FABLES, OF ÆSOP And Other Eminent MYTHOLOGISTS: WITH Morals and Reflexions.

By Sir Roger L’Estrange, Kt.

The Third Edition Corrected and Amended.

LONDON, Printed for R. Sare, B. Took, M. Gillyflower, A. & J. Churchil, G. Sawbridge, and H. Hindmarsh, 1669.

LONDON: REPRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY JOHN GRAY AND CO., W. G. S. URQUHART, MANAGER, 5, GOLDSMITH’S ROW, EAST HARDING STREET, E.C.

AN Alphabetical Table, Referring to the NUMBER of the Respective FABLES

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THE LIFE OF ÆSOP.

Chap. I. Of Æsop’s Country, Condition, and Person.

Æsop (according to Planudes, Camerarius and Others) was by birth, of Ammorius, a Town in the Greater Phrygia; (though some will have him to be a Thracian, others a Samian) of a mean Condition, and in his person deformed, to the highest degree: Flat-Nos’d, Hunch-Back’d, Blabber-Lipp’d; a Long Mishapen Head; His Body Crooked all over, Big-Belly’d, Baker-Legg’d, and his Complexion so swarthy, that he took his very Name from’t; for Æsop is the same with Æthiop. And he was not only Unhappy in the most scandalous Figure of a Man, that ever was heard of; but he was in a manner Tongue-Ty’d too, by such an Impediment in his speech, that People could very hardly understand what he said. This Imperfection is said, to have been the most sensible part of his Misfortune; for the Excellency of his Mind might otherwise have Atton’d in some Measure, for the Uncouth Appearance of his Person (at least if That Part of History may pass for Current.) There goes a Tradition, that he had the good Hap to Relieve certain Priests that were Hungry,

and out of their way, and to set them Right again; and that for that good Office, he was upon their Prayers, brought to the Use of his Tongue: But Camerarius, whom I shall Principally follow, has no Faith in the Miracle, And so He begins his History [2]with the tracing of him to Samos, and from thence Prosecutes it through the most Remarkable Passages of his Life, to the Last Barbarous Violence upon him at Delphos. As to his Impediment in his speech, whether there were any such thing or Not, or how he came to be cur’d of it, the Reader is at Liberty what to Believe and what Not. And so likewise for Twenty Other Passages up and down this History; Some of them too Trivial, and others too Gross to be taken Notice of, Upon this Argument and Occasion: Let it suffice, that (according to the Common Tradition) he had been Already Twice Bought and Sold; and so we shall Date the Story of his Adventures; from his Entrance into the Service of at least a Third Master.

As to the Age he liv’d in, it is Agreed upon among the Antients, that it was when Crœsus Govern’d Lydia; as also that Xanthus, a Samian, was his Master. Herodotus will have it to be one Jadmon a Samian too; but still according to the Current of most Writers, Xanthus was the Man.

Chap. II. Æsop and his Fellow-slaves Upon their Journey to Ephesus.

It was Æsop’s Fortune to be sent to Ephesus, in Company with other Slaves to be sold. His Master had a great many Burdens to Carry, and Æsop begg’d of his Companions not to over Charge him. They found him a Weakling, and bad him please himself. The Parcel that he Pitch’d upon was a Panier of Bread; and twice as heavy as any of the rest. They called him a thousand Fools for his pains, and so took up their Luggage, and away they Trudg’d together. About Noon, they had their Dinner deliver’d out of Æsop’s Basket, which made his Burden Lighter by one half in the Afternoon, then it had been in the Morning: And after the next Meal he had Nothing left him to Carry, but an Empty Basket. His Fellow-Slaves began Now to Understand, that Æsop was not so Arrant a Fool as they took him for; and that they Themselves had not half the Wit they Thought they had.

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Chap. III. Æsop is accus’d by False Witnesses for Stealing his Master’s Figs; and brings himself off by his Wits, to the Confusion of his Accusers.

Æsop was not of a Make to do his Master much Credit in the Quality of a Houshold Servant: So that he rather sent him abroad into the Fields a Digging, and to take care of his Husbandry. By the time he had been there a While, his Master went out after him to see how he went on with his Work; and found Every thing done much to his Satisfaction. In this Interim comes a Countryman to him with a Present of most Delicious Figs; which he was so Wonderfully delighted with, that he gave them in Charge to his Boy Agathopus to see them carefully laid up till he came back from the Bath, whither he was then a going. Æsop, it seems, was now gone home upon some Particular Business, and Agathopus laid hold of This Occasion to tell One of his Companions, of a Design he had, both upon the Figs, and upon their Fellow-Servant. What have we more to do says he, than to Stuff our Guts with These Figs our selves, and then lay the Roguery upon Æsop, who is at This Instant in the House where they are? And then, when our Master comes to Examine the Matter, we are Two

Witnesses to One against him, which will make it so clear a Case, that the Silly Cur will not have the Face to Deny the Fact. The Plot, in short, was agreed upon; and to work they went, upon the Figs, making themselves Merry upon Every Bit they Swallow’d, to Consider how Æsop’s Carcase was to pay for All.

