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THE FABLES OF JESOP
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PUBLISHERS' NOTE
Except where separately acknowledged the fables in this volume are printed from the third edition of Sir Roger L 'Estrange 's translation (1699). The publishers are indebted to Messrs. George Routledge & Sons, Ld., for permission to use those from the version of the Rev. G. F. Townsend
The text and illustrations IENRY STO.XE £■ SOX, Ltd.,
CONTENTS
The Vain yackdaw
The Ants and The Grasshopper - - - II
The Eagle and The Arrow - - - - III
The Oxe?i and The Axle-Trees - IV
The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse - - - V
The She-Goats and Their Beards - - - - ^ I
The Mountain in Labour _ _ - - VI
The Monkeys and Their M^r - - - VIII
CONTENTS
The Monkey and The Fishermen - - IX
The Hart and The Vine - - X
The Lion and The Three Bulls - XI
The Goat and The Ass - - XII
The Birds, The Beasts, and The -6(7/ XIII
The Hare and The Tortoise - XIV
The G^jv? and The Cranes XV
The Eagle and His Captor - - XVI
The /Ftfj/> and The £**& - - XVII
The Grasshopper and The OW - XVIII
CONTEN IS
The Fox and The Crane - - XIX
The Monkey and The Dolphin XX
The Eagle and The Beetle - - - XXI
The Pomegranate, The Apple-Tree, and The Bramble - XXII
The Owl and The Birds - - XXIII
The Lark Burying Her Father - XXIV
The IVolfAnd The Goat XXV
THE VAIN JACKDAW
Fa m I
A Jackdaw that had a mind to be Sparkish, Trick'd himself up with all the Gay-Feathers he could Muster together: And upon the Credit of these StolTn, or Borrow'd Ornaments, he Valu'd himself above All the Birds in the Air Beside. The Pride of this Vanity got him the Envy of all his Companions, who, upon a Discovery of the Truth of the Case, fell to Pluming of him by Consent ; and when Every Bird had taken his Own Feather ; the Silly Jackdaw had Nothing left him to Cover his Nakedness.
The Moral
We steal from one Another all manner of Ways, and to all manner of Purposes ; Wit, as well as Feathers ; but where Pride and Beggery Meet, People are sure to be made Ridiculous in the Conclusion.
The Vain jfackc/aiv
THE ANTS AM) THE GRASSHOPPER
Fable II
A S the Ants were Airing their Provisions One Winter, J^ \^ Up comes a hungry Grasshopper to 'em, and b( a Charity. They told him that he should have Wrought in Summer, if he would not have Wanted in Winter. Well, says the Grasshopper, but I was not Idle neither ; for I Sung out the Whole Season. Nay then, said they, You shall e'en do Well to make a Merrv Year on't, and Dance in Winter to the Tune that You Sung in Summer.
The Moral
A Life of Sloth is the Life of a Brute ; but Action and Industry is the Business of a Great, a Wise, and a Good Man .
The Ants and The Grasshopper
THE EAGLE AND THE ARROW
Fable III
A N Ragle that was Watching upon a Rock once for j^" J^ a Hare, had the 111 Hap to be struck with an Arrow. This Arrow, it seems was Feather'd from her own Wing, Which very Consideration went nearer her Heart, she said, than Death itseli.
Tin Moral
Nothing goes nearer a Man in his Misfortunes, than to find himself Undone by his Own Folly, or but a?iy way Accessary to his own Ruine.
The Ea?le and I he .7/v
THE OXEN AND THE AXLE-TREES
Fabli IV
THE Axle-trees were Complaining of the Ingratitude oi the Oxen. How often, say they, have we, when Timber, fed ye with our Leaves, and reliev'd ve under our Shadow ? and for You to drag us now at this rate, over Dirt and Stones ! Alas ! cry'd the Oxen : Do you not see how we Pant and Groan, and how we are Goaded on, to do what we Do ? The Axle-trees Con- sidered how unwillingly thev did it, and so Forgave them.
