<h3>BOOK V.</h3>
<h4><SPAN name="riley_V_pro" id="riley_V_pro">
PROLOGUE.</SPAN></h4>
<p>If I shall anywhere insert the name of Æsop, to whom I have already
rendered every <i>honor</i> that was his due, know that it is for the
sake of <i>his</i> authority, just as some statuaries do in our day, who
obtain a much greater price for their productions, if they inscribe the
name of Praxiteles on their marbles, and Myron on their polished
silver. <i>Therefore</i> let <i>these</i> Fables obtain a hearing.
Carping envy more readily favours the works of antiquity than those of
the present day. But now I turn to a Fable, with a moral to the
purpose.</p>
<h4 class="smallcaps"><SPAN name="riley_V_I" id="riley_V_I">
Fable I.</SPAN><br/>
DEMETRIUS AND MENANDER.</h4>
<p>Demetrius,<ins class="correction" title="text reads ‘1’"></ins>
who was called Phalereus, unjustly took possession of the sovereignty of
Athens. The mob, according to their usual practice, rush from all
quarters vying with each other, and cheer him, and wish him joy. Even
the
chief men kiss the hand by which they are oppressed, while they silently
lament the sad vicissitudes of fortune. Moreover, those who live in
retirement, and take their ease, come creeping in last of all, that
their absence may not injure them. Among these Menander, famous for his
Comedies (which Demetrius, who did not know him, had read, and had
admired the genius of the man), perfumed with unguents, and clad in a
flowing robe, came with a mincing and languid step. As soon as the
Tyrant caught sight of him at the end of the train: “What effeminate
wretch,” said he, “is this, who presumes to come into my presence?”
Those near him made answer: “This is Menander the Poet.” Changed in an
instant, he exclaimed: “A more agreeable looking man could not
possibly exist.”</p>
<h4 class="smallcaps"><SPAN name="riley_V_II" id="riley_V_II">
Fable II.</SPAN><br/>
THE TRAVELLERS AND THE ROBBER.</h4>
<p>Two Soldiers having fallen in with a Robber, one fled, while the
other stood his ground, and defended himself with a stout right-hand.
The Robber slain, his cowardly companion comes running up, and draws his
sword; then throwing back his travelling cloak, says: “Let’s have him;”
“I’ll take care he shall soon know whom he attacks.” On this, he who had
vanquished <i>the robber made answer</i>: “I wish you had seconded
me just now at least with those words; I should have been still
more emboldened, believing them true; now keep your sword quiet, as well
as your silly tongue, that you may be able to deceive others who don’t
know you. I, who have experienced with what speed you take to your
heels, know full well that no dependence is to be placed upon your
valour.”</p>
<p>This story may be applied to him who is courageous in prosperity, in
times of danger takes to flight.</p>
<h4 class="smallcaps"><SPAN name="riley_V_III" id="riley_V_III">
Fable III.</SPAN><br/>
THE BALD MAN AND THE FLY.</h4>
<p>A Fly bit the bare pate of a Bald Man; who, endeavouring to crush it,
gave himself a heavy blow. Then said the Fly jeeringly: “You wanted to
revenge the sting of a tiny insect with death; what will you do to
yourself, who have added insult to injury?” <i>The Man</i> made answer:
“I am easily reconciled to myself, because I know that there was no
intention of doing harm. But you, worthless insect, and one of a
contemptible race, who take a delight in drinking human blood,
I could wish to destroy you, even at a heavier penalty.”</p>
<p>This Fable teaches that pardon is to be granted to him who errs
through mistake. But him who is designedly mischievous, I deem to
be deserving of <i>any</i> punishment.</p>
<h4 class="smallcaps"><SPAN name="riley_V_IV" id="riley_V_IV">
Fable IV.</SPAN><br/>
THE MAN AND THE ASS.</h4>
<p>A Man having sacrificed a young boar to the god Hercules, to whom he
owed performance of a vow <i>made</i> for the preservation of his
health, ordered the remains of the barley to be set for the Ass. But he
refused <i>to touch it</i>, and said: “I would most willingly
accept your food, if he who had been fed upon it had not had his throat
cut.”</p>
<p>Warned by the significance of this Fable, I have always been
careful to avoid the gain that exposed to hazard. “But,” say you, “those
who have got riches by rapine, are <i>still</i> in possession of them.”
Come, then, let us enumerate those, who, being detected, have come to a
bad end; you will find that those <i>so</i> punished constitute a great
majority.</p>
<p>Rashness brings luck to a few, misfortune to most.</p>
<h4 class="smallcaps"><SPAN name="riley_V_V" id="riley_V_V">
Fable V.</SPAN><br/>
THE BUFFOON AND THE COUNTRYMAN.</h4>
<p>Men are in the habit of erring through prejudice; and
while they stand up in defence of their erroneous notions, <i>are
wont</i> to be driven by plain facts to confession of their
mistakes.</p>
<p>A rich Man, about to entertain the people with grand shows, invited
all, by the promise of a reward, to exhibit whatever new piece of
ingenuity any one could. The Performers came to the contest for fame,
among whom a Buffoon, well known for his drollery, said that he had a
kind of entertainment which had never yet been brought out at <i>any</i>
theatre. The rumour, spreading, brought together the <i>whole</i> city;
and the places, empty shortly before, sufficed not for the multitude.
But as soon as he appeared on the stage, alone, <i>and</i> without any
apparatus, any stage-assistants, the very intenseness of expectation
produced silence. Suddenly, he dropped down his head towards his bosom,
and so well did he imitate the voice of a pig with his own, that they
concluded there was a real one under his cloak, and ordered it to be
shaken out. This being done, as soon as they found that nothing was
discovered, they loaded the Man with many praises, and bestowed upon him
the greatest applause.</p>
<p>A Countryman seeing this take place: “Egad,” said he, “he shan’t
surpass me;” and immediately gave out that he would do the same thing
still better on the following day. A still greater crowd assembled.
