Clarke: English (30)

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.

146. Of the a Wolf, Clothed with the Skin, of a Sheep, who Devoured the Flock

A wolf, clothed with the skin of a sheep, mixed himself with a flock of sheep, and daily slew some one of them: which when the shepherd had observed, he hanged him on a very high tree. But the other shepherds asking, why he had hung a sheep, he said, indeed the skin is a sheep's, as you see; but the works were a wolf's.

Moral.This fable shows that men are not to be judged by their habit, but by works because many do wolves' works under the garments of sheep.

illustration by Barlow

147. Of a Dog Killing tthe Sheep of His Master

A certain shepherd had given his sheep to his dog to be kept, feeding him with the best meats. But he often killed some sheep, which when the shepherd had observed, taking the dog, he was willing to kill him. To whom the dog said, "Wherefore dost thou desire to destroy me? I am one of thy domestics; rather slay the wolf who continually lies in wait for your sheepfold." "Nay," asys the shepherd, "I think thee more worthy of death than the wolf, for he professes himself my enemy openly, but thou, under the show of friendship, daily diminishest my flock."

Moral. This fable shows that they are to be punished by far more who hurt us under a pretence of friendship than they who profess themselves our enemies openly.

illustration from a 19th-century Croxall

148. Of a Ram Fighting with a Bull

There was a certain ram among the sheep who had so firm a head and horns that presently and easily he overcame the other rams, wherefore when he found no ram more who dared to withstand him running against him, puffed up with frequent victories he dared to provoke a bull to battle, but at the first onset when he had butted against the forehead of the bull, he was struck back with so cruel a blow that, almost dying, he said these words, "Fool that I am! What have I done? Why dared I to provoke so powerful an adversary to whom nature hath created me unequal?"

Moral. This fable shows that we ought not to strive with the more powerful.

149. Of an Eagle Snatching the Young of a Coney

An eagle, having built a nest in a very high tree, had snatched away the young of a coney, who was fed not far from thence, for the prey of her yong; whom the coney prayed with fair words, that she would vouchsafe to restore her young to her, but she, supposing him to be a little and earthly animal, tore them with her talons, which she placed for her young to eat in the sight of the dam; then the coney, moved at the death of her young, permitted not this injury to go unpunished; for she dug up the tree by the roots, which sustained the nest, which falling with a light blast of the winds, threw down the young of the eagle, as yet unfledged, upon the ground, who being eaten up by the wild beasts afforded comfort of grief to the coney.

Moral. This fable show that no man relying on his power ought to despise the weaker, seeing that sometimes the weaker revenge the injuries of the more powerful.

150. Of a Pike, a Fish of the River, Affecting the Dominion of the Sea

There was a pike in a certain river who exceeded the other fishes of the same river in fairness, greatness, and strength; whence all admired and treated him with the greatest honor; wherefore puffed up with pride, he began to desire greater command. Therefore, the river being left in which he had reigned many years, he entered into the sea that he might claim the dominion of it to himself, but finding a dolphin of a wonderful greatness, who reigned in it, he was so pursued by him that flying away scarcely could he enter into the mouth of the river, whence he dared to go out no more.

Moral. this fable admonishes us that content with our own things we do not desire what are by far greater than our strength.