Part 16 (1/2)

FABLE XXIII.

THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHE-GOAT.

_Nothing is secret which shall not be made manifest._[18]

A Shepherd had broken[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.”

[Footnote NF.18: _Be made manifest_)--Ver. 1. This moral is couched in the same words as St. Luke, viii. 17: ”For nothing is secret which shall not be made manifest.”]

[Footnote NF.19: _A Shepherd had broken_)--Ver. 1. As Adry remarks, this Fable more closely resembles the brevity and elegance of Phaedrus.]

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 s.n.a.t.c.hed 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 guilty[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.”

[Footnote NF.20: _Having been guilty_)--Ver. 5. Chambry, one of the French Editors, omits this, as unworthy of Phaedrus, and Adry p.r.o.nounces it unintelligible. The meaning of this, which is Jannelli's version, seems to be: ”When you ought not to please yourself, you do please yourself, in committing the crime; but the consequence is that, afterwards, when you ought to feel pleased, in that you have gratified your desires, you cannot, in consequence of your guilty conscience.” It is so mutilated, however, that Ca.s.sitti, Jannelli, and other Editors give entirely different versions.]

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 G.o.ds 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.”[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?”