The New Fables, by Some Attributed to Phædrus.Nf.1

Fable I. The Ape and the Fox.

The Greedy Man is not willing to give even from his superabundance.

An Ape asked a Fox for a part of her tail, that he might decently cover his naked hinder parts therewith; but the ill-natured creature replied: “Although it grow even longer than it is, still I will sooner drag it through mud and brambles, than give you ever so small a part thereof.”

Fable II. The Author.

We must not require what is unreasonable.

If Nature hadNF.2 formed the human race according to my notions, it would have been far better endowed: for she would have given us every good quality that indulgent Fortune has bestowed on any animal: the strength of the Elephant, and the impetuous force of the Lion, the age of the Crow, the majestic port of the fierce Bull, the gentle tractableness of the fleet Horse; and Man should still have had the ingenuity that is peculiarly his own. Jupiter in heaven laughs to himself, no doubt, he who, in his mighty plan, denied these qualities to men, lest our audacity should wrest from him the sceptre of the world. Contented, therefore, with the gifts of unconquered Jove, let us pass the years of our time allotted by fate, nor attempt more than mortality permits.

Fable III. Mercury and the Two Women.

Another Fable on the same subject.

Once on a time, two Women had given their guest, Mercury, a mean and sordid entertainment; one of the women had a little son in the cradle, while the profession of a Courtesan had its charms for the other. In order, therefore that he might give a suitable return for their services, when about to depart, and just crossing the threshold, he said: “In me you behold a God; I will give you at once whatever each may wish.” The Mother makes her request, and asks that she may immediately see her Son graced with a beard; the Courtesan requests that whatever she touches may follow her. Mercury flies away—the women return in-doors: behold the infant, with a beard, is crying aloud. The Courtesan happened to laugh heartily at this, on which the humours of the head filled her nostrils, as is often the case. Intending therefore to blow her nose, she seized it with her hand, and drew out its length to the ground; and thus, while laughing at another, she became herself a subject for laughter.NF.3

Fable IV. Prometheus and Cunning.

On Truth and Falsehood.

When once Prometheus, the framer of a new race, had formed Truth from fine earth, that she might be able to dispense justice among mankind, being suddenly summoned by the messenger of great Jove, he left his workshop in charge of treacherous Cunning, whom he had lately received in apprenticeship. The latter, inflamed by zeal, with clever hand formed an image of similar appearance, corresponding stature, and like in every limb, so far as the time permitted. When nearly the whole had now been wondrously set up, he found he had no clay to make the feet. His master came back, and Cunning, confused by fear at his quick return, sat down in his own place. Prometheus, admiring so strong a resemblance, wished the merit to appear to belong to his own skill, and therefore placed the two images together in the furnace. When they were thoroughly baked, and life had been breathed into them, hallowed Truth moved on with modest gait; but her imperfect copy remained fixed on the spot. Thence the spurious image, the result of the stealthy work, was called Mendacity,NF.4 because they say, she has no feet,—an assertion with which I readily agree.

Fable V.Nf.5 the Author.

Nothing is long concealed.

***Pretended vices are sometimes profitable to men, but still the truth appears in time.

Fable Vi. The Signification of the Punishments of Tartarus.

The meaning is to be considered, not the mere words.

The story of Ixion, whirling round upon the wheel, teaches us what a rolling thing is fortune. Sisyphus, with immense labour, pushing the stone up the lofty hill, which ever, his labour lost, rolls back from the top, shows that men’s miseries are endless. When Tantalus is athirst, standing in the midst of the river, the greedy are described, whom a sufficiency of blessings surrounds, but none can they enjoy. The wicked Danaïds carry water in urns, and cannot fill their pierced vessels; just so, whatever you bestow on luxury, will flow out beneath. Wretched Tityus is stretched over nine acres,NF.6 presenting for dire punishment a liver that ever grows again: by this it is shown that the greater the extent of land a man possesses, the heavier are his cares. Antiquity purposely wrapped up the truth, in order that the wise might understand—the ignorant remain in error.

Fable VII. The Author.

On the Oracle of Apollo.

Phœbus! who dost inhabit Delphi and the beauteous Parnassus, say what is most useful to us. Why do the locks of the holy prophetess stand erect; the tripods shake; the holy shrines resound; the laurels, too,NF.7 quiver, and the very day grow pale? Smitten by the Divinity, the Pythia utters these words, and the warning of the Delian God instructs the nations: “Practise virtue; pay your vows to the Gods above; defend your country, your parents, your children, and your chaste wives with arms; repel the foe with the sword; assist your friends; spare the wretched; favour the good; meet the treacherous face to face; punish offences; chastise the impious; inflict vengeance on those who, by base adultery, defile the marriage couch; beware of the wicked; trust no man too far.” Thus having said, the Maiden falls frenzied to the ground: frenzied, indeed, for what she said, she said in vain.

