Part 17 (1/2)

_Confidence is not to be placed in the wicked._

A Bird which the Rustics call a Ground-Swallow ({terraneola}), because it makes its nest in the ground, chanced to meet a wicked Fox, on seeing whom she soared aloft on her wings. ”Save you,” said the other; ”why, pray, do you fly from me, as though I had not abundance of food in the meadows,--crickets, beetles, {and} plenty of locusts. You have nothing to fear, I beg {to a.s.sure you}; I love you dearly for your quiet ways, and your harmless life.” {The Bird} replied: ”You speak very fairly, indeed; however, I am not near you, but up in the air; I shall therefore proceed, and that is the way in which I trust my life to you.”

FABLE x.x.xII.

THE EPILOGUE.[26]

_Of those who read this book._

Whatever my Muse has here written in sportive mood, both malice and worth equally join in praising; but the latter with candour, while the other is secretly annoyed.

[Footnote NF.26: _The Epilogue_)--This appears in reality to be only the Fragment of an Epilogue.]

aeSOPIAN FABLES.[1]

THE AUTHORS OF WHICH ARE NOT KNOWN

[Footnote AF.1: _aesopian Fables_)--These aesopian Fables appear much more worthy of the genius of Phaedrus than the preceding ones, which have been attributed to him by the Italian Editors. The name of the author or authors of these is unknown; but from the internal evidence, it is not improbable that some may have been composed by Phaedrus.]

FABLE I.

THE SICK KITE.

A Kite having been sick for many months, and seeing now there was no longer any hope of his recovery, asked his Mother to go round the sacred places, and make the most earnest vows for his recovery. ”I will do so, my Son,” said she, ”but I am greatly afraid I shall obtain no help; but you, who have polluted every temple {and} every altar with your ravages, sparing no sacrificial food, what is it you would now have me ask?”

FABLE II.

THE HARES TIRED OF LIFE.

He who cannot endure his own misfortune, let him look at others, and learn patience.

On one occasion, the Hares being scared in the woods by a great noise, cried out, that, on account of their continued alarms, they would end their lives. So they repaired to a certain pond, into which, in their despondency, they were going to throw themselves. Alarmed at their approach, some Frogs fled distractedly into the green sedge. ”Oh!” says one {of the hares}, ”there are others too whom fear of misfortune torments. Endure existence as others do.”

FABLE III.

JUPITER AND THE FOX.

No fortune conceals baseness of nature.

Jupiter having changed a Fox into a human shape, while she was sitting as a Mistress on a royal throne, she saw a beetle creeping out of a corner, and sprang nimbly towards the well-known prey. The G.o.ds of heaven smiled; the Great Father was ashamed, and expelled the Concubine, repudiated and disgraced, addressing her in these words: ”Live on in the manner that you deserve, you, who cannot make a worthy use of my kindness.”

FABLE IV.

THE LION AND THE MOUSE.