The Master, upon his coming from the Bath, call’d immediately for his Figs, and hearing that Æsop had been before-hand with him, he sent for him in a Rage, and Rattled him with a Thousand Traytors and Villains, for Robbing his House, and Devouring the Fruit that he had set apart for his own Palate. This Miserable Wretch, heard, and understood All that was said; but by Reason of an Imperfection in his Speech, he was not able to speak one Word in his Own Defence. His Enemies in the mean time Insulting over him, and calling for Justice upon so Insolent a Cheat. They were now advancing from [4]Reproches to Blows, when Æsop cast himself at his Master’s Feet, and begg’d his Patience only till he might go out, and come in again. He went his way immediately, and fetch’d a Vessel of Warm Water; took a Large Draught of it, in his Masters Presence, and with his Finger in his Throat brought it all clear up again without any Other Mixture. After This Experiment upon Himself, he gave his Master to Understand, that if he would be pleased to put his Accusers to the same

Test, he should quickly see what was become of his Figs. The Proposal seem’d so Reasonable, that he Order’d Agathopus and his Fellow to do the Like. They made some Difficulty at first of following Æsops Example; but in the end, upon taking a Soup of the same Liquor, their Stomachs Wambled, and up came the Water, Figs and all. Upon this Evidence of the Treachery and Falshood of Agathopus and his Companion, the Master Order’d them to be Soundly Lash’d, and made good the Old Saying, Harm Watch, Harm Catch.

Chap. IV. The Sale of Æsop to Xanthus.

Upon the Merchants Arrival at Ephesus, he made a quick Riddance of All his Slaves but Three. That is to say, a Musician, an Orator, and Æsop. He dress’d up the Two Former in Habits answerable to their Profession, and Carry’d them to Samos, as the Likeliest Place for a Chapman. He shew’d them there in the open Market, with Æsop for a Fool betwixt them; which some People took much offence at. While they were attending upon the Place, there came among other Samians, one Xanthus, an Eminent Philosopher of that City, with a Train of his Disciples at his Heels. The Philosopher was mightily pleased with the Two Youths, and ask’d them one after another about their Profession, and what they could do. The one told him he could do any thing; the other that he could do ev’ry thing; this set Æsop a laughing at ’em. The Philosopher’s Pupils would needs know what it was that made Æsop so merry. Why, says he, if the Question had been put by your Master, I should have told him the reason of it.

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Xanthus in the mean time was beating the Price of the Two other Slaves, but the Terms were so high, that he was just upon turning about to go his way, Only the Pupils would needs have him put the same Questions first to the Ill favour’d Fellow, that he had done to the other Two; and so Xanthus, for the Humour sake, Interrogated Æsop what He could do. Nothing at all, says he. How comes That says the Philosopher? My Companions, says the Other, Undertake every thing, and there’s Nothing left for me to do. This gave them to Understand, that the Man knew well enough what he said, and what he Laugh’d at. Well! says Xanthus, but if I should give Money for you Now, would you be Good and Honest? I’ll be That, says Æsop, whether you Buy me or No. Ay, but tell me again, says the Philosopher, Won’t you run away? Pray says Æsop, did you ever hear of a Bird in a Cage that told his Master he Intended to make his Escape? Xanthus was well enough pleased with the Turn and Quickness of his Wit; but, says he, That Unlucky Shape of yours will set

People a Hooting and Gaping at you wherever you go. A Philosopher says Æsop should value a man for his Mind, Not for his Body. This presence of Thought gave Xanthus a High Opinion of the Wisdom of the Man; and so he bad the Merchant set him his Lowest Price of That Miserable Creature. Why says he, you had as good Cheapen a Dunghil; but if you’ll bid me like a Chapman for either of the Other Two, you shall have this Phantome into the Bargain. Very good says the Philosopher; and without any more ado what’s your selling Price? The Merchant speaks the Word, The Philosopher pays the Money, and takes Æsop away with him.

Chap. V. Xanthus Presents Æsop to his Wife.

