Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
154. A SNAKE AND A CRAB (Perry 196)
There was a Familiarity Contracted betwixt a Snake and a Crab. The Crab
was a Plain Dealing Creature, that Advis'd his Companion to give over
Shuffling and Doubling, and to Practise Good Faith. The Snake went on
in his old Way: So that the Crab finding that he would not MenD his Manners,
set upon him in his Sleep, and Strangled him; and then looking upon him
as he lay Dead at his Length: This had never befall'n ye, says he, if
you had but liv'd as Straight as You Dy'd.
THE MORAL. There's Nothing more Agreeable in Conversation, than a Frank,
Open way of Dealing, and a Simplicity of Manners.
 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.
|
