Clarke: English (23)

Here are some more fables from H. Clarke's Latin textbook Fabulae Aesopi selectae, or, Select fables of Aesop, and you can click here for all the fables reposted from this book at the blog.

111. Of the Bear and the Bees

A bear, being stung by a bee, was stirred with so great anger that he tore all the hives with his paws, in which the bees had made honey. Then all the bees, when they saw their houses overturned, their maintenances taken away, their young killed, with a sudden onset attacking the bear, almost killed him with their stings, who, scarce having slipt out of the hands of them, said with himself, "By how much was it better to bear the sting of one bee than to raise up so many enemies against me by my anger!"

Moral. This fable shows it to be far better to sustain the injury of one than, whilst we are willing to punish one, to get many enemies.

illustration by Barlow

112. Of the Soldier and the Two Horses

A soldier, having a very good horse, bought another not at all equal to him in goodness, whom he nourished much more diligently than the former. Then the latter said thus to the former, "Why does my master mind me more diligently than thee, seeing that I am to be compared to thee neither in beauty nor strength nor swiftness?" To whom he said, "This is the nature of men, that they are always more kind to new guests."

Moral. This fable shows the madness of men who are wont to prefer new things to old, although they are worse.

113. Of the Fowler and the Chaffinch

A fowler had stretched out his nets for the birds and had poured out much food to them in a void place, yet he did not take the birds feeing because they seemed few to him which, being fed and flying away, others cam eto feed, which also he neglected to take on account of their fewness. This plan being kept through the whole day, and others coming, others going away, he always expecting a greater prey, at length it began to grow evening; then the fowler, the hope being lost of takin gmany, when now it was time of resting, drawing up his nets, caught only one chaffinch, which unhappy bird had remained in the void place.

Moral. This fable shows that they often scarcely are able to take a few things who are willing to take all things.

114. Of a Sow and a Dog

The swine laughed at the scent-following dog, who flattered the master with a murmur and his tail, by whom he had been instructed for the fowling art with many stripes and plucks of the ears, to whom the dog said, "Mad wretch, thou knowest not what I have obtained from those stripes, for by those I am fed with the most sweet flesh of partridges and quails."

Moral. This fable admonishes us that we should not bear with an impatient mind the stripes of masters, which have used to be the cause of many good things.

115. Of the Beam Blaming the Slowness of the Oxen

The beam, which was carried in a wagon, blamed the oxen as slow, saying, "Ye slow wretches, run, for ye carry a light burden!" To whom the oxen answered, "Dost thou laugh at us? Thou knowest not what punishment waits thee. We shall lay down this burden quickly, but then thou shalt be forced to bear until thou mayest be broken." The beam grieved, nor dared longer to provoke the oxen with revilings.

Moral. This fable adviseth anyone that he insult not the calamities of others, when he himself may be subject to greater.