With a Life of Aesop
Translated from the Spanish with an Introduction by John E. Keller and L. Clark Keating Aesop’s Fables
With a Life of Aesop
Translated from the Spanish with an Introduction by
John E. Keller and L. Clark Keating
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY Publication of this book was made possible by a grant from The Program for Cultural Cooperation between Spain’s Ministry of Culture and United States Universities.
Copyright © 1993 by The University Press of Kentucky Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth, serving Bellarmine College, Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, The Filson Club, Georgetown College, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University. Editorial and Sales Offices: Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Aesop’s fables. English Aesop’s fables, with a life of Aesop I Translated from the Spanish with an introduction by John E. Keller and L. Clark Keating. p. cm. — (Studies in Romance languages ; no. 34) Translated from the Spanish edition printed by Johan Hurus: La vida del Ysopet con sus fabulas hystoriadas. Zaragoza?, 1489. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8131-1812-3 1. Fables, Greek—Translations into English. I. Aesop. II. Keller, John Esten. III. Keating, L. Clark (Louis Clark), 1907-, IV. Title. V. Series: Studies in Romance languages (Lexington, Ky.) ; no. 34. PQ6498.V2913 1993 398.24'52—dc20 92-2478
This book is printed on recycled acid-free paper meeting the requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials. Contents
Introduction 1
The Life of Aesop 7
1. The First Book of Aesop 52 Preface and Prologue 52 1. Of the Rooster and the Pearl or Jasper 53 2. Of the Wolf and the Lamb 54 3. Of the Mouse, the Frog, and the Kite 55 4. Of the Dog and the Sheep 56 5. Of the Dog and the Piece of Meat 57 6. Of the Lion, the Cow, the Goat, and the Sheep 57 7. Of the Wicked Thief and the Sun 58 8. Of the Wolf and the Crane 59 9. Of the Two Dogs 60 10. Of the Man and the Snake 61 11. Of the Lion and the Ass 61 12. Of the Two Mice 62 13. Of the Eagle and the Vixen 63 14. Of the Eagle, the Snail, and the Crow 64 15. Of the Crow and the Fox 65 16. Of the Lion, the Boar, the Bull, and the Ass 66 17. Of the Ass and the Lapdog 67 18. Of the Lion and the Mouse 68 19. Of the Kite and Her Mother 69 20. Of the Swallow and the Other Birds 70
II. The Second Book of Aesop 71 Prologue 71 1. Of Jupiter and the Frogs 71 2. Of the Doves, the Kite, and the Falcon 73 Contents
3. Of the Thief and the Dog 73 4. Of the Sow and the Wolf 74 5. Of the Earth Which Was About to Give Birth 75 6. Of the Lamb and the Wolf 76 7. Of the Old Dog and His Master 77 8. Of the Hares and the Frogs 78 9. Of the Wolf and the Kid 78 10. Of the Poor Man and the Snake 79 11. Of the Deer, the Sheep, and the Wolf 80 12. Of the Bald-Headed Man and the Fly 81 13. Of the Vixen and the Stork 82 14. Of the Wolf and the Statue 83 15. Of the Crow and the Peacocks 83 16. Of the Fly and the Mule 84 17. Of the Fly and the Ant 85 18. Of the Wolf, the Vixen, and the Ape 86 19. Of the Ferret and the Man 87 20. Of the Frog and the Bull 87
III. The Third Book of Aesop 89 1. Of the Lion and the Shepherd 89 2. Of the Horse and the Lion 90 3. Of the Horse, the Ass, and of Times and Fortunes 91 4. Of the Beasts and the Birds 92 5. Of the Nightingale and the Falcon 93 6. Of the Vixen and the Wolf 94 7. Of the Stag and the Hunter 95 8. Of the Vixen, the Cock, and the Dogs 96 9. Of the Woman and Her Dead Husband 97 10. Of the Woman and the Young Lad 98 11. Of the Father and the Cruel Son 99 Contents
12. Of the Snake and the File 99 13. Of the Wolves, the Sheep, and the Dogs 100 14. Of the Man and the Trees 101 15. Of the Wolf and the Dog 102 16. Of the Hands, the Feet, and the Belly 103 17. Of the Ape and the Vixen 104 18. Of the Merchant and the Ass 105 19. Of the Stag and the Ox 105 20. Of the Lion’s Deceitful Conversation 106
IV. The Fourth Book of Aesop 108 1. Of the Fox and the Grapes 108 2. Of the Old Weasel and the Mouse 109 3. Of the Wolf and the Herdsman 109 4. Of Juno, the Peacock, and the Nightingale 110 5. Of the Lobo Cerval and the Farmers 111 6. Of the Sheep and the Butcher 112 7. Of the Fowler and the Birds 113 8. Of the Truthful Man, the Deceitful One, and the Ape 114 9. Of the Horse, the Stag, and the Hunter 115 10. Of the Ass and the Lion 116 11. Of the Vulture and the Other Birds 117 12. Of the Lion and the Vixens 117 13. Of the Sick Ass and the Wolf 118 14. Of the Big Sheep and the Three Little Ones 119 15. Of the Man and the Lion 119 16. Of the Flea and the Camel 120 17. Of the Ant and the Cricket 121 18. Of the Sword and the Traveler 122 19. Of the Raven and the Sheep 122 20. Of the Beech Tree and the Reed 123 Contents
22. Of the Satyr and the Traveler 191 23. Of the Bull and the Mouse 192 24. Of the Goose and Its Master 193 25. Of the Ape and Her Two Sons 194 26. Of the Storm and the Pot 195 27. Of the Wolf and the Kid 196
VIII. The Collected Fables of Alfonso, of Poggio, and of Others 198 1. In Which Alfonso Advises People about Wisdom and True Friendship 198 2. Of the Cash Held in Trust 202 3. Of the Subtle Artifice of Wisdom in Enigmatic Casks of Oil Held in Trust 204 4. Of the Artifice of the Missing Money 205 5. Of the Faith or Deceit of the Three Companions 207 6. Of the Little Bird and the Countryman 208 7. Of the Rimester and the Humpback 210 8. Of the Sheep 211 9. Of the Wolf, the Rustic, the Fox, and the Cheese 212 10. Of the Young Wife and Her Husband, of the Mother-in-Law and the Adulterer 214 11. Of the Old Lady Who Deceived the Chaste Woman with a Little Dog 215 12. Of the Blind Man and the Adulterous Adolescent 217 13. Of the Cleverness and Astuteness of a Wife against Her Husband, a Winegrower 219 14. Of the Merchant’s Wife and Her Old Mother-in-Law 220 15. By Poggio. About the Wife and the Husband Shut Up in the Dove Cote 221 16. Of the Woman Who Gave Birth to a Child by the Grace of God, Her Husband Being Absent 222 17. Of the Devil and the Wicked Old Woman 223 Contents
18. Of the Master Tailor, the King, and His Servants 226 19. Of the Madman and the Gentleman Hunter 228 20. Of the Priest, His Dog, and the Bishop 229 21. Of the Ape and the Nuts 230 22. Of the Father and Son Who Went to Sell an Ass 231
Bibliography 235
Index 237