Aesop’s and other Fables Æsop’ s and other Fables AN ANTHOLOGY INTRODUCTION BY ERNEST RHYS POSTSCRIPT BY ROGER LANCELYN GREEN Dent London Melbourne Toronto EVERYMAN’S LIBRARY Dutton New York © Postscript, J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd, 1971 AU rights reserved Printed in Great Britain by Biddles Ltd, Guildford, Surrey for J. M. DENT & SONS LTD Aldine House, 33 Welbeck Street, London This edition was first published in Every matt’s Library in 19 13 Last reprinted 1980 Published in the USA by arrangement with J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd No 657 Hardback isbn o 460 00657 6 No 1657 Paperback isbn o 460 01657 1 CONTENTS PAGE A vision o f Æ sop Robert Henryson , . * I L FABLES FROM CAXTON’S ÆSOP The Fox and the Grapes. • • 5 The Rat and the Frog 0 0 5 The W olf and the Skull . • 0 0 5 The Lion and the Cow, the Goat and the Sheep • 0 0 6 The Pilgrim and the Sword • • 0 6 The Oak and the Reed . 0 6 The Fox and the Cock . , . 0 7 The Fisher ..... 0 7 The He-Goat and the W olf . • •• 0 8 The Bald Man and the Fly . • 0 0 8 The Fox and the Thom Bush .... • t • 9 II. FABLES FROM JAMES’S ÆSOP The Bowman and the Lion . 0 0 9 The W olf and the Crane . , 0 0 IO The Boy and the Scorpion . 0 0 IO The Fox and the Goat . • 0 0 IO The Widow and the Hen . 0 0 0 0 II The Vain Jackdaw .... • 0 0 0 II The Kid and the W olf 0 0 0 12 The Mountain in Labour . 0 0 12 The Kite and the Pigeons 0 0 12 The Old Hound .... 0 0 13 The Ant and the Grasshopper . 0 13 The Cock and the Jewel . 0 0 13 The Fawn and her Mother . 0 0 U The Two Wallets .... 0 0 14 The Eagle and the Fox . 0 0 14 The Horse and the Groom . 0 0 15 The Countryman and the Snake . 0 0 15 The Man and the Satyr . 0 0 15 The Flies and the Honey Pot . 0 0 16 The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle . 0 0 0 16 The Dog and the Shadow . • 0 0 16 The Fox and the Lion . • •• 0 0 17 The Creaking Wheels ... •• •• • 17 The W olf and the Lamb • • « 0 • • • • 17 XT XVI Contents fXGM The Bear and the Fox 18 The Country Mouse and the Town Mouse 18 The Dog, the Cock, and the Fox 19 The Lion and the Mouse ; 20 The Gull and the Kite 21 The House-Dog and the W olf 21 The Frog and the Ox 22 The Pomegranate, the Apple, and the Bramble 22 The Tortoise and the Eagle 23 The Mule .... 23 The Hare and the Tortoise 23 The Hen and the Cat 24 The Shepherd-Boy and the WoL 24 The Sick Stag . 25 The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar 25 The Moon and her Mother . 25 The Ass and the Grasshopper 25 The Fox and the Woodman 26 The Lamb and the W olf . 26 The Crow and the Pitcher . 26 The Crab and her Mother 27 Jupiter and the Camel . 27 The One-Eyed Doe . 27 The Lion and the Fox . 28 The Travellers and the Bear 28 The Stag in the Ox-Stall . 28 The Collier and the Fuller 29 The Lion, the Ass, and the Fox Hunting 30 The Ass and the Lap-D og. 30 The Wind and the Sun . 31 The Trees and the Axe . 31 The Hare and the Hound . 32 The Lion in Love 32 The Dolphins and the Sprat 33 The Wolves and the Sheep 33 The Blind Man and the Whelp 33 The Belly and its Members 33 The Dove and the Crow 34 Hercules and the Waggoner 34 The Monkey and the Camel 35 The Fox without a Tail The Farthing Rushlight . The Hares and the Frogs . 36 The Lioness 36 The Angler and the Little Fish 37 The Farmer and his Sons . 37 The Husbandman and the Stork 37 The Mole and her Mother . ■ 38 C o n t e n t s xvii PAGE The Old Woman and the Physician . • . 38 The Swallow and the Raven • •• 39 The Nurse and the Wolf . • • 39 The Dog and his Master • . • •• 39 The Monkey and the Dolphin . •• 40 The W olf and the Sheep . > 40 The Bundle of Sticks . « 40 The Widow and the Sheep . • 4i The Man and the Lion . 4i The Man Bitten by a Dog . 42 The Horse and the Stag . 42 The Birdcatcher and the Lark . 42 The Mischievous Dog . • 43 The Travellers and the Plane Tree • 43 The Herdsman and the Lost Bull • 43 The Viper and the File 44 Jupiter, Neptune, Minerva, and Momus 44 Mercury and the Woodman 44 The Geese and the Cranes . 45 Jupiter and the Bee • . 46 The Goatherd and the Goats 46 The Country Maid and Her Milk-Can 47 The Beeves and the Butchers . 47 The Thief and his Mother . 48 The Cat and the Mice . 