The New Fables—attributed to Phædrus.
Fable I.

The Ape and the Fox

[435]
II.

The Author

[436]
III.

Mercury and the two Women

[436]
IV.

Prometheus and Cunning

[437]
V.

The Author

[438]
VI.

The signification of the Punishments of Tartarus

[438]
VII.

The Author

[439]
VIII.

Æsop and the Author

[439]
IX.

Pompeius Magnus and his Soldier

[440]
X.

Juno, Venus, and the Hen

[441]
XI.

The Father of a Family and Æsop

[442]
XII.

The Philosopher and the Victor in the Gymnastic Games

[442]
XIII.

The Ass and the Lyre

[443]
XIV.

The Widow and the Soldier

[443]
XV.

The Rich Suitor and the Poor One

[444]
XVI.

Æsop and his Mistress

[445]
XVII.

A Cock carried in a Litter by Cats

[446]
XVIII.

The Sow bringing forth and the Wolf

[446]
XIX.

The Runaway Slave and Æsop

[447]
XX.

The Chariot Horse sold for the Mill

[447]
XXI.

The Hungry Bear

[448]
XXII.

The Traveller and the Raven

[449]
XXIII.

The Shepherd and the She-Goat

[449]
XXIV.

The Serpent and the Lizard

[449]
XXV.

The Crow and the Sheep

[450]
XXVI.

The Servant and the Master

[450]
XXVII.

The Hare and the Herdsman

[450]
XXVIII.

The Young Man and the Courtesan

[451]
XXIX.

The Beaver

[451]
XXX.

The Butterfly and the Wasp

[452]
XXXI.

The Ground-Swallow and the Fox

[453]
Epilogue[453]
Æsopian Fables—the authors of which are not known.
Fable I.

The Sick Kite

[454]
II.

The Hares tired of Life

[454]
III.

Jupiter and the Fox

[455]
IV.

The Lion and the Mouse

[455]
V.

The Man and the Trees

[456]
VI.

The Mouse and the Frog

[456]
VII.

The Two Cocks and the Hawk

[456]
VIII.

The Snail and the Ape

[457]
IX.

The City Mouse and the Country Mouse

[457]
X.

The Ass fawning upon his Master

[458]
XI.

The Crane, the Crow, and the Countryman

[459]
XII.

The Birds and the Swallow

[459]
XIII.

The Partridge and the Fox

[460]
XIV.

The Ass, the Ox, and the Birds

[461]
XV.

The Lion and the Shepherd

[461]
XVI.

The Goat and the Bull

[462]
XVII.

The Horse and the Ass

[462]
XVIII.

The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat

[463]
XIX.

The Nightingale, the Hawk, and the Fowler

[463]
XX.

The Wolf, the Fox, and the Shepherd

[464]
XXI.

The Sheep and the Wolves

[464]
XXII.

The Ape and the Fox

[465]
XXIII.

The Wolf, the Huntsman, and the Shepherd

[465]
XXIV.

The Truthful Man, the Liar, and the Apes

[466]
XXV.

The Man and the Lion

[467]
XXVI.

The Stork, the Goose, and the Hawk

[467]
XXVII.

The Sheep and the Crow

[468]
XXVIII.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

[468]
XXIX.

The Horse and the Ass

[469]
XXX.

The Old Lion and the Fox

[469]
XXXI.

The Camel and the Flea

[469]
XXXII.

The Kid and the Wolf

[470]
XXXIII.

The Poor Man and the Serpent

[470]
XXXIV.

The Eagle and the Kite

[471]

[THE FABLES OF PHÆDRUS.]

[BOOK I.]

[ THE PROLOGUE.]

The matter which Æsop, the inventor of Fables, has provided, I have polished in Iambic verse. The advantages of this little work are twofold—that it excites laughter, and by counsel guides the life of man. But if any one shall think fit to cavil, because not only wild beasts, but even trees speak, let him remember that we are disporting in fables.

[ Fable I.]
THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.

Driven by thirst, a Wolf and a Lamb had come to the same stream; the Wolf stood above, and the Lamb at a distance below. Then, the spoiler, prompted by a ravenous maw, alleged a pretext for a quarrel. “Why,” said he, “have you made the water muddy for me while I am drinking?” The Fleece-bearer, trembling, answered: “Prithee, Wolf, how can I do what you complain of? The water is flowing downwards from you to where I am drinking.” The other, disconcerted by the force of truth, exclaimed: “Six months ago, you slandered me.” “Indeed,” answered the Lamb, “I was not born then.” “By Hercules,” said the Wolf, “then ’twas your father slandered me;” and so, snatching him up, he tore him to pieces, killing him unjustly.

This Fable is applicable to those men who, under false pretences, oppress the innocent.