The Moral
JFhat we are fore (I to do by an Over-ruling Power and
Necessity, is not properly our own Act,
The Oxen and The Axle-Trees
THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE
Fable Y
THERE goes an Old Story of a Country Mouse that Invited a Town-Sister of hers to a Country Colla- tion, where she spar'd for Nothing that the Place afforded ; as Mouldy Crusts, Cheese-Parings, Musty Oatmeal, Rusty Bacon, and the like. Now the Town-Dame was so well bred, as Seemingly to take All in Good Part: But vet at last, Sister (says she, after the Civilest Fashion) why will you be Miserable when you may be Happy? Why will you lie Pining, and Pinching your self in such a Lonesome Starving Course of Life as This is ; when 'tis but (join"; to Town along with Me; to Enjoy all the Pleasures, and Plenty that your Heart can Wish ? This was a Temptation the Country Mouse was not able to Resist ; so that away they Trudg'd together, and about Midnight got to their Tourneys End. The Town- Mouse show'd her Friend the Larder, the Pantry, the Kitchin, and Other Offices where she laid her Stores ; and after This, carry 'd her into the Parlour, where they found, yet upon the Table, the Reliques of a Mighty Entertainment of That very Ni^ht. The Town-Mouse
Carv'd her Companion of what she lik'd Best, and so to't they fell upon a Velvet Couch together : The Poor Bu??ipki?i that had never seen, nor heard of such Doings before, Bless'd her self at the Change of her Condition, when (as ill luck would have it) all on a Sudden, the Doors rlew open, and in comes a Crew of Roaring Bullies, with their Wenches, their Dogs and their Bottles, and put the Poor Mice to their Wits End, how to save their Skins. The Stranger Especi- ally, that had never been at This Sport before ; but she made a Shift however for the present, to slink into a Corner, where she lay Trembling and Panting 'till the Company went their Way. So soon as ever the House was Quiet again, Well : My Court Sister , says she, If This be the Way of Your Town-Gamho/es, I'll e'en back to my Cottage, and my Mouldy Cheese again; for I had much rather lie Knabbing of Crusts, without either Fear or Danger, in my Own Little Hole, than be Mistress of the Whole World with Perpetual Cares and Alarums.
The Moral
The Difference betwixt a Court and a Country Life. The Delights, Innocence , and Security of the One, Compard with the Anxiety, the Wickedness, a?id the Hazards of the other.
The Town Mouse and The Cowitry Mouse
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THE SI IK-COATS AND THEIR BEARDS
Fabli. VI
THE She-goats having obtained by request from Jupiter the favour cf a beard, the He-goats, sorely displeased, made complaint that the females equalled them in dignity. " Suffer them," said Jupiter, " to enjov an empty honour, and to assume the badge of your nobler sex, so long as they are not your equals in strength or courage."
The Moral
// matters little if those who are inferior to us in merit should be like us in outside appearances.
[Edition of Rev. G. F. Townsend, 1867.]
The She-Goats and Their Beards
THE MOUNTAIN IN LABOUR
Fable VII
WHEN Mountains cry out, people may well be Excus'd the Apprehension of some Prodigious Birth. This was the Case here in the Fable. The Neighbourhood were All at their Wits end, to consider what would be the Issue of That Labour, and instead of the Dreadful Monster that they Expected, Out comes at last a Ridiculous Mouse.
The Moral Much ado about Nothing.
The Mountain in Labour
THE MONKEYS AND THEIR MOTHER
BLE VIII
THERE was a Monkey that had Twins: She Doted upon One of them, and did not much care for T'other. She took a sudden Fright once, and in a Hurry whips up her Darling under her Arm, and carries the Other a Pick-a-Pack upon her Shoulders. In This Haste and Maze, Down she comes, and beats out her Favourites Brains against a Stone ; but That which she had at her Back came off Safe and Sound.
Thk Moral Fondlings are Commonly Unfortunct
The Monkeys and Their Mother
THE MONKEY AND THE FISHERMEN
Fable IX
A Monkey was sitting up in a high tree, when, seeing some Fishermen laying their nets in a river, he watched what they were doing. The Men had no sooner set their nets, and retired a short distance to their dinner, than the Monkey came down from the tree, thinking that he would try his hand at the same sport. But in attempt- ing to lav the nets he got so entangled in them, that being well nigh choked, he was forced to exclaim: "This serves me right, for what business had I, who knew nothing of tishin ."-, to meddle with such tackle as this?"
[Edition or' Rev. Thomas James, 1848.]
