Aesop and His Fables

Introduction to Aesop
Aesop is a legendary figure credited with a collection of fables. While the historical existence of a
single individual named Aesop is debated, the fables attributed to him are significant in literature
and moral instruction.

Origins and Appearance: The text describes Aesop as a potentially historical figure who was
"ugly" and born with "several physical deformities," including one that "prevented speech." He
is compared to a "turnip," "pot," "jar for food," or "goose egg." He was also a slave.
Gaining Speech: A priestess of Isis, grateful for a good turn Aesop did for her, prayed for him
to be granted speech, which he then received.
Life as a Slave: Aesop was a slave to a philosopher named Xanthus. Despite his servitude,
Aesop's "cleverness" made him difficult to manage. He is noted for outwitting his master and
others through clever schemes.
Method of Teaching: Aesop was a master of wit and comparative analysis. He often used
fables to convey his points, drawing upon existing stories circulating among the Greeks. The
text suggests that "cleverness may lie not in invention, but in exploitation."
Later Life and Death: After gaining his freedom, Aesop traveled, giving speeches and telling
stories. He ultimately met his end by offending the "Delphinians," being framed, and then
"thrown from a cliff."
The Term "Aesopic": Due to the uncertainty surrounding the historical Aesop, it's suggested
that his fables might be better referred to as "Aesopic" (meaning "in the style or manner of
Aesop") rather than being credited to the legendary figure himself.

Key Fables and Their Morals

This section outlines prominent fables attributed to Aesop, along with their stated morals.

The Tortoise and the Hare

Story: A hare mocks a slow-moving tortoise. The tortoise challenges the hare to a race. The
hare, confident in its speed, takes a nap during the race and is overtaken by the steadily
crawling tortoise, who wins.
Moral: Slow and steady wins the race.

The North Wind and the Sun

Story: The North Wind and the Sun compete to see who is stronger. They agree to make a
traveler remove his cloak. The North Wind blows fiercely, but the traveler only wraps himself
tighter. The Sun then shines warmly, and the traveler, overcome by heat, removes his cloak.
Moral: Persuasion is better than force.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Story: A bored shepherd boy repeatedly falsely shouts "wolf" to amuse himself, causing
villagers to rush to his aid in vain. When a real wolf appears and the boy cries for help, the
 villagers do not believe him, and his flock is lost (or he is killed in some versions).
Moral: Even when liars tell the truth, they are never believed.

The Ant and the Dove

Story: An ant is about to drown in a river. A dove drops a leaf into the water, allowing the ant
to climb on and reach safety. Later, the ant sees a bird catcher setting a trap for the dove. The
ant stings the bird catcher, causing him to drop his twigs and alert the dove, which escapes.
Moral: One good turn deserves another.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

Story: During the summer, a grasshopper sings and plays while an ant toils, storing food for
winter. The grasshopper dismisses the ant's efforts, seeing no need to prepare. When winter
arrives, the grasshopper has no food and is starving, while the ants are well-provisioned.
Moral: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.

The Ass and His Masters

Story: An ass, overworked and underfed by its herb-seller master, petitions Jupiter for a new
master. Jupiter warns him and sells him to a tile-maker, who works him even harder. The ass
petitions again, and Jupiter sells him to a tanner. The ass realizes that the tanner's profession
is the worst, as his hide will be used after death, and laments his choices.
Moral: He that finds discontentment in one place is not likely to find happiness in another.

The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts

Story: A bat is caught between birds and beasts during a conflict. When birds invite him, he
claims to be a beast. When beasts invite him, he claims to be a bird. Peace is made, and he
tries to join the birds, who reject him. He then tries to join the beasts, who also reject him.
Moral: He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends.

The Cock and the Pearl

Story: A cock finds a pearl while scratching in the farmyard. He dismisses it, stating he would
prefer a single barley-corn, which he can eat, over a peck of pearls, which are useless to him.
Moral: Precious things are for those that can prize them.

The Crow and the Raven

Story: A crow, jealous of a raven's reputation as a bird of good omen, tries to imitate the raven
by cawing loudly at approaching travelers. The travelers recognize it as just a crow and
dismiss it, noting that a crow's cry is not an omen.
Moral: Those who assume a character, which does not belong to them, only make themselves
ridiculous.

The Dog and the Wolf

Story: A starving wolf encounters a well-fed house-dog. The dog offers the wolf a steady life
of work in exchange for food. As they travel, the wolf notices a worn patch on the dog's neck
from its collar. The wolf, unwilling to be collared and chained, declines the offer.
 Moral: Better starve free than be a fat slave.

The Eagle and the Arrow

Story: An eagle is mortally wounded by an arrow. As it falls, it sees that the arrow's shaft is
feathered with one of its own plumes.
Moral: We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction.

The Dog and the Shadow

Story: A dog carrying a piece of meat crosses a bridge over a stream. It sees its reflection in
the water, mistaking it for another dog with more meat. The dog snaps at the reflection,
dropping its own meat into the water and losing it.
Moral: Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.

The Dancing Monkeys

Story: A prince trains monkeys to dance, who perform well in costumes and masks. During a
performance, a courtier throws nuts onto the stage. The monkeys, distracted by the nuts,
forget their performance, tear off their disguises, and fight amongst themselves for the nuts,
ending the spectacle.
Moral: Not everything you see is what it appears to be.

The Bald Man and the Fly

Story: A fly bites a bald man's head. The man slaps himself hard to kill the fly, injuring himself.
The fly, escaping, mocks him. The man expresses that while he can forgive himself for an
accidental injury, he wishes he could have killed the fly despite the penalty, indicating a desire
for revenge.
Moral: Revenge will hurt the avenger.

The Thief and the Innkeeper

Story: A thief planning to steal from an innkeeper pretends to be afflicted with uncontrollable
yawning and howling that turns him into a wolf. He convinces the innkeeper to hold his
clothes while he "transforms." The innkeeper flees in fear, leaving his coat, which the thief
steals.
Moral: Every tale is not to be believed.

The Wolf and the Kid

Story: A young goat (kid) is perched safely on a house and taunts a wolf passing below. The
wolf retorts that the goat's bravery comes from its secure position.
Moral: It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.

The Farmer and the Stork

Story: A farmer catches cranes and a stork in his nets. The stork pleads for its life, claiming to
be a bird of good character, unlike the cranes, and highlighting its filial devotion. The farmer
states that since the stork was caught with the cranes, it must die with them.
Moral: Birds of a feather flock together.
The Goose With the Golden Eggs
Story: A countryman finds a golden egg from his goose every day and becomes rich. Growing
greedy, he kills the goose to get all the gold at once, only to find nothing inside.
Moral: Greed oft o'er reaches itself.