Roger L'Estrange (22)

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 Musician

A Man that had a very Coarse Voice, but an Excellent Musick-Room, would be still Practising in that Chamber, for the Advantage of the Eccho. He took such a Conceit upon't, that he must needs be shewing his Parts upon a Publick Theatre, where he Perform'd so very Ill, that the Auditory Hiss'd him off the Stage, and threw Stones at him.

A Man may Like himself very Well in his Own Glass, and yet the World not Fall in Love with him in Publick. But the Truth on't is, we are Partial in our own Case, and there's no Reading of our Selves but with Other Mens Eyes.

illustration by the Medici Aesop

A Boar Challenges an Ass

There pass'd some Hard Words betwixt a Boar and an Ass, and a Challenge follow'd upon't. The Boar depended upon his Tusks and computed within himself, that Head to Head the t'other could never be able to Encounter him. So he Advanc'd upon his Adversary: And the Ass, so soon as ever he had him within Distance, turn'd Tayl upon him, and gave him such a Lash over the Chops with his Iron Hoof, that he made him stagger again. The Boar after a little Pause, Recover'd himself. Well, (says he) I was not aware of such an Attack from that End.

No great Enterprize should be Undertaken without considering beforehand the Good or the Ill that may come of it.

A Daw and Pigeons

A Daw took a particular Notice of Pigeons in a certain Dovehouse , that they were well Fed and Provided for: So he went and Painted himself of a Dove-colour, and took his Commons with the Pigeons. So long as he kept his Own Counsel, he pass’d for a Bird of the same Feather; but it was his Hap once at Unawares, to cry KAW upon which Discovery they beat him out of the House, and when he came to his Old Companions again, they’d have none of him neither; so that he Lost himself both Ways by this Disguise.

He that Trims betwixt Two Interests, loses himself with Both, when he comes to be Detected, for being True to Neither.

illustration by a 19th-century Croxall

A Fox and a Hare to Jupiter

A Fox and a Hare presented a Petition to Jupiter. The Fox pray’d for the Hare’s swiftness of Foot, and the Hare for the Fox’s Craft and Wyliness of Address. Jupiter told them, since every Creature has some Advantage or other peculiar to itself, it would not stand with divine Justice, that had provided so well for every one in Particular, to confer all upon any one.

The Boundaries of Heaven are in such manner distributed, that every living Creature has its share; beside, that to desire Things against Nature, is effectually to blame the very Author of Nature itself.

Jupiter's Wedding

When the Toy had once taken Jupiter in the Head to enter into a State of Matrimony, he resolv'd, for the Honour of his Celestial Lady, that the whole World should keep a Festival upon the Day of his Marriage, and so Invited all Living Creatures, Tag, Rag, and Bob-tail, to the Solemnity of the Wedding. They all came in very good Time, saving only the Tortoise. Jupiter told him 'twas ill done to make the Company Stay, and ask'd him, Why so late? Why truly, says the Tortoise, I was at Home, at my Own House, my dearly Beloved House, and "Home is Home let it be never so Homely." Jupiter took it very Ill at his Hands, that he should think himself Better in a Ditch, than in a Palace, and so he pass'd this Judgment upon him; that since he would not be persuaded to come out of his House upon that occasion, he should never Stir abroad again from that Day forward, without his House upon his Head.

There's a Retreat of Sloth and Affection, as well as of Choice and Virtue: and a Beggar may be as Proud, and as happy too in a Cottage, as a Prince in a Palace.

illustration from a 17th-century Aesop