Clarke: English (4)

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. I plan to do a LibriVox recording of this book, so I will be transcribing all the fables here, and later I will be able to embed the LibriVox audio.

16. Of the Bringing Forth of the Mountains

Formerly there was a rumor that the mountains would bring forth. The men run thither, stand round about, expecting something of a monster, not without fear. At length the mountains bring forth. A mouse comes out; then all laughed.

Moral. Braggers, when they profess and boast great things, scarce do little things. Wherefore those Thrasos are by right the matter of jest and scoffs. This fable also forbids vain fears. For commonly the fear of danger is more grievous than the danger itself; nay: that which we fear is often ridiculous.

illustration by Bewick

17. Of the Hares and the Frogs

The wood roaring with an unusual whirlwind, the trembling hares begin hastily to fly away. When a fen stopped them flying, they stood anxious, encompassed with dangers on both sides. And what was an incitement of greater fear, they perceive the frogs to be plunged in the fen. Then one of the hares more prudent and more eloquent than the rest said, "What vainly do we fear? There is need of courage indeed: There is to us agility of body, but courage is wanting. This danger of the whirlwind is not to be fled from, but contemned.

Moral. There is need of courage in every thing. Virtue lies dead without confidence. For daringness is the leader and queen of virtue.

illustration from the Medici Aesop

18. Of the Kid and the Wolf

The goat, when she was about to go to feed, shuts up the kid at home, warning her to open to nobody till she return. The wolf, who had heard that afar off, after the departure of the mother, knocks at the doors, acts the goat in voice, ordering them to be opened. The kid, perceiving the cheat, says, "I do not open; for altho' the voice acts the goat, yet indeed I see a wolf through the chinks."

Moral. Children, obey your parents, for it is profitable, and it becometh a young man to hearken to an old man.

illustration by Grandville

19. Of the Countryman and the Snake

A certain countryman had nourished a snake; on a time being angry, he strikes the beast with an axe. He escapes, not without a wound. Afterwards the countryman coming into poverty thought that misfortune happened to him for the injury of the snake. Therefore he entreats that he would return. He says that he forgave but was unwilling to return; nor could he be secure with the countryman when there is so great an axe at home; that the pain of the wound was worn away, yet the memory remained.

Moral. It is scarce safe to have faith in him who once has broke faith. To forgive an injury, that indeed is the part of mercy, but to take heed of one's self both becometh and is part of prudence.

illustration by Weir

20. Of the Fox and the Stork

The fox called the stork to supper. She pours out the victuals upon the table, which, when it was liquid, the stork endeavouring with her bill in vain, the fox licks up. The deluded bird goes away, and is ashamed and vexed at the injury. After some days she returns, invites the fox. A glass vessel was placed full of victuals; which vessel, when it was of a narrow neck, it was lawful for the fox to see, and hunger, not to taste. The stork easily drew it out with her beak.

Moral. Laughter deserves laughter; a jest, a jest; a trick, a trick; and deceit, decit.

illustration by Tenniel

Clarke: English (3)

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. I plan to do a LibriVox recording of this book, so I will be transcribing all the fables here, and later I will be able to embed the LibriVox audio.

11. Of the Sick Kite

The kite lay in bed; now almost dying, begs his mother to go to pray to the Gods. The mother answers, no help was to be hoped by him from the Gods, whose sacred things so often he had violated by his [own] rapines.

Moral. It becometh us to worship the Gods, for they help the pious and withstand the impious. Neglgected in felicity, they do not hear in misery. Wherefore, be mindful of them in prosperous things, that, being called, they may be present in adverse things.

illustration from a 15th-century Aesop

12. Of the Frogs and their King.

The nation of frogs, when it was free, besought Jupiter for a king to be given to them. Jupiter laughed at the wishes of the frogs. They nevertheless pressed him again, and again, until they drove him to it. He threw down a log; that mass shakes the river with a great noise. The frogs, affrighted, are silent; they reverence their king; they come nearer step by step; at length, fear being thrown away, they leap upon and leap off him; the sluggish king is their sport and contempt. Again they provoke Jupiter; they pray for a king to be given to them who may be valiant; to whom Jupiter gives the stork. He, very nimbly stalking through the marsh, devours whatever of the frogs comes in the way. Therefore, the frogs in vain have complained of the cruelty of him. Jupiter does not hear, for they complain even this day: for in the evening, the stork going to rest, having come out of their caves, they murmur with a hoarse croaking, but they sing to one deaf. For Jupiter wills that they who petitioned against a merciful king now bear an unmerciful.

Moral. It is wont to happen to the common people, as to the frogs, who, if they have a king a little milder, condemn him of idleness and sluggishness, and wish at sometimes for a man to be given to them: on the contrary, if at any time they have got an active king, they condemn the cruelty of him, and praise the clemency of the former; either because it always repents us of the present, or because it is a true saying that new things are better than old.

illustration by Walter Crane

13. Of the Pigeons and the Kite

The pigeons formerly carried on a war with the kite, whom that they might subdue, they chose to themselves the hawk king. He, being made king, acts the enemy, not the king: he tears and butchers no slower than the kite. It repents the pigeons of their undertaking, thinking that it had been better to endure the war of the kite than the tyranny of the hawk.