The Mofikey and The Fishermen
THE HART AND THE VINE
Fable X
A Hart that was hard Press'd by the Huntsmen, took Sanctury in a Vineyard, and there he lay Close, under the Covert of a Vine. So soon as he thought the Danger was Over, he fell presently to Browzing upon the Leaves ; and whether it was the Rustling, or the Motion of the Boughs, that gave the Huntsmen an Occasion for a Stricter Search, is Uncertain ; but a Search there was, and in the End he was Discover'd, and shot. He dy'd in hne, with this Conviction upon him, that his Punishment was Just, for offering Violence to his Protector.
Thf. Moral
Ingratitude Perverts all the Measures of Religion and Society, by making it Dangerous to be Charitable and Good Naturd.
The Hart and The Vine
THE LION AND THE THREE BULLS
Fabli XI
THERK was a Party of Three Bulls that Struck up a League to Keep and Feed together, and to be One and All, in case of a Common Enemy. If the Lyon could have Met with any of them Single, he would have done His Work, but so long as they Stuck to This Con- federacy, there was No Dealing with them. They fell to Variance at last among Themselves : The Lyon made his Advantage of it, and then with Great Ease he GainM his End.
The Moral
This is to tell us the Advantage, the Necessity, and the Force of Union ; And that Division brings Ruine.
The Lio?i and The Three Bulls
THE GOAT AND THE ASS
Fable XII
A Man once kept a Goat and an Ass. The Goat, envying the Ass on account of his greater abund- ance of food, said, "How shamefully you are treated: at one time grinding in the mill, and at another carrying heavy burdens;" and he further advised him that he should pretend to be epileptic, and fall into a ditch, and so obtain rest. The Ass gave credence to his words, and falling into a ditch, was very much bruised. His master, sending for a leech, asked his advice. He bade him pour upon the wounds the lights of a Goat. They at once killed the Goat, and so healed the Ass.
[Edition of Rev. G. F. Townsend, 1867.]
The Goat and The Ass
THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT
Fabli XIII
UPON a Desperate and Doubtful Battel betwixt the Birds and the Beasts, the Bat stood Neater, till she found that the Beasts had the Better on't, and then went over to the stronger Side. But it came to pass after- ward (as the Chance of War is Various) that the Biro's Rally 'd their Broken Troops, and carry'd the Day ; and away she went Then to ["other Party, where she was Try'd by a Council of War as a Deserter; Stript, Banish'd, and finally Condemn'd never to see Dav-light again.
Tin Moral
Trimming in some Cases is Foul, and Dishonest ; in others Laudable, and in some again, not only Honest, hut Necessary. The Nicety lies in the skill of Distinguishing upon Coses, Times, and Degre
The Birds ^ The Beasts ', and The Bat
Fable XIV
Wl [AT 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 Do?ie a?id Done, and the Fox, by Consent, was to be the judg. They started to- gether, and the Tortoise kept jogging on still, 'till he came to the End of the Course. The Hare lay'd himself down about Midwav, and took a Nap; for, says he, I ean 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.
The Moral
LTp 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, . sleep by the Way.
The Hare and The Tortoise
THE GEESE AND THE CRANES
Fable XV
SOME Sports-men that were abroad upon Game, spy'd a Company of Geese and Cranes a Feeding together, and so made in upon 'em as fast as their Horses could carry them. The Cranes that were Light, took Wing immediately, and sav'd themselves, but the Geese were Taken ; for they were Fat, and Heavy, and could not Shift so well as the Other.
The Moral
Lig/it of Body and Light of Purse, comes much to a Case in Troublesome Times ; Only the One saves himself by his Activity, and the Other scapes because he is not worth the Taking:
The Geese and The Cranes
THE EAGLE AND HIS CAP I OR
I MM MI
A Man took an Eagle, Pelted his Wings, and put him among his Hens. Somebody came and bought This and presenth New Feather'd him. He made a Flight at a Hare, Truss'd it, and brought it to his Benefactor. A Fox perceiving This, came and gave a Man a piece of Good Counsel. Have a care, savs Reynard, of putting too much Confidence in This Eagle; tor he'll go near, one time or other else, to take Yon for a Hare. Upon this Advice the Man Plum'd the Eagle once again.
Tin Moral
Persons and Humours may be ^Jumbled and Disguised, but Nature is like Quicksilver, that will never be KilTd.
