in some sort Natural to be a Knave. We are Made so, in the very Composition of our Flesh and Blood; Only Fraud is called Wit in One Case, good Husbandry in Another, &c. while 'tis the whole Business of the World for One Man to Couzen Another.

Jupiter and Modesty

Man was made in such a Hurry (according to the Old Fable) that Jupiter had forgotten to put Modesty into his Composition, among his other Affections; and finding that there was no way of Introducing it afterwards, Man by Man, he proposed the turning of it Loose among the Multitude: Modesty took her self at first to be a little hardly Dealt withal, but in the end, came over to Agree to't, upon Condition that Carnal Love might not be suffer'd to come into the same Company; for where-ever that comes, says she, I'm gone.

Sensual Love knows neither Bars nor Bounds. We are all Naturally Impudent; only by Custom, and Fig-leaves, we have been taught to Disguise the Matter, and look Demurely; and that's it which we call Modesty.

illustration from the Medici Aesop