Fable VIII. Æsop and the Author.

On a bad Author who praised himself.

A Person had recitedNF.8 some worthless composition to Æsop, in which he had inordinately bragged about himself. Desirous, therefore, to know what the Sage thought thereof: “Does it appear to you,” said he, “that I have been too conceited? I have no empty confidence in my own capacity.” Worried to death with the execrable volume, Æsop replied: “I greatly approve of your bestowing praise on yourself, for it will never be your lot to receive it from another.”

Fable IX. Pompeius Magnus and His Soldier.

How difficult it is to understand a man.

A Soldier of Pompeius Magnus, a man of huge bulk, by talking mincingly and walking with an affected gait, had acquired the character of an effeminate wretch, and that most fully established. Lying in wait by night for the beasts of burden of his General, he drives away the mules laden with garments and gold, and a vast weight of silver. A rumour of what has been done gets abroad; the soldier is accused, and carried off to the Prætorium. On this, Magnus says to him: “How say you? Have you dared to rob me, comrade?” The soldier forthwith spits into his left hand, and scatters about the spittle with his fingers. “Even thus, General,” says he, “may my eyes drip out, if I have seen or touched your property.” Then Magnus, a man of easy disposition, orders the false accusers to be sent about their business,NF.9 and will not believe the man guilty of so great audacity.

Not long afterwards a barbarian, confiding in his strength of hand, challenges one of the Romans. Each man fears to accept the challenge, and the leaders of highest rank mutter among themselves. At length, this effeminate wretch in appearance, but Mars in prowess, approached the General, who was seated on his tribunal, and, with a lisping voice, said “May I?”NF.10 But Magnus, getting angry, as well he might, the matter being so serious, ordered him to be turned out. Upon this, an aged man among the Chieftain’s friends, remarked: “I think it would be better for this person to be exposed to the hazards of Fortune, since in him our loss would be but small, than a valiant man, who, if conquered through some mischance, might entail upon you a charge of rashness.” Magnus acquiesced, and gave the Soldier permission to go out to meet the champion, whose head, to the surprise of the army, he whipped off sooner than you could say it, and returned victorious. Thereupon said Pompeius: “With great pleasure I present you with the soldier’s crown, because you have vindicated the honor of the Roman name; nevertheless,” said he, “may my eyes drip out” (imitating the unseemly act with which the Soldier had accompanied his oath), “if you did not carry off my property from among the baggage.”

Fable X. Juno, Venus, and the Hen.

On the Lustfulness of Women.

When JunoNF.11 was praising her own chastity, Venus did not lose the opportunity of a joke, and, to show that there was no female equal to herself in that virtue, is said to have asked this question of the Hen: “Tell me, will you, with how much food could you be satisfied?” The hen replied: “Whatever you give me will be enough; but still you must let me scratch a bit with my feet.” “To keep you from scratching,” said the Goddess, “is a measure of wheat enough?” “Certainly; indeed it is too much; but still do allow me to scratch.” “In fine,” said Venus, “what do you require, on condition of not scratching at all?” Then at last the hen confessed the weak point in her nature: “Though a whole barn were open for me, still scratch I must.” Juno is said to have laughed at the joke of Venus, for by the Hen she meant the Female Sex.

Fable Xi. The Father of A Family and Æsop.

How a bad-tempered Son may be tamed.

A Father of a family had a passionate Son, who, as soon as he had got out of his fathers sight, inflicted many a blow upon the servants, and gave loose to the impetuous temper of youth. Æsop consequently told this short story to the old man.

A certain Man was yoking an old Ox along with a Calf; and when the Ox shunning to bear the yoke with a neck so unfit for it, alleged the failing strength of his years: “You have no reason to fear,” said the Countryman, “I don’t do this that you may labour, but that you may tame him, who with his heels and horns has made many lame.” Just so, unless you always keep your son by you, and by your management restrain his temper, take care that the broils in your house don’t increase to a still greater degree. Gentleness is the remedy for a bad temper.NF.12

Fable XII. The Philosopher and the Victor in the Gymnastic Games.

How Boastfulness may sometimes be checked.

