Roger L'Estrange (15)

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 Flea and a Man

A Fellow finding somewhat prick him, popt his finger upon the Place, and it prov’d to be a Flea. What art thou, says he, for an Animal, to suck thy Livelyhood out of my Carcass? Why ‘tis the Livelyhood (says the Flea) that Nature has allotted me, and my stinging is not mortal neither. Well, says the Man, but ‘tis troublesome however: And now I have ye, I’ll secure ye for ever hurting me again, either little or much.

Live and let live, is the Rule of common Justice; but if People will be troublesome on the one hand, the Obligation is discharg’d on the other.

illustration by Rackham

Apples and Horse-Turds

Upon a very great Fall of Rain, the Current carried away a huge Heap of Apples, together with a Dunghill that lay in the Watercourse. They floated a good while together like Brethren and Companions; and as they went thus dancing down in the Stream, the Horse-Turds would be every foot crying out still, Alack-a-day! How we Apples swim!

Every thing would be thought greater in the World than it is; and the Root of it is this, that it first thinks itself so.

illustration by Mulready

A Boy and a Snake

A Boy was groping for Eels, and laid his hand upon a Snake, but the Snake, finding that it was pure Simplicity, and not Malice, admonish’d him of his Mistake: Keep your self well while you are well, says the Snake; for if you meddle with me, you’ll repent your Bargain.

‘Tis the Intention, morally speaking, that makes the Action good or bad; and even Brutes themselves, will put a Difference betwixt Harms of Ill-Will and Mischance.

An Ass, a Lyon and a Cock

As a Cock and an Ass were Feeding together, up comes a Lion Open-mouth'd toward the Ass: The Cock presently cries out; away Scours the Lion, and the Ass after him: Now 'twas the Crowing of the Cock that Frighted the Lion, not the Braying of the Ass, as that Stupid Animal vainly Fancy'd to himself; for so soon as ever they were gotten out of the Hearing of the Cock, the Lion turn'd short upon him, and tore him to pieces, with these Words in his Mouth: Let never any Creature hereafter that has not the Courage of a Hare, provoke a Lion.

The Force of Unaccountable Aversions, is Insuperable. The Fool that is Wise and Brave only in his Own Conceit, runs on without Fear or Wit; but Noise does no Bus'ness.

illustration by Barlow

A Flea and Hercules

There was a Fellow, that upon a Flea-biting call’d out to Hercules for Help. The Flea gets away, and the Man expostulates upon the Matter. Well, Hercules; (says he) you that would not take my part against a sorry Flea, will never stand by me in a time of Need, against a more powerful Enemy.

We neglect God in greater Matters, and petition him for Trifles, nay, and take pet at last if we cannot have our Askings.

illustration by Grandville

Clarke: English (17)

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.

81. Of the Fishes

A river fish is borne down by the force of the river into the sea, where extolling his nobility, he valued all the sea race at a low rate. The seal bore not this, but says, then would be a proof of nobility, if tkane he should be carried to market with a seal, that he should be bought by nobles, but he by the common people.

Moral. Many are so taken with the lust of glory that they boast themselves. But the praise of his own mouth is not given to a man for a priase, but is received with the laughter of the hearers.

illustration from a 19th-century Croxall

82. Of the Leopard and the Fox

A leopard, who has a painted back, the other beasts, even the lions, being despised by him, was puffed up. The fox comes to him, persuades him not to be proud, saying, indeed, that he had a fine skin, but himself had a fine mind.

Moral. There is a difference and order of good things: the goods of the body excel the goods of fortune, but the goods of the mind are to be preferred to these.

illustration by Barlow

83. Of the Fox and the Cat

When a fox in a discourse which he had with a cat boasted that he had various shifts, so that he had even a budget full of tricks, but the cat answered that she had only one art to which she trusted if there was anything of danger. While discoursing, suddenly the noise of the dogs running is heard: then the cat leaps into a very high tree; in the meantime the fox, surrounded by the dogs, is taken.

Moral. The fable intimates that comestimes one design, so that it be true and effectual, is better than more tricks, and frivolous designs.

illustration by Bewick

 

84. Of the King and the Apes

A certain Egyptian king appointed some apes that they should learn the action of dancing. For, as no animal cometh nearer to the figure of a man, so neither any other imitates human actions either better or more willingly. Therefore, presently being taught the art of dancing, they began to dance, clothed in purple vestments, and masked, and the sight now pleased for a long time in a wonderful manner, till noe of the spectators, facetious, threw nuts into the middle, which he had privately in his pockets. Then presently, the apes, as soon as they saw the nuts, having forgot the dance, began to be that which they had been before, and suddenly from dancers returned into apes, and their masks and clothes being torn, they fought among themselves for the nuts, not without the greatest laughter of the spectators.

