Part 19 (2/2)
FABLE XXIV.
THE TRUTHFUL MAN, THE LIAR, AND THE APES.
A Liar and a Truthful Man, while travelling together, chanced to come into the land of the Apes. One of the number, who had made himself King, seeing them, ordered them to be detained, that he might learn what men said of him, {and} at the same time he ordered all the Apes to stand in lengthened array on the right and left; and that a throne should be placed for himself, as he had formerly seen was the practice with the Kings among men. After this he questions the men {so} ordered to be brought before him: ”What do you think of me, strangers?” ”You seem to be a most mighty King,” the Liar replied. ”What of these whom you see now about me?” ”These are ministers,[7] these are lieutenants, and leaders of troops.” The Ape thus lyingly praised, together with his crew, orders a present to be given to the flatterer. On this the Truth-teller {remarked} to himself: ”If so great the reward for lying, with what gifts shall I not be presented, if, according to my custom, I tell the truth?” The Ape then {turns} to the Truthful Man: ”And what do you think of me and those whom you see standing before me?” He made answer: ”You are a genuine Ape, and all these {are} Apes, who are like you.” The King, enraged, ordered him to be torn with teeth and claws, because he had told the truth.
A courtly lie is praised by the wicked; plain-spoken truth brings destruction on the good.
[Footnote AF.7: _Your ministers_)--Ver. 13. ”Comites” here seems to mean ”ministers,” in the sense in which the word was used in the times of the later Roman emperors.]
FABLE XXV.
THE MAN AND THE LION.
A Man was disputing with a Lion which was the stronger of the two, and while they were seeking evidence on the matter in dispute, they came at last to a sepulchre, on which {the human disputant} pointed out a Lion, depicted with his jaws rent asunder by a Man--a striking proof of superior strength. The Lion made answer: ”This was painted by a human hand; if Lions knew how to paint, you would see the man undermost. But I will give a more convincing proof of our valour.” He {accordingly} led the Man to some games,[8] where, calling his attention to men slain in reality by Lions, he said: ”There is no need of the testimony of pictures here; real valour is shown by deeds.”
{This} Fable teaches that liars use colouring in vain, when a sure test is produced.
[Footnote AF.8: _Some games_)--Ver. 9. ”Spectaculum,” or ”venatio.” These were exhibited by the wealthy Romans in the amphitheatre or circus, and on some occasions many hundred beasts were slain in one day. Of course, as here mentioned, their a.s.sailants would sometimes meet with an untimely end.]
FABLE XXVI.
THE STORK, THE GOOSE, AND THE HAWK.
A Stork, having come to a well-known pool, found a Goose diving frequently beneath the water, {and} enquired why she did so. The other replied: ”This is our custom, and we find our food in the mud; and then, besides, we thus find safety, and escape the attack of the Hawk when he comes against us.” ”I am much stronger than the Hawk,” said the Stork; ”if you choose to make an alliance with me, you will be able victoriously to deride him.” The Goose believing her, and immediately accepting her aid, goes with her into the fields: forthwith comes the Hawk, and seizes the Goose in his remorseless claws and devours her, while the Stork flies off. The Goose {called out after her}: ”He who trusts himself to so weak a protector, deserves to come to a still worse end.”
FABLE XXVII.
THE SHEEP AND THE CROW.
A Crow, sitting at her ease upon a Sheep's back, pecked her with her beak. After she had done this for a long time, the Sheep, so patient under injury, remarked: ”If you had offered this affront to the Dog, you could not have endured his barking.” But the Crow {thus answered} the Sheep: ”I never sit on the neck of one so strong, as I know whom I may provoke; my years having taught me cunning, I am civil to the robust, but insolent to the defenceless. Of such a nature have the G.o.ds thought fit to create me.”
{This} Fable was written for those base persons who oppress the innocent, {and} fear to annoy the bold.
FABLE XXVIII.
THE ANT AND THE GRa.s.sHOPPER.
In winter time, an Ant was dragging forth from her hole, and drying, the grains which, in her foresight, she had collected during the summer.
A Gra.s.shopper, being hungry, begged her to give him something: the Ant {replied}: ”What were you doing in summer?” The other {said}: ”I had not leisure to think of the future: I was wandering through hedges and meadows, singing away.” The Ant laughing, and carrying back the grains, said: ”Very well, you who were singing away in the summer, dance in the winter.”
Let the sluggard always labour at the proper time, lest when he has nothing, he beg in vain.
FABLE XXIX.
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