A Philosopher chancing to find the Victor in a gymnastic contest too fond of boasting, asked him whether his adversary had been the stronger man. To this the other replied: “Don’t mention it; my strength was far greater.” “Then, you simpleton,” retorted the Philosopher, “what praise do you deserve, if you, being the stronger, have conquered one who was not so powerful? You might perhaps have been tolerated if you had told us that you had conquered one who was your superior in strength.”

Fable XIII. The Ass and the Lyre.

How Genius is often wasted through Misfortune.

An Ass espied a Lyre lying in a meadow: he approached and tried the strings with his hoof; they sounded at his touch. “By my faith, a pretty thing,” said he; “it happens unfortunately that I am not skilled in the art. If any person of greater skill had found it, he might have charmed my ears with divine notes.”

So Genius is often wasted through Misfortune.NF.13

Fable XIV. The Widow and the Soldier.

The great Inconstancy and Lustfulness of Women.

A certain WomanNF.14 had for some years lost her beloved Husband, and had placed his body in a tomb; and as she could by no means be forced from it, and passed her life in mourning at the sepulchre, she obtained a distinguished character for strict chastity. In the meantime, some persons who had plundered the temple of Jupiter suffered the penalty of crucifixion. In order that no one might remove their remains, soldiers were appointed as guards of the dead bodies, close by the monument in which the woman had shut herself up. Some time after, one of the Guards, being thirsty, asked, in the middle of the night, for some water, of a servant-maid, who chanced just then to be assisting her mistress, who was going to rest; for she had been watching by a lamp, and had prolonged her vigils to a late hour. The door being a little open, the Soldier peeps in, and beholds a Woman, emaciated indeed, but of beauteous features. His smitten heart is immediately inflamed, and he gradually burns with unchaste desires. His crafty shrewdness invents a thousand pretences for seeing her more frequently. Wrought upon by daily intercourse, by degrees she became more complaisant to the stranger, and soon enthralled his heart by a closer tie. While the careful Guard is here passing his nights, a body is missed from one of the crosses. The Soldier in his alarm relates to the Woman what has happened; but the chaste Matron replies: “You have no grounds for fear;” and gives up the body of her Husband to be fastened to the cross, that he may not undergo punishment for his negligence.

Thus did profligacy usurp the place of honour.

Fable XV. The Rich Suitor and the Poor One.

Fortune sometimes favours Men beyond their hopes and expectations.

Two Youths were courting a Maiden at the same time; the Rich man got the better of the birth and good looks of the Poor one. When the appointed day for the nuptials had arrived, the woe-begone Lover, because he could not endure his grief, betook himself to some gardens near at hand; a little beyond which, the splendid villa of the Rich man was about to receive the Maiden from her mother’s bosom, as his house in the city seemed not to be roomy enough. The marriage procession is arranged, a great crowd flocks to the scene, and Hymenæus gives the marriage torch. Now an Ass, which used to gain a living for the Poor man, was standing at the threshold of a gate; and it so happens the maidens lead him along, that the fatigues of the way may not hurt the tender feet of the Bride. On a sudden, by the pity of Venus, the heavens are swept by winds, the crash of thunder resounds through the firmament, and brings on a rough night with heavy rain; light is withdrawn from their eyes, and at the same moment a storm of hail, spreading in all directions, beats upon them, frightening and scattering them on all sides, compelling each to seek safety for himself in flight. The Ass runs under the well-known roof close at hand, and with a loud voice gives notice of his presence. The servants run out of doors, behold with admiration the beautiful Maiden, and then go and tell their master. He, seated at table with a few companions, was consoling his passion with repeated draughts. When the news was brought him, exulting with delight, both Bacchus and Venus exhorting him, he celebrated his joyous nuptials amid the applauses of his comrades. The bride’s parents sought their daughter through the crier, while the intended Husband grieved at the loss of his Wife. After what had taken place became known to the public, all agreed in approving of the favour shown by the Gods of heaven.

Fable XVI. Æsop and His Mistress.

How injurious it often is to tell the Truth.

Æsop being in the service of an Ugly Woman, who wasted the whole day in painting herself up, and used fine clothes, pearls, gold, and silver, yet found no one who would touch her with a finger: “May I say a few words?” said he. “Say on,” she replied. “Then I think,” said he, “that you will effect anything you wish, if you lay aside your ornaments.” “Do I then seem to you so much preferable by myself?” said she. “Why, no; if you don’t make presents, your bed will enjoy its repose.” “But your sides,” she replied, “shan’t enjoy their repose;”NF.15 and ordered the talkative Slave to be flogged. Shortly after a thief took away a silver bracelet. When the Woman was told that it could not be found, full of fury she summoned all her slaves, and threatened them with a severe flogging if they did not tell the truth. “Threaten others,” said Æsop, “indeed you won’t trick me, mistress; I was lately beaten with the whip because I told the truth.”

