Roger L'Estrange (28)

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 Snake to Jupiter

A Snake that found himself persecuted by Men, appeal'd to Jupiter for Relief; who told him that it was his own Fault; for (says he) if you had but bit the first Man that affronted ye; the second would have taken warning by't.

The putting up of one Affront draws on another.

illustration by from the Medici Aesop

A Crow and a Pitcher

A Crow that was extream thirsty, found a Pitcher with a little Water in't, but it lay so low he could not come at it. He try'd first to break the Pot and then to over-turn it, but it was both too strong, and too heavy for him. He bethought himself however of a Device at last that did his Bus'ness; which was, by dropping a great many little Pebbles into the Water, and raising it that way, till he had it within Reach.

There is a Natural Logick in Animals over and above the Instinct of their Kinds.

illustration by Tenniel

A Wench parting with her Sweetheart

A Common Wench was wringing her Hands, and crying herself to Death almost; and what was the Business forsooth, but she had newly parted with her Sweet-Heart. Away, ye Fool you (says one of her Neighbours) to torment yourself out of your Life for such a Fellow as this! Nay, says the Lass, I am not so much troubled at parting with the Man; but he has carry'd away his Coat too; and truly, when he had given me all he had in the World beside, methinks I have e'en might had that too as well as all the rest.

Here's a Mercenary Prostitute drawn to the very quick, that lays her Profit more to Heart than her Love.

The Washing of a Blackmore

A Man gave Money for a Black, upon an Opinion that his Swarthy Colour was rather Sluttery than Nature; and the Fault of his last Master, in a great Measure, that he kept him no Cleaner: He took him Home with him, and try’d all manner of Washes to bring him to a Better Complexion; but there was no Good to be done upon him; besides, that the very Tampering cast him into a Disease.

Natural Inclinations may be Moulded and Wrought upon by Good Councel and Discipline; but there are certain Specifick Properties and Impressions, that are never to be Alter’d or Defac’d.

illustration from a 19th-century Croxall

A Generous Lion

As a Lion was Bestriding an Ox that he had newly Pluck'd down, a Robber passing by, Cry'd out to him, Half-Shares. You should go your Snip says the Lion, if you were not so forward to be your own Carver. The Thief had but just turn'd his Back, when up comes an Innocent Traveller, that so soon as ever he saw the Lion, was going off again. The Lion bad him Fear Nothing, but take part of the Prey with him in Reward of his Modesty; Whereupon the Lion went immediately into the Woods to make Way for the Traveller.

If Great Men in the World would but follow the Example of the Lion in this Fable, Sharpers should not Ride in Triumph any longer, while Honest Men go out at the Elbows.

illustration from a 17th-century Phaedrus