The Fables of Phaedrus Part 2

THE a.s.s AND THE OLD SHEPHERD.

In a change of government, the poor change nothing beyond the name of their master. That this is the fact this little Fable shows.

A timorous Old Man was feeding an a.s.s in a meadow. Frightened by a sudden alarm of the enemy, he tried to persuade the a.s.s to fly, lest they should be taken prisoners. But he leisurely replied: "Pray, do you suppose that the conqueror will place double panniers upon me?" The Old Man said, "No." "Then what matters it to me, so long as I have to carry my panniers, whom I serve?"

FABLE XVI.

THE STAG, THE SHEEP, AND THE WOLF.

When a rogue offers his name as surety in a doubtful case, he has no design to act straight-forwardly, but is looking to mischief.

A Stag asked a Sheep for a measure[17] of wheat, a Wolf being his surety. The other, however, suspecting fraud, {replied}: "The Wolf has always been in the habit of plundering and absconding; you, of rushing out of sight with rapid flight: where am I to look for you both when the day comes?"[18]

[Footnote I.17: _For a measure_)--Ver. 3. Properly "modius;"

the princ.i.p.al dry measure of the Romans. It was equal to one-third of the amphora, and therefore to nearly two gallons English.]

[Footnote I.18: _Day comes_)--Ver. 6. "Quum dies adveniat,"

a law term, signifying "when the day of payment comes."]

FABLE XVII.

THE SHEEP, THE DOG, AND THE WOLF.

Liars generally[19] pay the penalty of their guilt.

A Dog, who was a false accuser, having demanded of a Sheep a loaf of bread, which he affirmed he had entrusted to her charge; a Wolf, summoned as a witness, affirmed that not only one was owing but ten.

Condemned on false testimony, the Sheep had to pay what she did not owe.

A few days after, the Sheep saw the Wolf lying in a pit. "This," said she, "is the reward of villany, sent by the G.o.ds."

[Footnote I.19: _Liars generally_)--Ver. 1. It is supposed by some that this Fable is levelled against the informers who infested Rome in the days of Tiberius.]

FABLE XVIII.

THE WOMAN IN LABOUR.

No one returns with good will to the place which has done him a mischief.

Her months completed,[20] a Woman in labour lay upon the ground, uttering woful moans. Her Husband entreated her to lay her body on the bed, where she might with more ease deposit her ripe burden. "I feel far from confident," said she, "that my pains can end in the place where they originated."

[Footnote I.20: _Her months completed_)--Ver. 2. Plutarch relates this, not as a Fable, but as a true narrative.]

FABLE XIX.

THE b.i.t.c.h AND HER WHELPS.

The fair words of a wicked man are fraught with treachery, and the subjoined lines warn us to shun them.

A b.i.t.c.h, ready to whelp,[21] having entreated another that she might give birth to her offspring in her kennel, easily obtained the favour.

Afterwards, on the other asking for her place back again, she renewed her entreaties, earnestly begging for a short time, until she might be enabled to lead forth her whelps when they had gained sufficient strength. This time being also expired, {the other} began more urgently to press for her abode: "If" said {the tenant}, "you can be a match for me and my litter, I will depart from the place."

[Footnote I.21: _Ready to whelp_)--Ver. 3. Justin, B. I., c. 3, mentions this Fable with some little variation, as being related by a Ligurian to Coma.n.u.s, the son of King Nannus, who had granted (about B.C. 540) some land to the Phocaeans for the foundation of the city of Ma.s.silia; signifying thereby that the natives would be quickly dispossessed by the newcomers.]

FABLE XX.

THE HUNGRY DOGS.

An ill-judged project is not only without effect, but also lures mortals to their destruction.

Some Dogs espied a raw hide sunk in a river. In order that they might more easily get it out and devour it, they fell to drinking up the water; they burst, however, and perished before they could reach what they sought.

FABLE XXI.

THE AGED LION, THE WILD BOAR, THE BULL, AND THE a.s.s.

Whoever has fallen from a previous high estate, is in his calamity the b.u.t.t even of cowards.

As a Lion, worn out with years, and deserted by his strength, lay drawing his last breath, a Wild Boar came up to him, with flashing tusks,[22] and with a blow revenged an old affront. Next, with hostile horns, a Bull pierced the body of his foe. An a.s.s, on seeing the wild beast maltreated with impunity, tore up his forehead with his heels. On this, expiring, he {said}: "I have borne, with indignation, the insults of the brave; but in being inevitably forced to bear with you, disgrace to nature! I seem to die a double death."

[Footnote I.22: _With flashing tusks_)--Ver. 5. "Fulmineus,"

"lightning-like," is an epithet given by Ovid and Statius also, to the tusks of the wild boar; probably by reason of their sharpness and the impetuosity of the blow inflicted thereby. Scheffer suggests that they were so called from their white appearance among the black hair of the boar's head.]

FABLE XXII.

THE MAN AND THE WEASEL.

A Weasel, on being caught by a Man, wishing to escape impending death: "Pray," said she, "do spare me, for 'tis I who keep your house clear of troublesome mice." The Man made answer: "If you did so for my sake, it would be a reason for thanking you, {and} I should have granted you the pardon you entreat. But, inasmuch as you do your best that you may enjoy the sc.r.a.ps which they would have gnawed, and devour the mice as well, don't think of placing your pretended services to my account;" and so saying, he put the wicked {creature} to death.

Those persons ought to recognize this as applicable to themselves, whose object is private advantage, and who boast to the unthinking of an unreal merit.

FABLE XXIII.

THE FAITHFUL DOG.

The man who becomes liberal all of a sudden, gratifies the foolish, but for the wary spreads his toils in vain.

A Thief one night threw a crust of bread to a Dog, to try whether he could be gained by the proffered victuals: "Hark you," said the Dog, "do you think to stop my tongue so that I may not bark for my master's property? You are greatly mistaken. For this sudden liberality bids me be on the watch, that you may not profit by my neglect."

FABLE XXIV.

THE FROG AND THE OX.