The Eagle and His Captor
THE WASP AND THE SNAKE
Fable XVII
A Wasp seated himself upon the head of a Snake, and striking him unceasingly with his stings wounded him to death. The Snake, being in great torment, and not knowing how to rid himself of his enemy, or to scare him away, saw a wagon heavily laden with wood, and went and purposely placed his head under the wheels, and said, " I and my enemy shall thus perish together."
[Edition of Rev. G. F. Townsend, 1867.]
The JVasp and The Snake
'*^H^,' <s^y,, -g
THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE OWL
i XVIII
A N Owl sat sleeping in a Tree. But a Grasshopper, / m. who was singing beneath, would not let her be quiet, abusing her with very indecent and uncivil Language; telling her she was a scandalous Person, who plied a-nights to get her Living, and shut her self up all day in a hollow Tree. The Owl desir'd her to hold her Tongue and be quiet: Notwithstanding which, she was the more impertinent. She beg'd of her a second time, to leave off; but all to no purpose : The Owl, vext at the heart to find that all she said went for nothing, cast about to inveigle her by a Stratagem. Well, says she, since one must be kept awake, 'tis a pleasure however to be kept awake by so agreeable a Voice; which, I must confess, is no ways inferior to the finest Harp. And, now I think on't, I have a Bottle of excellent Nectar, which my Mistress Pallas gave me; if you have a mind, I'll give you a Dram to wet your Whistle. The Grasshopper, ready to die with Thirst, and, at the same Time, pleas'd to be so complimented upon Account of her Voice, skip'd up to the Place very briskly : when the Owl advancing to
meet her, seiz'd, and without much Delay, made her a Sacrifice to her Revenge : securing to her self, by the Death of her Enemy, a Possession of that Quiet, which, during her Life-time, she could not enjoy.
(From the Application)
We have no Right to be impertinent with one an- other to extremity ; and tho' there is no Law to punish such Incivilities .... they will scarce fail of meeting with deserved and just Chastisement, some way or other.
[Third Edition of S. C'k l73!-]
fhe Grasshopper and The Owl
THE FOX AND 1 ME CRANE
Fable XIX
THERE was a Great Friendship once betwixt a Fox and a Crane, and the Former would needs Invite, the Other to a Treat. They had Several Soups serv'd up in Broad Dishes and Plates, and so the Fox fell to Lapping himself, and bad his Guest Heartily Welcom to what was before him. The Crane found he was Put upon, but set so good a Face however upon his Entertainment ; that his Friend by All means must take a Supper with Him That night in Revenge. The Fox made Several Excuses upon the Matter of Trouble and Expence, but the Crane in fine, would not be said Nay ; So that at last, he promis'd him to come. The Collation was serv'd up in Glasses, with Long Narrow Necks, and the Best of Every thing that was to be had. Come (savs the Crane to his Friend) Pray be as Free as if you were at home, and so fell to't very Savourlv Himself. The Fox quickly found This to be a Trick, though he could not but Allow of the Contrivance as well as the justice of the Revenge. For such a Glass
of Sweet-Meats to the One, was just as much to the Pur- pose, as a Plate of Porridge to the Other.
The Moral
Tis allowable in all the Liberties of Conversatio?i to give a Man a Rowland for his Oliver, and to pay him in his Own Coin, as we say; provided always that we keep within the Compass of Honour, and Good Manners,
The Fox and The Crane
THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHIN
Fable XX
PEOPLK were us'd in the Days of Old, to earn Gamesome Puppies and Monkeys with 'em to Sea, to pass away the lime withal. Now there was One of these Monkeys, it seems, abord a Vessel that was cast away in a very great Storm. As the Men were Paddling for their Lives, and the Monkey for Company, a Certain Dolphin that took him for a Man, got him upon his Back, and was making towards Land with him. He had him into a Safe Road call'd the Pyrceus, and took occasion to Ask the Monkey, whether he was an Athenian or not? He told him Yes, and of a very Ancient Family there. Why then (savs the Dolphin) You know Pyrceus : Oh! exceedingly well, says T'other (taking it for the Name of a Man) Why Pyrceus is my very Particular CJood Friend. The Dolphtn, upon This, had such an Indignation for the Impudence of the Buffon- Monkey, that he gave him the
Slip from between his Legs, and there was an End of my very Good Friend, the Athenian.
The Moral
Bragging, Lying, and Pretending, has Cost ma?iy a Man his Life and Estate.
