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Prose. Verse. Prologue 365 473 Fable I. The Wolf and the Lamb 365 473 II. The Frogs asking for a King 366 474 III. The vain Jackdaw and the Peacock 367 475 IV. The Dog carrying some Meat across a River 368 476 V. The Cow, the She-Goat, the Sheep, and the Lion 368 476 VI. The F...
If I shall anywhere insert the name of Æsop, to whom I have already rendered every {honor} that was his due, know that it is for the sake of {his} authority, just as some statua...
9. Chapter 9If you have a desire, Eutychus, to read the little books of Phædrus, you must keep yourself disengaged from business, that your mind, at liberty, may relish the meaning of the l...
10. Chapter 10When I had determined to put an end to my labours, with the view that there might be material enough {left} for others, in my mind I silently condemned {my} resolve. For even if...
15. Chapter 15To you, who’ve graver things bespoke, This seems no better than a joke, And light for mere amusement made; Yet still we drive the scribbling trade, And from the pen our pleasure...
14. Chapter 14The tales of Phædrus would you read, O Eutychus, you must be freed From business, that the mind unbent May take the author’s full intent. You urge that this poetic turn Of mine...
6. Chapter 6The 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 b...
12. Chapter 12What from the founder Esop fell, In neat familiar verse I tell: Twofold’s the genius of the page, To make you smile and make you sage. But if the critics we displease, By wrangl...
16. Chapter 16When I resolved my hand to stay For this, that others might have play, On reconsidering of my part I soon recanted in my heart: For if a rival should arise, How can he possibly...
8. Chapter 8The plan of Æsop is confined to instruction by examples; nor by Fables is anything else[1] aimed at than that the errors of mortals may be corrected, and persevering industry[2]...
7. Chapter 7related by a Ligurian to Comanus, the son of King Nannus, who had granted (about B.C. 540) some land to the Phocæans for the foundation of the city of Massilia; signifying there...
13. Chapter 13The way of writing Esop chose, Sound doctrine by example shows; For nothing by these tales is meant, So much as that the bad repent; And by the pattern that is set, Due diligenc...
5. Chapter 5Prologue 427 526 Fable I. Demetrius and Menander 427 527 II. The Travellers and the Robber 428 528 III. The Bald Man and the Fly 429 529 IV. The Man and the Ass 429 529 V. The B...
1. Chapter 1Prose. Verse. Prologue 365 473 Fable I. The Wolf and the Lamb 365 473 II. The Frogs asking for a King 366 474 III. The vain Jackdaw and the Peacock 367 475 IV. The Dog carrying...
4. Chapter 4Prologue 409 510 Fable I. The Ass and the Priests of Cybele 410 509 [III.XIX in Smart] II. The Weasel and the Mice 411 510 [I] III. The Fox and the Grapes 411 511 [II] IV. The H...
3. Chapter 3Prologue, to Eutychus 390 497 Fable I. The Old Woman and the Cask 393 498 II. The Panther and Shepherd 394 498 III. Esop and the Farmer 395 --- IV. The Butcher and the Ape 395 4...
2. Chapter 2Prologue 382 488 Fable I. The Lion, the Robber, and the Traveller 383 488 II. Two Women of different Ages beloved by the Middle-aged Man 383 489 III. The Man and the Dog 384 489...