Moral. This fable admonisheth that the ornaments of fortune do not change the disposition of a man.

illustration by Rackham

 

85. Of the Ass and the Travelers

Two certain men, when by chance they found an ass in a wood, began to contend between themselves which of them should lead him home as his own, for he seemed equally offered to either by fortune. In the meantime, they, wrangling by turns, the ass withdraw himself, and neither obtained him.

Moral. Some fall from present advantages which they know not how to use through ignorance.

illustration by Weir

Roger L'Estrange (14)

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 Hare and a Tortoise

What a dull heavy Creature (says a Hare) is this same Tortoise! And yet (says the Tortoise) I’ll run with you for a Wager. ‘Twas done and done, and the Fox, by Consent, was to be the Judge. They started together, and the Tortoise kept jogging on still till he came to the End of the Course. The Hare laid himself down about Midway, and took a Nap; for, says he, I can fetch up the Tortoise when I please: But he over-slept himself, it seems, for when he came to wake, though he scudded away as fast as ‘twas possible, the tortoise got to the Post before him, and won the Wager.

Up and be doing, is an edifying Text; for Action is the Business of Life, and there’s no Thought of ever coming to the End of our Journey in time, if we sleep by the Way.

illustration by Weir

A Wolf and a Lion

As a Wolf and a Lion were abroad upon Adventure together, Hark (says the Wolf) don’t you hear the Bleating of Sheep? My Life for yours, Sir, I’ll go fetch ye Purchase. Away he goes, and follows his Ear, till he came just under the Sheepfold; but it was so well fortify’d, and the Dogs asleep so near it, that back he comes sneaking to the Lion again, and tells him, There are Sheep yonder (says he) ‘tis true, but they are lean as Carrion, and we had e’en as good let ‘em alone till they have more Flesh on their Backs.

‘Tis Matter of Skill and Address, when a Man cannot honestly compass what he would be at, to appear easy and indifferent upon all Repulses and Disappointments.

A Fisherman's Good Luck

A Fisherman had been a long while at work without catching any thing, and so in great Trouble and Despair, he resolv'd to take up his Tackle and be gone: But in that very instant a great Fish leapt into the Boat, and by Providence made a tolerable Day on't.

Patience, Constancy, and Perseverance, is an honest Cause, and Duty can never fail of a happy End, one way or other.

illustration from the Medici Aesop

A Doctor and his Patient

Pray, Sir, how d'ye find yourself? Says the Dr. to his patient. Why truly, says the Patient, I have had a violent Sweat; oh the best Sign in the World, quoth the Dr. And then a little while after he is at it again, with a pray how d'ye find your Body? Alas, says t'other, I have just now had such a terrible Fit of horror and shaking upon me! Why this is all as it should be, says the Physician, it shews a mighty Strength of Nature. And then he comes over him a third time with the same Question again; why I am all swell'd, says t'other, as if I had a Dropsy; best of all, quoth the Doctor, and goes his way. Soon after this, comes one of the sick Man's Friends to him with the same Question, how he felt himself; why truly so well, says he, that I am e'en ready to die, of I know not how many good Signs and Tokens.

A death-bed Flattery is the worst of Treacheries.

A Shepherd Turn'd Merchant

A Countryman was feeding his Flock by the Sea-side, and it was so delicate a fine Day, that the Smoothness of the Water tempted him to leave his Shepherd’s Business and set up for a Merchant. So that in all haste he puts off his Stock, buys a Bargain of Figs, gets his Freight aboard, and away presently to Sea. It happen’d to be very foul Weather; so that the Mariners were fain to cast their whole Lading over-board, to save themselves and the Vessel. Upon this Miscarriage, our new Merchant-Adventurer betook himself to his old Trade again: And it happen’d one Day, as he was tending his Sheep upon the very same Coast, to be just such a flattering tempting Sea again as that betray’d him before: Yes, yes, says he, When the Devil’s blind: You’d have some more Figs with a Vengeance, would ye?

Men may be happy in all Estates, if they will but suit their Minds to their Condition. A Shepherd may be as easy in a Cottage, as a Prince in a Palace, with a Mind suited to his Station; but if they will be launching out into Trade, or Business that they do not understand, they have nothing left them to trust to when they are once bewilder’d, but the Hope of some kind Providence to put them in the right way home again.

illustration by Tenniel