The Monkey and The Dolphin
THE EAGLE AND THE BEETLE
Fabli XXI
A Hare that was hard put to 't by an Eagle, took Sanctuary in a Ditch with a Beetle. The Beetle Interceded for the Hare : The Eagle Flapt off the former, and Devoured the other. The Beetle took this lor an Affront to Hospitality, as well as to her Self, and so Meditated a Revenge, watch'd the Eagle up to her Nest, follow'd her, and took her Time when the Eagle was Abroad, and so made a shift to Roll out the Eggs, and Destroy the Brood. The Eagle upon this Disappointment, Timber'd a great ileal higher next Rout : The Beetle watch'd her still, and shew'd her the same Trick once again. Whereupon the Eagle made her Appeal to "Jupiter, who gave her leave to lav her next Course of Eggs in his own Lap. Rut the Beetle found out a way to make Ju- piter rise from his Throne ; so that upon the Loosning of his Mantle, the Egg- fell from him at unawares, and the Eagle was a Third time Defeated. Jupiter stomached the
Indignity, but upon Hearing the Cause, he found the Eagle to be the Aggressor, and so Acquitted the Beetle.
The Moral
'Tis ?io t for a Ge?ierous Prince to Cou?ite?iance Oppres- sion a?zd Injustice, eve?i in his most Darling Favourites.
The Eagle and The Beetle
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THE POMEGRANATE, THE APPLE TREE AND THE BRAMBLE
XXII
THERE happen'd a Controversy once betwixt a For granate^ and an Apple, which was the Fairer Fruit of the Two. They were so Loud in their Discourse, that a Bramble from the next Hedg, Over-heard them. Come (says the Bramble) we are All Friends, and pray let's have No jangling among our selve
The Morai
Every Thing would be Thought Greater in the World than it is ; and the Root of it is This, that it first thinks it self so.
The Pojnegra?iate, The Apple Tree, and The Bramble
THE OWL AND THE BIRDS
Fable XXIII
THERE goes a Story oi an Owl that was advised by the Birds to Build rather among the Houghs and' Leaves, as They did, than in Walls and Hollow Trees ; and so they shew'd her a young Tender Plant for her Purpose. No, no, says the Owl, these Twigs in time will come to be Lim'd, and then you're all Lost if you do but touch 'em. The Birds gave little Heed to't, and so went on Playing and Chirping among the Leaves still, and passing their Time there in Flocks as formerly; till in conclusion the Sprigs were all daub'd with Lime, and the poor Wretches elamm'd and taken. Their Repentance came now too late; but in Memory of this Notable Instance of the OwTs Foresight the Birds never see an Owl to this very Day, but they Flock about her and Follow her, as if it were for a New Lesson. But our Modern Owls have only the Eyes, the Beak and the Plume of the Owls of Athens, without the Wisdom.
The Moral
Good Counsel is lost upon those that have not the Grace to hearken to' 7 ; or do not Understand it, or will not Embrace and Eollow it in the proper Season.
The Owl and The Birds
THE LARK BURYING HER FATHER
Fablf XXIV
THE Lark (according to an ancient legend) v created before the earth itself : and when her father died by a fell disease, as there was no earth, she could find for him no place of burial. She let him lie uninterred for five days, and on the sixth day, being in perplexity, she buried him in her own head. Hence she obtained her crest, which is popularly said to be her father's grave- hillock.
The Moral Ton t IS s first duty is reverence to parents.
[Edition of Rev. (j. F. Tov 1867.]
The Lark Burying Her Father
THE WOLF AND THE GOAT
Li XXV
A Wolf spy'd a Goat upon the Crag of a High Rock, and so call'd out to him alter this Manner : Hadst not thou better eome Down now, savs the Ifolf, into This Delicate Fine Meadow ? Well, savs the Goat, and so perhaps I would, il it were not for the Wolf that's there Before me : But I'm lor a Life of Safety, rather than for a Life of Pleasure. Your Pretence is the Filling of My Belly with Good Grass ; hut your Bus'ness is the Cramming of your Own Guts with Good Goats-Flesh: so that 'tis for your Own Sake, not Mine, that you'd have me come down.
I'm Moral
There s no Trusting to the Formal Civilities and In tations of an Enemy, and his Reasonings are but &?ia
when he pretends to Advise us for our Good.
The Wolf and The Goat
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