Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)
252. THE MUSICIAN AT HOME
Perry 121 (Chambry
156 *)
There was once a musician who had no talent whatsoever but he played
his lyre in a room that had thick plaster upon the walls so when he heard
the echoing sound, he concluded that he must be an excellent musician
indeed. Puffed up with pride, he decided to perform on the stage. But
when he made his debut at the theatre, his performance was so dreadful
that the audience threw stones at him, driving him off the stage.
The fable shows that the same is true of public speakers: while they
are still in school they may think that they have some talent, but they
find out they are worthless when they embark on a public career.
Source:
Aesop's Fables. A new translation by Laura
Gibbs.
Oxford University Press (World's Classics): Oxford, 2002.
NOTE: New
cover, with new ISBN, published in 2008; contents of book unchanged.
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