Roger L'Estrange (9)

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 Hunted Bever

The Bever is a kind of amphibious Creature, but he lives mostly in the Water. His Stones, they say, are medicinal; and it is principally for their Sake, he knows, that People seek his Life; and therefore when he finds himself hard pinch'd, he bites 'em off, and by leaving them to his Pursuers, he saves himself.

When a greater Interest is at stake, 'tis a warrantable Point of Honour and Discretion, to compound the Hazard, by parting with the less; provided, that while we quit the one, we may save the other.

illustration from 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.

An Impostor to the Oracle

There was a certain bantering Droll that took a Journey to Delphos, a purpose to try if he could put a Trick upon Apollo. He carry'd a Sparrow in his Hand under his Coat, and told the God, I have something in my Hand, says he, Is it dead or living? If the Oracle should say 'twas dead, he could shew it alive; if living, 'twas but squeezing it, and then 'twas dead. He that saw the Malice of his Heart, gave him this Answer: It shall e'en be which of the two you please; for 'tis in your Choice to have it either the one or the other.

Presumption leads People to Infidelity in a trice, and so by insensible Degrees to Atheism: For when Men have once cast off a Reverence for Religion, they are come within one Step of laughing at it.

illustration by Bewick

Cocks and a Partridge

A Cock-Master bought a Partridge, and turn’d it among his Fighting-Cocks, for them to feed together. The Cocks beat the Partridge away from their Meat, which she laid the more to Heart, because it look’d like an Aversion to her purely as a Stranger. But the Partridge finding these very Cocks afterwards cutting one another to pieces, she comforted her self with this thought, that she had no reason to expect they should be kinder to her, than they were to one another.

‘Tis no wonder to find those People troublesom to Strangers, that cannot agree among themselves. They quarrel for the Love of quarrelling; and the Peace be broken, no matter upon what Ground, or with whom.

illustration by Grandville

An Old Tree Transplanted

A certain Farmer had one choice Apple-Tree in his Orchard, that he valued above all the rest, and made his Landlord every Year a Present of the Fruit on’t. He lik’d the Apples so very well, that nothing would serve him but transplanting the Tree into his own Grounds. It wither’d presently upon the Removal, and so there was an end of both Fruit and Tree together. The News was no sooner brought to the Landlord, but he brake out into this Reflection upon it: This comes, says he, of transplanting an old Tree, to gratify and extravagant Appetite: whereas, if I could have contented my self with the Fruit, and left my Tenant the Tree still, all had been well.

Nature has her certain Methods and Seasons for the doing of every thing, and there must be no trying of Experiments to put her out of her Course.

Roger L'Estrange (8)

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 Fowler and a Pigeon

As a Country Fellow was making a Shoot at a Pigeon, he trod upon a Snake that bit him by the Leg. The Surprize startled him, and away flew the Bird.

We are to distinguish betwixt the Benefits of good Will, and those of Providence: For the latter are immediately from Heaven, where no humane Intention intervenes.

illustration by Barlow

A Woman and her Two Daughters

A Woman that had Two Daughters, Bury'd one of them, and Mourners were provided to Attend the Funeral. The Surviving Daughter wonder'd to see Strangers so much concern'd at the Loss of her Sister, and her Nearest Relations so little. Pray Mother, says she, what's the Reason of this? Oh, says the Mother, We that are a-Kin to her, are never the Better for Crying, but the Strangers have Money for't.

Mourners are as mercenary as Common Prostitutes; They are at his Service, that bids Most for them.

illustration from the Medici Aesop

A Sheep and a Crow

There was a Crow sat chattering upon the Back of a Sheep: Well! Sirrah, says the Sheep, you durst not ha’ done this to a Dog. Why, I know that, says the Crow, as well as you can tell me, for I have the Wit to consider whom I have to do withal. I can be as quiet as any body with those that are quarrelsome, and I can be as troublesome as another too, when I meet with those that will take it.

‘Tis the Nature and Practice of Drolls and Buffoons, to be insolent toward those that will bear it, and as slavish as others more than their Match.

illustration by Eksergian

A Peacock and a Pye.

In the Days of Old, the Birds liv'd at random in a lawless State of Anarchy; but in Time they began to be weary on't, and mov'd for the setting up of a King. The Peacock valu'd himself upon his gay Feathers, and put in for the Office: The Pretenders were heard, the Question debated; and the Choice fell upon the Poll to King Peacock: The Vote was no sooner pass'd, but up stands a Pye with a Speech in his Mouth to this Effect: May it please your Majesty, says he, We should be glad to know, in Case the Eagle should fall upon us in your Reign, as she has formerly done, how will you be able to defend us?

In the Bus'ness of either erecting or changing a Government, it ought to be very well consider'd beforehand, what may be the Consequences, in case of such a Form, or such a Person.

illustration from a 19th-century Croxall

A Peacock to Juno

The Peacock, they say, laid it extremely to Heart, that being Juno’s darling Bird, he had not the Nightingal’s Voice super-added to the Beauty of his own Plumes. Upon this Subject he petition’d his Patroness, who gave him for Answer, that Providence had assign’d every Bird its Proportion, and so bad him content himself with his Lot.

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.

illustration by Neighway

Clarke: English (12)

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.

56. Of the Kid and the Wolf

A kid looking out of a window, dared to provoke a wolf passing by with revilings, to whom the wolf says, "Wretch, thou dost not revile me, but the place."

Moral. Time and place always add boldness to a man.

illustration from a 19th-century Croxall

57. Of the Lion and the Goat

The lion by chance having seen a goat walking on a high rock advises that she would descend into the green pasture. The goat says, "Perhaps I should do it if you was away, who do not persuade me to that that I may take any pleasure thence, but that thou mayest have what, being hungry, thou mayest devour."

Moral. Do not have faith in all, for some do not consult for you, but for themselves.

illustration from Steinhowel's Aesop

58. Of the Vulture and Other Birds

The vulture feigns that he would celebrate his annual birthday; he invites the little birds to supper. Almost all come. He receives them coming with great applause and favors; the vulture butchers them received.

Moral. All are not friends who speak fairly or pretend that they will do kindly.

illustration from Steinhowel's Aesop

59. Of the Geese and the Cranes

The geese were fed together with the cranes in the same field. The cranes having seen the countrymen, being light, fly away; the geese are taken who, hindered with burden of body, were not able to fly away.

Moral. A city being besieged by enemies, the poor man easily withdraws himself, but the rich, taken, serves. In war, riches are more for a burden than an use.

illustration from the Medici Aesop

60. Of the Old Woman and her Maids

A certain old woman had at home many maids, whom daily she roused to work at the crowing of a cock, which she had at home, before that it was light. The maids at length, moved with the wearisomeness of their daily business, behead the cock, hoping now, he being killed, that they should sleep even to mid-day, but this hope deceived them, for the mistress, as soon as she knew, that the cock was killed, thenceforwards commands them to rise at midnight.

Moral. Not a few, whilst they study to avoid an evil, fall into a heavier.

illustration by Barlow