Moral. Let it repent no man of his condition too much. As Horace says, nothing is happy from every part. Truly I would not wish to change my lot, provided it be tolerable. Many, when they have sought a new state, again have wished for the old. We are almost all of so various a temper that it repenteth us ourselves of ourselves.

illustration by Barlow

14. Of the Thief and the Dog

The dog answered the thief holding out bread that he would be silent, "I know thy treacheries! Thou givest bread that I may cease to bark, but I hate thy gift; for if I shall take the bread, thou wilt carry all the things out of these houses."

Moral. Take heed for the sake of a small profit, thou losest not a great one. Take heed that thou hast not faith in every man; for there are who not only say kindly, but also do kindly, with deceit.

illustration from a 19th-century Aesop

15. Of the Wolf and the Sow

The sow brought forth; the wolf promises that he would be the keeper of the young. The sow answered that she did not want the service of the wolf; if he is willing to be accounted affectionate, if he desires to do that which is grateful, let him go farther off, for that the office of the wolf consisted not in his presence, but absence.

Moral. All things are not to be trusted to all men. Many promise their service not out of love of you, but of themselves; not seeking thine advantage, but their own.

illustration from Croxall's Aesop

Clarke: English (2)

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. I plan to do a LibriVox recording of this book, so I will be transcribing all the fables here, and later I will be able to embed the LibriVox audio.

6. Of the Eagle and the Jackdaw

An eagl,e having got a cockle, was not able to get out the fish by force or art. The jackdaw coming up gives counsel, persuades her to fly up, and from on high to throw down the cockle upon the stones, for that so it would be that the cockle would be broken. The jackdaw stays on the ground that she may watch the fall: the eagle throws it down; the shell is broken; the fish is snatched away by the jackdaw; the deluded eagle grieves.

Moral. Be not willing to have faith in all men, and do you look into the counsel which you have received from others; for many, being consulted, do not counsel for their consultors, but for themselves.

illustration from a 17th-century Phaedrus

7. Of the Crow and the Fox

A Crow having got a prey, makes a noise in the branches: the fox sees him rejoicing, runs up: "The fox," says he, "compliments the crow with very much health. Very often had I heard, that fame was a liar; now I find it in the fact itself: for, as by chance I pass by this way, seeing you in the tree, I fly to you, blaming fame: for the report is, that you are blacker than pitch, and I see you whiter than snow. Truly in my judgment you surpass the swans and are fairer than the white ivy. But if as you excel in feathers, you do so also in voice, truly I should call you the queen of all birds." The crow allured by this flattery prepares to sing. But the cheese fell from his beak; which, being snatched by the fox, he sets up a laughter: then at last the crow, shame being joined to the loss of the thing, grieveth.

Moral. Some are so greedy of praise that they love a flatterer, with their own disgrace and damage. Men of this kind are a prey to the parasite. But if you had avoided boasting, easily would you have avoided the pestilent race of flatterers. If thou art willing to be a Thraso, a Gnatho never will be wanting to thee.

illustration by Bennett

8. Of the Dog and the Ass

While the dog fawned on his master and the family, the master and the family stroke the dog. The ass, seeing that, groans most deeply; for he began to be weary of his condition: he thinks it unjustly ordered that the dog should be acceptable to all, and be fed from his master's table, and that he should get this by idleness and play: that himself on the contrary carried the dorsers, was beaten with the whip, was never idle, and yet odious to all. If these things are done by fawnings, he resolves to follow that art which is so profitable. Therefore on a certain time about to try the thing, he runs in the way to his master returning home, leaps on him, strikes him with his hoofs. The master crying out, the servants ran to him, and the silly ass, who thought himself courtly, is beaten.

Moral. We all cannot do all things; nor do all things become all men. Let every one do, let every one try that which he is able.

illustration by Barlow

9. Of the Lion and Some Other Beasts

The lion had agreed with the sheep and some others that the hunting should be common. They hunt, a stag is taken: all beginning to take their single parts, as had been agreed, the lion roared, saying, one part is mine, because I am the most worthy; another also is mine, because I am most excellent in strength; moreover, I claim a third because I have sweated more in taking the stag; lastly, unless you will grant the fourth, there is an end of friendship. His companions, hearing this, depart, emtpy and silent, not having dared to mutter against the lion.

Moral. Faith always has been rare: in this age it is rarer; among the powerful it is, and always has been, most rare. Wherefore it is better to live with an equal. For, he who liveth with one more powerful, often hath a necessity to depart from his right.

illustration by Tenniel

10. Of the Lion and the Mouse

The lion, tired with heat and running, rested under the shade upon the green grass; a company of mice running over his back, having arose, he takes one of them. The captive begs, cries that he was unworthy whom the lion should be angry with. He, thinking there would be nothing of praise in the death of so little a beast, dismisses the captive. Not long after, the lion, whilst he runs through the forest, falls into the toils. He roars, but cannot get out. The mouse hears the lion miserably roaring, knows the voice, creeps into the holes, seeks the knots, which he finds and gnaws; the lion escapes out of the toils.

Moral. This fable recommends clemency to the powerful; for as human things are unstable, the powerful themselves sometimes want the help of the lowest; wherefore a prudent man, although he is able, feareth to hurt even a mean man; but he that does not fear to hurt another, plays the fool very much. Why so? Because, although now having relied on his power he feareth nobody, perhaps, hereafter, it will be that he may have wanted either the favor of mean men, or have feared their anger.

illustration from a 19th-century Aesop