The Fables of Phaedrus Part 20

THE HORSE AND THE a.s.s.

An a.s.s asked a Horse for a little barley. "With all my heart," said he, "if I had more than I wanted, I would give you plenty, in accordance with my dignified position; but bye-and-bye, as soon as I shall have come to my manger in the evening, I will give you a sackful of wheat."

The a.s.s replied: "If you now deny me on a trifling occasion, what am I to suppose you will do on one of greater importance?"

They who, while making great promises, refuse small favours, show that they are very tenacious of giving.

FABLE x.x.x.

THE OLD LION AND THE FOX.

Worn with years, a Lion pretended illness. Many Beasts came for the purpose of visiting the sick King, whom at once he devoured. But a wary Fox stood at a distance before the den, saluting the King. On the Lion asking her why she did not come in: "Because," {said she}, "I see many foot-marks of those who have gone in, but none of those who came out."

The dangers of others are generally of advantage to the wary.

FABLE x.x.xI.

THE CAMEL AND THE FLEA.

A Flea, chancing to sit on the back of a Camel who was going along weighed down with heavy burdens, was quite delighted with himself, as he appeared to be so much higher. After they had made a long journey, they came together in the evening to the stable. The Flea immediately exclaimed, skipping lightly to the ground: "See, I have got down directly, that I may not weary you any longer, {so} galled as you are."

The Camel {replied}: "I thank you; but neither when you were on me did I find myself oppressed by your weight, nor do I feel myself at all lightened now you have dismounted."

He who, while he is of no standing, boasts to be of a lofty one, falls under contempt when he comes to be known.

FABLE x.x.xII.

THE KID AND THE WOLF.

A She-Goat, that she might keep her young one in safety, on going forth to feed, warned {her} heedless Kid not to open the door, because she knew that many wild beasts were prowling about the cattle stalls. When she was gone, there came a Wolf, imitating the voice of the dam, and ordered the door to be opened for him. When the Kid heard him, looking through a c.h.i.n.k, he said to the Wolf: "I hear a sound like my Mother's {voice}, but you are a deceiver, and an enemy to me; under my Mother's voice you are seeking to drink my blood, and stuff yourself with my flesh. Farewell."

'Tis greatly to the credit of children to be obedient to their parents.

FABLE x.x.xIII.

THE POOR MAN AND THE SERPENT.

In the house of a certain Poor Man, a Serpent was always in the habit of coming to his table, and being fed there plentifully upon the crumbs.

Shortly after, the Man becoming rich, he began to be angry with the Serpent, and wounded him with an axe. After the lapse of some time he returned to his former poverty. When he saw that like the varying lot of the Serpent, his own fortunes also changed, he coaxingly begged him to pardon the offence. Then said the Serpent to him: "You will repent of your wickedness until my wound is healed; don't suppose, however, that I take you henceforth with implicit confidence to be my friend. Still, I could wish to be reconciled with you, if only I could never recall to mind the perfidious axe."

He deserves to be suspected, who has once done an injury; and an intimacy with him is always to be renewed with caution.

FABLE x.x.xIV.

THE EAGLE AND THE KITE.

An Eagle was sitting on a branch with a Kite, in sorrowful mood. "Why,"

{said} the Kite, "do I see you with such a melancholy air?" "I am looking out," said she, "for a mate suited to myself, and cannot find one." "Take me," {said the Kite}, "who am so much stronger than you."

"Well, are you able to get a living by what you can carry away?" "Many's the time that I have seized and carried off an ostrich in my talons."

Induced by his words, the Eagle took him as her mate. A short time having pa.s.sed after the nuptials, the Eagle {said}: "Go and carry off for me the booty you promised me." Soaring aloft, the Kite brings back a field-mouse, most filthy, and stinking from long-contracted mouldiness.

"Is this," said the Eagle, "the performance of your promise?" The Kite replied to her: "That I might contract a marriage with royalty, there is nothing I would not have pledged myself to do, although I knew that I was unable."

Those who seek anxiously for partners of higher rank, painfully lament a deception that has united them to the worthless.

THE FABLES OF PHaeDRUS,

Translated Into English Verse By CHRISTOPHER SMART, A.M., Fellow Of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge.

BOOK I.

PROLOGUE.

What from the founder Esop fell, In neat familiar verse I tell: Twofold's the genius of the page, To make you smile and make you sage.

But if the critics we displease, By wrangling brutes and talking trees, Let them remember, ere they blame, We're working neither sin nor shame; 'Tis but a play to form the youth By fiction, in the cause of truth.

FABLE I. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.

By thirst incited; to the brook The Wolf and Lamb themselves betook.

The Wolf high up the current drank, The Lamb far lower down the bank.

Then, bent his rav'nous maw to cram, The Wolf took umbrage at the Lamb.

"How dare you trouble all the flood, And mingle my good drink with mud?"

"Sir," says the Lambkin, sore afraid, "How should I act, as you upbraid?

The thing you mention cannot be, The stream descends from you to me."

Abash'd by facts, says he, "I know 'Tis now exact six months ago You strove my honest fame to blot"-- "Six months ago, sir, I was not."

"Then 'twas th' old ram thy sire," he cried, And so he tore him, till he died.

To those this fable I address Who are determined to oppress, And trump up any false pretence, But they will injure innocence.

II. THE FROGS DESIRING A KING.

With equal laws when Athens throve, The petulance of freedom drove Their state to license, which o'erthrew Those just restraints of old they knew.

Hence, as a factious discontent Through every rank and order went, Pisistratus the tyrant form'd A party, and the fort he storm'd: Which yoke, while all bemoan'd in grief, (Not that he was a cruel chief, But they unused to be controll'd) Then Esop thus his fable told: The Frogs, a freeborn people made, From out their marsh with clamor pray'd That Jove a monarch would a.s.sign With power their manners to refine.

The sovereign smiled, and on their bog Sent his pet.i.tioners a log, Which, as it dash'd upon the place, At first alarm'd the tim'rous race.

But ere it long had lain to cool, One slily peep'd out of the pool, And finding it a king in jest, He boldly summon'd all the rest.

Now, void of fear, the tribe advanced, And on the timber leap'd and danced, And having let their fury loose, In gross affronts and rank abuse, Of Jove they sought another king, For useless was this wooden thing.

Then he a water-snake empower'd, Who one by one their race devour'd.