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 Gods 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.”[NF.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?” “I don’t deny,” said she, “that to your tongue I owe most sincere thanks, and I return them, but I wish you may be deprived of your perfidious eyes.”
[ Fable XXVIII.]
THE YOUNG MAN AND THE COURTESAN.
Many things are pleasing which still are not to our advantage.
While a perfidious Courtesan was fawning upon a Youth, and he, though wronged by her many a time and oft, still showed himself indulgent to the Woman, the faithless Creature thus addressed him: “Though many contend for me with their gifts, still do I esteem you the most.” The Youth, recollecting how many times he had been deceived, replied: “Gladly, my love, do I hear these words; not because you are constant, but because you administer to my pleasures.”
[ Fable XXIX.]
THE BEAVER.
Many would escape, if for the sake of safety they would disregard their comforts.
The Beaver (to which the talkative Greeks have given the name of Castor, thus bestowing upon an animal the name of a God[NF.22]—they who boast of the abundance of their epithets) when can no longer escape the dogs, is said to bite off his testicles, because he is aware that it is for them he is sought; a thing which I would not deny being done through an instinct granted by the Gods; for as soon as the Huntsman has found the drug, he ceases his pursuit, and calls off the dogs.
If men could manage, so as to be ready to part with what they own, in order to live in safety for the future, there would be no one to devise stratagems to the detriment of the naked body.