Xanthus had no sooner made his Purchase, and carry’d his Jewel home with him, but, having a kind of a Nice Froward Piece to his Wife, the Great Difficulty was how to put her in Humour for the Entertainment of this Monster, without throwing the House out at the Window. My Dear, says he, You have been often complaining of Careless [6]Servants; And I have brought you one Now that I am Confident will fit your Turn. He shall Go and Come, and Wait, and do Every thing as you would have him; Oh, your Servant Sweet heart says she, but what did he Cost you? Why truly very Reasonable; but at Present He’s a Little Tann’d, and out of case you must know, with his Journey, says the Husband, and so he Order’d him to be call’d in. The Cunning Gipsy smoak’d the Matter presently. Some Monster says she, I’ll be Hanged else. Wife, Wife, says Xanthus, If you are a good Woman, That that Pleases Me Must Please You too. While These Words were between his Lips, up comes Æsop toward them; she gave him a Fierce Look, and Immediately discharg’d her Choler upon her Husband. Is this a

Man, or a Beast? says she, and what Clearer Proof in the World Could You have given me Now, of an Insufferable Hatred and Contempt? Æsop said not one Word all This While; ’till Xanthus Rouz’d him with a Reproof. Oh Villain! says he; to have a Tongue and Wit at Will upon All other Occasions, and not one Diverting Syllable Now at a Pinch, to Pacify your Mistress! Æsop, after a short Pause upon’t, Bolted out an Old Greek Saying, which is in English to this Effect, From Lying at the Mercy of Fire, Water, and a Wicked Woman, Good Lord Deliver us. If the Wife was heartily angry before, This Scomm made her Stark Mad, and the Reproche was so Cutting too, that Xanthus himself did not well know how to take it. But Æsop brought himself off again from the Malice of any ill Intention, by a Passage out of Euripides to this Purpose. The Raging of a Tempestuous Sea; The Fury of a Devouring Fire, and the Pinching Want of Necessaries for Life, are Three Dreadful Things, and a Body might reckon up a Thousand more; but all this is Nothing to the Terrible Violences of an Impetuous

Woman, and therefore, says he, Make yourself as Glorious on the other side, in the Rank of Good Women. Vavasor the Jesuite, in his De Ludicra Dictione, takes Notice of a Blunder here in the Chronology of the Story. For Æsop was Murder’d at least Fourscore Years before Euripides was Born. But to follow the Thred of the Relation; Upon this Oblique Admonition, the Woman came to herself again, and took Æsop into her good Graces, who render’d his Master and Mistress All the Offices of a Faithful Servant.

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Chap. VI. Æsop’s Answer to a Gard’ner.

Some Two or Three Days after the Encounter above mentioned, Xanthus took Æsop along with him to a Garden to buy some Herbs, and the Gard’ner seeing him in a Habit of a Philosopher, told him the Admiration he was in, to find how much faster Those Plants shot up that Grow of their own accord, than Those that he set Himself, though he took never so much Care about them. Now you that are a Philosopher, Pray will you tell me the meaning of This? Xanthus had no better answer at hand, then to tell him, That Providence would have it so: Whereupon Æsop brake out into a Loud Laughter. Why how now Ye slave You, says Xanthus, what do you Laugh at? Æsop took him aside and told him, Sir, I Laugh at your Master, that Taught You no better: for what signifies a Gen’ral Answer to a Particular Question? And ’tis no News Neither that Providence orders All Things: But if you’ll turn him over to me, You shall see I’ll give him another sort of Resolve. Xanthus told the Gard’ner, that it was below a Philosopher to busy his head about such Trifles; but says he, If you have a

Curiosity to be better Inform’d, you shall do well to ask my Slave here, and see what he’ll say to you. Upon this, the Gard’ner put the Question to Æsop, Who gave him this Answer. The Earth is in the Nature of a Mother to what She brings forth of her Self, out of her own Bowels; Whereas She is only a kind of a Step-Dame, in The Production of Plants that are Cultivated and Assisted by The Help and Industry of Another: so that it’s Natural for her to Withdraw her Nourishment from the One, towards The Relief of the Other. The Gard’ner, upon this, was so well satisfied, That he would take no Mony for his Herbs, and Desired Æsop to make Use of his Garden for the future, as if it were his own.

There are several Stories in Planudes, that I shall pass over in this Place (says Camerarius) as not worth the while: Particularly The Fables of the Lentills, the Bath, the Sow’s Feet, and several Little Tales and Jests that I take to be neither well Laid, nor well put together; Neither is it any matter, in Relations of this Nature, Whether they be True or False, but if [8]they be Proper and Ingenious; and so contriv’d, that the Reader or the Hearer may be the better for them, That’s as much as is required: Wherefore I shall now Commit to Writing Two Fables or Stories, One about the bringing his Mistress home again, when she had left her Husband; Which is drawn from the Model of a Greek History set out by Pausanias in his Description of Bœtia; The Other, upon the Subject of a Treat of Neats Tongues, which was taken from Bias, as we have it from Plutarch in his Convivium Septem Sapientum.