Prejudice had already taken possession of their minds, and they took
their seats, determined to deride, and not as <i>unbiassed</i>
spectators. Both Performers come forth. First, the Buffoon grunts away,
and excites their applause, and <ins class="correction" title="text reads ‘awaken’">awakens</ins> their acclamations. Next, the Countryman,
pretending that he concealed a pig beneath his clothes (which, in fact,
he did; but quite unsuspected, because they had found none about the
other), twitched the ear of the real <i>pig</i>, which he was
concealing, and with the pain forced from it its natural cry. The people
shouted with one voice that the Buffoon had given a much more exact
imitation, and ordered the Countryman to be driven from the stage. On
this, he produced the pig itself from the folds of his cloak, and
convicting them of their disgraceful mistake by a manifest proof:
“Look,” said <i>he</i>, “this shows what sort of judges you are.”</p>
<h4 class="smallcaps"><SPAN name="riley_V_VI" id="riley_V_VI">
Fable VI.</SPAN><br/>
THE TWO BALD MEN.</h4>
<p>A Bald Man chanced to find a comb in the public road. Another,
equally destitute of hair, came up: “Come,” said he, “shares, whatever
it is you have found.” The other showed the booty, and added withal:
“The will of the Gods has favoured us, but through the malignity of
fate, we have found, as the saying is, a coal instead of a
treasure.”</p>
<p>This complaint befits him whom hope has disappointed.</p>
<h4 class="smallcaps"><SPAN name="riley_V_VII" id="riley_V_VII">
Fable VII.</SPAN><br/>
PRINCEPS, THE FLUTE-PLAYER.</h4>
<p>When a weak mind, beguiled by frivolous applause, has once given way
to insolent self-sufficiency, <i>such</i> foolish vanity is easily
exposed to ridicule.</p>
<p>Princeps, the Flute-player, was pretty well known, being accustomed
to accompany Bathyllus with his music on the stage. It chanced that,
at a representation, I don’t well remember what it was, while the
flying-machine was being whirled along, he fell heavily, through
inadvertence, and broke his left leg, when he would much rather have
parted with two right ones. He was picked up and carried to his
house groaning aloud. Some months pass by before his cure is completed.
As is the way with the spectators, for <i>they are</i> a merry race, the
man began to be missed, by
whose blasts the vigour of the dancer was wont to be kept at full
stretch.</p>
<p>A certain Nobleman was about to exhibit a show, just when Princeps
was beginning to walk abroad. With a present <i>and</i> entreaties he
prevailed upon him merely to present himself on the day of the show.
When the day came a rumour about the Flute-player ran through the
theatre. Some affirmed that he was dead, some that he would appear
before them without delay. The curtain falling, the thunders rolled,
and the Gods conversed in the usual form. At this moment the Chorus
struck up a song unknown to him who had so recently returned; of which
the burthen was this: “Rejoice, Rome, in security, for your prince
[<i>Princeps</i>] is well.” All rise with one consent and applaud. The
Flute-player kisses hands, <i>and</i> imagines that his friends are
congratulating him. The Equestrian order perceive the ridiculous
mistake, and with loud laughter encore the song. It is repeated. My man
<i>now</i> throws himself <i>sprawling</i> at full length upon the
stage. Ridiculing him, the Knights applaud; while the
people fancy he is <i>only</i> asking for a chaplet. When, however, the
reality came to be known throughout all the tiers, Princeps, his leg
bound up with a snow-white fillet, clad in snow-white tunic, <i>and</i>
snow-white shoes, while pluming himself on the honors really paid to
the Deified House, was thrust out headlong by common consent.</p>
<h4 class="smallcaps"><SPAN name="riley_V_VIII" id="riley_V_VIII">
Fable VIII.</SPAN><br/>
THE EMBLEM OF OPPORTUNITY.</h4>
<p>A Bald Man, balancing on a razor’s edge, fleet of foot, his forehead
covered with hair, his body naked—if you have caught him, hold
him fast; when he has once escaped, not Jupiter himself can overtake
him: he is the emblem how shortlived is Opportunity.</p>
<p>The ancients devised such a portraiture of Time, <i>to signify</i>
that slothful delay should not hinder the execution of our purposes.</p>
<h4 class="smallcaps"><SPAN name="riley_V_IX" id="riley_V_IX">
Fable IX.</SPAN><br/>
THE BULL AND THE CALF.</h4>
<p>When a Bull was struggling with his horns in a narrow passage, and
could hardly effect an entrance to the manger, a Calf began to
point out in what way he might turn himself: “Hush,” said <i>the
Bull</i>, “I knew that before you were born.”</p>
<p>Let him who would instruct a wiser man, consider <i>this as</i> said
to himself.</p>
<h4 class="smallcaps"><SPAN name="riley_V_X" id="riley_V_X">
Fable X.</SPAN><br/>
THE HUNTSMAN AND THE DOG.</h4>
<p>A Dog, who had always given satisfaction to his master by his
boldness against swift and savage beasts, began to grow feeble under
increasing years. On one occasion, being
urged to the combat with a bristling Boar, he seized him by the ear;
but, through the rottenness of his teeth, let go his prey. Vexed at
this, the Huntsman upbraided the Dog. Old Barker <i>replied</i>: “It
is not my courage that disappoints you, but my strength. You commend me
for what I have been; and you blame me that I am not <i>what I
was</i><ins class="correction" title="close quote missing">.” </ins></p>
<p>You, Philetus, may easily perceive why I have written this.</p>
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