Part 6 (2/2)

Therefore, cease your frivolous impertinence, for I well know when to go at a gentle pace, and when to run.”

In this Fable, he may be deservedly ridiculed, who, without {any} strength, gives utterance to vain threats.

[Footnote III.21: _Guides my yoke_)--Ver. 6. ”Jugum meum;”

meaning, ”me who bear the yoke.”]

FABLE VII.

THE DOG AND THE WOLF.

I will shew in a few words how sweet is Liberty.

A Wolf, quite starved with hunger, chanced to meet a well-fed Dog, and as they stopped to salute each other, ”Pray,” {said the Wolf}, ”how is it that you are so sleek? or on what food have you made so much flesh?

I, who am far stronger, am peris.h.i.+ng with hunger.” The Dog frankly {replied}: ”You may enjoy the same condition, if you can render the like service to your master.” ”What {is it}?” said the other. ”To be the guardian of his threshold, {and} to protect the house from thieves at night.” ”I am quite ready for that,” {said the Wolf}; ”at present I have to endure snow and showers, dragging on a wretched existence in the woods. How much more pleasant for me to be living under a roof, and, at my ease, to be stuffed with plenty of victuals.” ”Come along, then, with me,” {said the Dog}. As they were going along, the Wolf observed the neck of the Dog, where it was worn with the chain. ”Whence comes this, my friend?” ”Oh, it is nothing.[22]” ”Do tell me, though.” ”Because I appear to be fierce, they fasten me up in the day-time, that I may be quiet when it is light, and watch when night comes; unchained at midnight, I wander wherever I please. Bread is brought me without my asking; from his own table my master gives me bones; the servants throw me bits, and whatever dainties each person leaves; thus, without trouble {on my part}, is my belly filled.” ”Well, if you have a mind to go anywhere, are you at liberty?” ”Certainly not,” replied {the Dog}.

”{Then}, Dog, enjoy what you boast of; I would not be a king, to lose my liberty.”

[Footnote III.22: _It is nothing_)--Ver. 17. ”Nihil est.” This was a form of expression used when they wished to cut short any disagreable question, to which they did not think fit to give a direct answer.]

FABLE VIII.

THE BROTHER AND SISTER.

Warned by this lesson, often examine yourself.

A certain Man had a very ugly Daughter, and also a Son, remarkable for his handsome features. These, diverting themselves, as children do, chanced to look into a mirror, as it lay upon their mother's chair.[23]

He praises his own good looks; she is vexed, and cannot endure the raillery of her boasting brother, construing everything (and how could she do otherwise?) as a reproach {against herself}. Accordingly, off she runs to her Father, to be avenged {on him} in her turn, and with great rancour, makes a charge against the Son, how that he, though a male, has been meddling with a thing that belongs to the women. Embracing them both, kissing them, and dividing his tender affection between the two, he said: ”I wish you both to use the mirror every day: you, that you may not spoil your beauty by vicious conduct; you, that you may make amends by your virtues for your looks.”

[Footnote III.23: _Their mother's chair_)--Ver. 4. The ”cathedra” was properly a soft or easy chair used in the ”gynaecaea,” or women's apartments. These were of various forms and sizes, and had backs to them; it was considered effeminate for the male s.e.x to use them. ”Sellae” was the name of seats common to both s.e.xes. The use of the ”speculum,” or mirror, was also confined to the female s.e.x; indeed, even Pallas or Minerva was represented as shunning its use, as only befitting her more voluptuous fellow-G.o.ddess, Venus.]

FABLE IX.

SOCRATES TO HIS FRIENDS.

The name of a friend is common; but fidelity is rarely found.

Socrates having laid for himself the foundation of a small house (a man, whose death I would not decline, if I could acquire {similar} fame, and {like him} I could yield to envy, if I might be but acquitted[24] when ashes); one of the people, no matter who, {amongst such pa.s.sing remarks} as are usual in these cases, asked: ”Why do you, so famed as you are, build so small a house?”

”I {only} wish,” he replied, ”I could fill it with real friends.”

[Footnote III.24: _I might be acquitted_)--Ver. 4. He alludes to the fate of Socrates, who, after he was put to death by his countrymen, was publicly p.r.o.nounced to be innocent, and a statue was erected in his honour.]

FABLE X.

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