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Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)

425. THE MOUSE IN THE POT
Perry 167 (Babrius 60)

A mouse fell into a pot of broth which had no lid. As he was choking on the grease and gasping for breath he said, 'Well, I have had my fill of eating and drinking and I have stuffed myself with all kinds of fine food: the time has now come for me to die!'

Note: An epimythium probably added by a later editor reads: 'You members of the human race will become like that greedy mouse if you do not give up luxuries that are delicious but deadly.' Compare also the advice in Horace, Epistles 2.2.214: 'You've had your fill of gaming, likewise of eating and drinking: now it's time for you to go.'

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.