Chap. VII. Æsop’s Invention to bring his Mistress back again to her Husband, after she had Left him.

The wife of Xanthus was wellborn and wealthy, but so Proud and Domineering withal, as if her Fortune and her Extraction had Entituled her to the Breeches. She was Horribly Bold, Meddling, and Expensive; (as that sort of Women commonly are) Easily put off the Hooks, and Monstrous hard to be pleased again: Perpetually chattering at her Husband, and upon All occasions of controversy, Threatning him to be gone. It came to this at Last, that Xanthus’s stock of Patience being quite spent, he took up a Resolution of going another way to Work with her, and of trying a Course of Severity, since there was nothing to be done with her by Kindness. But this Experiment, instead of mending The Matter, made it worse; for upon harder Usage, The Woman grew Desperate, and went away from him in Earnest. She was as Bad ’tis true as Bad might well be, and yet Xanthus had a kind of Hankering for her still: Beside that there was matter of Interest in the Case: and a Pestilent Tongue she had, that the Poor Husband Dreaded above all things Under the Sun: but the man was willing however to make the Best

of a Bad Game, and so his Wits and his Friends were set at Work, in the fairest Manner that Might be, to get her home again. But there was No good to be done in’t it seems; and Xanthus was so visibly out of Humour upon’t, that Æsop in Pure Pity bethought himself Immediately how to Comfort him. Come Master (says he) Pluck up a good heart; for I have a [9]Project in my Noddle that shall bring my Mistress to you back again, with as good a Will as ever she went from you. What does me Æsop, but away Immediately to the Market among the Butchers, Poulterers, Fishmongers, Confectioners, &c. for the Best of Every thing that was in Season. Nay he takes private People in his way too, and Chops into the very house of his Mistresses Relations, as by Mistake. This Way of Proceeding set the whole Town a Gog to know the Meaning of all this Bustle, and Æsop innocently told everybody That his Master’s Wife was run away from him, and he had Marry’d another: His Friends up and down were all Invited to come and make Merry with him, and This was to be

the Wedding Feast. The News flew like Light’ning, and happy were they could carry the First Tydings of it to the Run-away-Lady: (for every body knew Æsop to be a Servant in That Family.) It Gathered in the Rolling, as all Other Stories do in the Telling: Especially where Womens Tongues and Passions have the spreading of them. The Wife, that was in her Nature Violent, and Unsteady, order’d her Chariot to be made ready Immediately, and away she Posts back to her Husband: falls upon him with Outrages of Looks and Language; and after the Easing of her mind a Little; No, Xanthus, says she, Do not you Flatter your self with the hopes of Enjoying another Woman while I am alive. Xanthus look’d upon this as one of Æsop’s Master-pieces; and for that Bout All was well again betwixt Master and Mistress.

Chap. VIII. An Entertainment of Neats Tongues.

Some few days after the Ratification of This Peace, Xanthus Invited several Philosophers of his Acquaintance to Supper with him; and Charges Æsop to make the Best Provision he could think of, for their Entertainment. Æsop had a Wit waggish Enough, and This General Commission furnished him with Matter to work upon. So soon as ever the Guests were set down at the Table, Xanthus calls for Supper, and Expected no less than a very Splendid [10]Treat. The First Service was Neats Tongues sliced, which the Philosophers took Occasion to Discourse and Quibble upon in a Grave Formal way, as The Tongue (for the purpose) is the Oracle of Wisdom, and the like. Xanthus, upon This, calls for a Second Course, and after That for a Third, and so for a Fourth, which were All Tongues, over and over again still, only several ways Dressed: Some Boil’d, Others Fry’d, and some again serv’d up in Soupe, which put Xanthus into a Furious Passion. Thou Villain, says he, Is this according to my Order, to have Nothing but Tongues upon Tongues?

Sir says Æsop, without any hesitation, Since it is my Ill fortune to fall under this Accusation, I do Appeal to All These Learned Persons, whether I have done Well, or Ill, and pay’d that Respect to your Order which I ought to do.

Your order was, That I should make the Best Provision that I could think of for the Entertainment of These Excellent Persons, and if the Tongue be the Key that Leads Us into All Knowledge, what could be more proper and suitable then a Feast of Tongues for a Philosophical Banquet?