Clarke: English (27)

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.

131. Of the Birds Being Willing to Choose More Kings

The birds consulted about choosing more kings, seeing that the eagle alone was not able to rule so great flocks of birds, and they would have done enough to their wish unless they had desisted from the counsel by the advice of the crow who, when the cause was asked why she did not think more kings were to be chosen, said, "Because many bags are filled more difficultly than one."

Moral. This fable teaches it to be by far better to be governed by one than by many princes.

132. Of a Woman Who Said that She Was Willing to Die for Her Husband

A certain matron, very chaste and most loving of her husband, bore it ill that her husband was kept down by bad health. She lamented, she grieved and, that she might testify her love to her husband, she asked Death that, if he was about to snatch her husband from her, he rather would kill her than him. Amidst these words, she beholds Death coming with horrible aspect, with the fear of whom being affrighted, and now repenting of her vow, she said, "I am not he whom thou seekest; he lies in the bed whom thou comest about to kill."

Moral. This fable shows that no one is so loving of a friend, who had not rather it was well to himself than another.

from an illustrated edition of Desbillons

133. Of a Young Man Singing at the Funeral of His Mother

A certain man followed his dead wife who was borne to the grave with tears and weepings, but his son sung, who, when he was blamed by the father as mad who could sing at the burial of a mother when he ought to be sad and to weep together with him, said, "My father, if you have hired priests that they might sing, why are you angry with me singing gratis?" To whom the father said, "Thy office and that of the priests is not the same."

Moral. This fable shows that all things are not decent for all men.

134. Of a Jealous Man Who Had Given His Wife to Be Guarded

A jealous man had given his wife, whom he had found to live but little chastely, to a certain friend, to whom he could trust very much, to be guarded, having promised much money if he would observe her so diligently that by no method she might violate the conjugal tie. But he, when he had experienced this charge too difficult some days and had found his wit to be overcome by the cunning of the woman, going to the husband, said that he was unwilling to bear this so hard a task any longer, seeing that not Argus indeed, who was all eyed, could be able to keep an unchaste woman. He added, moreover, if it was necessary that he had rather carry down a sack full of fleas into a meadow daily for a whole year and, the sack being loosed, to feed them among the grass and in the evening to bring them back all home than to keep an unchaste woman one day.

Moral. This fable shows that no guards are so diligent who can be able to guard unchaste women.

135. Of a Man Refusing Clysters

A certain man, a German by nation, very rich, was very sick, to cure whom many physicians came (for the flies fly in heaps to the honey) one of whom said, among other things, that there was need of clysters if he was willing to grow well, which when the man heard, unused to a medicine of this kind, moved with anger, he commands the physicians to be cast out of the house, saying that they were mad who, when the head grieved, were willing to cure the breech.

Moral. This fable shows that all things, although healthful, seem both rough and hurtful to the unaccustomed and inexperienced.