48 The Marriage of the Sun . 49 The Gnat and the Bull . 49 The Eagle and the Arrow . 49 The Dog in the Manger . 49 The Mice in Council . • 50 The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox • 50 The Fox and the Hedgehog • 50 The Goose with the Golden Eggs 51 The Lion and the Dolphin . 51 The Trumpeter taken Prisoner . 52 The Mountebank and the Countryman 52 The Hunter and the Fisherman . 53 The Dog invited to Supper . 53 The Frogs asking for a King 54 The Fir-Tree and the Bramble . • 55 The Lark and her Young Ones . • 55 The Fisherman . ■ • 56 The Thief and the Dog » ■ • 56 The Ass and his Masters . • • 57 The Old Man and Death . • • • • 57 The Doctor and his Patient ••• 57 The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat • • • • • 58 The Two Pots , • • . • • • * • 58 XV111 Contents FAOB • The Lion and the Goat • « 1 4 • • 59 The Arab and the Camel . i • • • • 59 The W olf and the Shepherd . • •• ■ 59 The Travellers and the Hatchet . • • • 6o The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion . • • 6o The Bees, the Drones, and the Wasp 6o The Lion and Ass Hunting • 6 i The Ass and his Driver . • • • 6 i The Mice and the Weasels . • ■ 62 The Hart and the Vine . • • 62 The Hedge and the Vineyard . 62 The Fox and the Mask 6 3 The Father and his Two Daughters •• 63 The Horse and the Loaded Ass . •• • 6 3 The Sick Lion .... • •• 64 The Farmer and the Cranes . • • 65 The Eagle and the Jackdaw • • 65 The Thirsty Pigeon . 65 The Heifer and the Ox • . 66 The Bald Knight . 66 The Fox and the Stork • 66 The Falconer and the Partridge . t 67 The Bull and the Goat b 67 The Husbandman and the Sea . 67 The Jackass in Office . 68 The Porker and the Sheep . 68 The Hound and the Hare . ■ 68 The Boy and the Filberts ■ ; 69 The Kid and the W olf ■ . 69 The Quack Frog .... 69 The Ant and the Dove . 70 The Ass in the Lion’s Skin . • 70 The Goat and the Goatherd ■ • • 70 The Boy Bathing . a • • 7i The Farmer and the Dogs . ■ ■ 7i The Mouse and the Weasel • • • 71 The Farmer and the Lion . • 7 2 The Charger and the Ass . ■ • • • 72 The Brazier and his Dog ■ . a • • 72 Venus and the Cat . • . • ■ ■ 73 The W olf and the Lion . • 73 The Great and the Little Fishes . • • 73 The Boys and the Frogs . ■ a 74 The W olf and the Goat . • • 74 The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion • 74 The Rivers and the Sea . • • 75 The Ass Carrying Salt • ■ • 75 The Lion and his Three Councillors • • • • 76 Contents XIX PACK The Blackamoor .... 76 The Sea-Side Travellers . 76 The Leopard and the Fox . 77 The Monkey and the Fisherman . 77 The Eagle and the Beetle . 77 The Man and his Two Wives . 78 The Vine and the Goat . ■ 79 The Sick Kite .... 79 The Boy and the Nettle . 79 The Fox and the Crow . 80 The Three Tradesmen . 80 The Ass’s Shadow . 80 The Dogs and the Hides . 81 The Lion and the Bulls . 81 The Raven and the Swan . 81 The Shepherd and the Sea . 82 The Swallow in Chancery . 82 The Old Woman and her Maids . 82 The M is e r ........................................ 83 The Wild Boar and the Fox 83 The W olf in Sheep’s Clothing 84 The Boasting Traveller . 84 The W olf and the Horse . 84 The Stag at the Pool . 85 The Old Lion .... 85 The Hunter and the Woodman . 85 Mercury and the Sculptor . 86 The Wolf and the Shepherds • 86 The Astronomer .... 86 The Miller, his Son, and their Ass 87 III. FABLES FROM PHÆDRUS The Vain Jackdaw and the Peacock ...................................................88 The Cow, the She-Goat, the Sheep, and the Lion . 89 The Ass and the Lion Hunting .......89 The Man and the W e a s e l............................................................................. 89 The Faithful D o g ........................................................................................90 The Dog and the C r o c o d i l e ................................................................... 90 The Dog, the Treasure, and the Vulture ..... 90 The Frogs Frightened at the Battle of the Bulls . 91 The Kite and the Pigeons ........ 91 The Lion, the Robber, and the T r a v e l le r .........................................92 The Eagle, the Crow, and the T o r t o i s e .........................................92 Socrates to his Friend .