Fable XVII. A Cock Carried in A Litter by Cats.

An extreme feeling of Security often leads Men into Danger.

A Cock had some Cats to carry him in his litter: a Fox on seeing him borne along in this pompous manner, said: “I advise you to be on your guard against treachery, for if you were to examine the countenances of those creatures, you would pronounce that they are carrying a booty, not a burden.” As soon as the savage brotherhoodNF.16 began to be hungry, they tore their Master to pieces, and went shares in the proceeds of their guilt.

Fable XVIII. The Sow Bringing Forth, and the Wolf

We must first make trial of a Man before we entrust ourselves to him.

A Sow was lying and groaning, her travail coming on; a Wolf came running to her aid, and, offering his assistance, said that he could perform the duties of midwife. She, however, understanding the treachery of the wicked animal, rejected the suspicious services of the evil-doer, and said: “If you keep at a greater distance it is enough.”

But had she entrusted herself to the perfidious Wolf, she would have had just as much pain to cry for, and her death into the bargain.

Fable XIX. The Runaway Slave and Æsop.

There is no necessity to add evil to evil.

A Slave, when running away from a Master of severe disposition, met Æsop, to whom he was known as a neighbour: “Why are you in such a hurry?” said Æsop. “I’ll tell you candidly, father,” said the other, “for you are worthy to be called by that name, as our sorrows are safely entrusted to you. Stripes are in superabundance; victuals fail: every now and then I am sent to the farm as a slave to the rustics there: if he dines at home I am kept standing by him all night, or if he is invited out, I remain until daylight in the street. I have fairly earned my liberty; but with grey hairs I am still a slave. If I were conscious to myself of any fault, I should bear this patiently: I never have had a bellyful, and, unhappy that I am, I have to put up with a severe master besides. For these reasons, and for others which it would take too long to recount, I have determined to go wherever my feet may carry me.” “Listen then,” said Æsop; “When you have committed no fault, you suffer these inconveniences as you say: what if you had offended? What do you suppose you would then have had to suffer?”

By such advice he was prevented from running away.

Fable XX. The Chariot-Horse Sold for the Mill.

Whatever happens, we must bear it with equanimity.

A certain Man withdrew from his chariot a Horse, ennobled by many victories, and sold him for the mill. As he was being led out of doors from the mill-stones to water, he saw his fellows going towards the Circus, to celebrate the joyous contests at the games. With tears starting forth, he said, “Go on and be happy; celebrate without me the festive day in the race; at the place to which the accursed hand of the thief has dragged me, will I lament my sad fate.”

Fable XXI. The Hungry Bear.

Hunger sharpens the wits.

If at any timeNF.17 sustenance is wanting to the Bear in the woods, he runs to the rocky shore, and, grasping a rock, gradually lets down his shaggy thighs into the water; and as soon as the Crabs have stuck to the long hair, betaking himself to shore, the crafty fellow shakes off his sea-spoil, and enjoys the food that he has collected in every quarter. Thus even in Fools does hunger sharpen the wits.

Fable XXII. The Traveller and the Raven.

Men are very frequently imposed upon by words.

A Man while going through the fields along his solitary path, heard the word “Hail!” whereat he stopped for a moment, but seeing no one, went on his way. Again the same sound saluted him from a hidden spot; encouraged by the hospitable voice, he stopped short, that whoever it was might receive the like civility. When, looking all about, he had remained long in perplexity, and had lost the time in which he might have walked some miles, a Raven showed himself, and hovering above him, continually repeated “Hail!” Then, perceiving that he had been deluded: “Perdition seize you,” said he, “most mischievous bird, to have thus delayed me when I was in such a hurry.”

Fable XXIII. The Shepherd and the She-Goat.

Nothing is secret which shall not be made manifest.NF.18

A Shepherd had brokenNF.19 the horn of a She-Goat with his staff, and began to entreat her not to betray him to his Master. “Although unjustly injured,” said she, “still, I shall be silent; but the thing itself will proclaim your offence.”

Fable XXIV. The Serpent and the Lizard.

When the Lion’s skin fails, the Fox’s must be employed; that is to say, when strength fails, we must employ craftiness.

