Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
152. AN ASS, A LION, AND A COCK (Perry
82)
As a Cock and an Ass were Feeding together, up comes a Lion Open-mouth'd
toward the Ass: The Cock presently cries out; away Scours the Lion, and
the Ass after him: Now 'twas the Crowing of the Cock that Frighted the
Lion, not the Braying of the Ass, as that Stupid Animal vainly Fancy'd
to himself; for so soon as ever they were gotten out of the Hearing of
the Cock, the Lion turn'd short upon him, and tore him to pieces, with
these Words in his Mouth: Let never any Creature hereafter that has not
the Courage of a Hare, provoke a Lion.
THE MORAL. The Force of Unaccountable Aversions, is Insuperable. The
Fool that is Wise and Brave only in his Own Conceit, runs on without Fear
or Wit; but Noise does no Bus'ness.
 L'Estrange originally published his version of the fables in 1692. There is a
very nice illustrated edition in the Children's Classics series by Knopf: Sir
Roger L'Estrange. Aesop
- Fables which is available at amazon.com.
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