A Serpent chanced to catch a Lizard by the tail; but when she tried to devour it with open throat, it snatched up a little twig that lay close at hand, and, holding it transversely with pertinacious bite, checked the greedy jaws, agape to devour it, by this cleverly contrived impediment. So the Serpent dropped the prey from her mouth unenjoyed.

Fable XXV. The Crow and the Sheep.

Many are in the habit of injuring the weak and cringing to the powerful.

An pestilent Crow had taken her seat upon a Sheep; which after carrying her a long time on her back and much against her inclination, remarked: “If you had done thus to a Dog with his sharp teeth, you would have suffered for it.” To this the rascally Crow replied: “I despise the defenceless, and I yield to the powerful; I know whom to vex, and whom to flatter craftily; by these means I put off my old age for years.”

Fable XXVI. The Servant and the Master.

There is no curse more severe than a bad conscience.

A Servant having been guiltyNF.20 of a secret offence in debauching the wife of his master, on the latter coming to know of it, he said, in the presence of those standing by: “Are you quite pleased with yourself? For, when you ought not, you do please yourself; but not with impunity, for when you ought to be pleased, you cannot be.”

Fable XXVII. The Hare and the Herdsman.

Many are kind in words, faithless at heart.

A Hare was flying from the Huntsman with speedy foot, and being seen by a Herdsman, as she was creeping into a thicket: “By the Gods of heaven, I beg of you,” said she, “and by all your hopes, do not betray me, Herdsman; I have never done any injury to this field.”NF.21 “Don’t be afraid,” the Countryman replied, “remain concealed without apprehension.” And now the Huntsman coming up, enquired: “Pray, Herdsman, has a Hare come this way?” “She did come, but went off that way to the left;” he answered, winking and nodding to the right. The Huntsman in his haste did not understand him, and hurried out of sight.

Then said the Herdsman: “Are you not glad that I concealed you?” “I don’t deny,” said she, “that to your tongue I owe most sincere thanks, and I return them, but I wish you may be deprived of your perfidious eyes.”

Fable XXVIII. The Young Man and the Courtesan.

Many things are pleasing which still are not to our advantage.

While a perfidious Courtesan was fawning upon a Youth, and he, though wronged by her many a time and oft, still showed himself indulgent to the Woman, the faithless Creature thus addressed him: “Though many contend for me with their gifts, still do I esteem you the most.” The Youth, recollecting how many times he had been deceived, replied: “Gladly, my love, do I hear these words; not because you are constant, but because you administer to my pleasures.”

Fable XXIX. The Beaver.

Many would escape, if for the sake of safety they would disregard their comforts.

The Beaver (to which the talkative Greeks have given the name of Castor, thus bestowing upon an animal the name of a GodNF.22—they who boast of the abundance of their epithets) when can no longer escape the dogs, is said to bite off his testicles, because he is aware that it is for them he is sought; a thing which I would not deny being done through an instinct granted by the Gods; for as soon as the Huntsman has found the drug, he ceases his pursuit, and calls off the dogs.

If men could manage, so as to be ready to part with what they own, in order to live in safety for the future, there would be no one to devise stratagems to the detriment of the naked body.

Fable XXX. The Butterfly and the Wasp.

Not past but present Fortune must be regarded.

A ButterflyNF.23 seeing a Wasp flying by: “Oh, sad is our lot,” said she, “derived from the depths of hell, from the recesses of which we have received our existence. I, eloquent in peace, brave in battle, most skilled in every art, whatever I once was, behold, light and rotten, and mere ashes do I fly.NF.24 You, who were a MuleNF.25 with panniers, hurt whomsoever you choose, by fixing your sting in him.” The Wasp, too, uttered these words, well suited to her disposition: “Consider not what we were, but what we now are.”

Fable XXXI. The Ground-Swallow and the Fox.

Confidence is not to be placed in the wicked.

A Bird which the Rustics call a Ground-Swallow (terraneola), because it makes its nest in the ground, chanced to meet a wicked Fox, on seeing whom she soared aloft on her wings. “Save you,” said the other; “why, pray, do you fly from me, as though I had not abundance of food in the meadows,—crickets, beetles, and plenty of locusts. You have nothing to fear, I beg to assure you; I love you dearly for your quiet ways, and your harmless life.” The Bird replied: “You speak very fairly, indeed; however, I am not near you, but up in the air; I shall therefore proceed, and that is the way in which I trust my life to you.”

Fable XXXII. The Epilogue.Nf.26

Of those who read this book.

Whatever my Muse has here written in sportive mood, both malice and worth equally join in praising; but the latter with candour, while the other is secretly annoyed.

Footnotes to New Fables