Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
156. A LION, FOX, AND A WOLF (Perry
258)
The King of Beasts was now grown Old, and Sickly, and All his Subjects
of the Forrest, (saving only the Fox) were to pay their Duties to him.
The Wolf and the Fox, like a couple of Sly Knaves, were still putting
Tricks One upon Another, and the Wolf took this Occasion to do the Fox
a good Office: I can assure your Majesty, says the Wolf, that ‘tis nothing
but Pride and Insolence that keeps the Fox from showing himself at Court
as well as his Companions. Now the Fox had the good Luck to be within
Hearing, and so presented himself before the Lion, and finding him extreamly
Enrag’d, begs his Majesty’s Patience, and a little Time only for his Defence.
Sir (says he) I must presume to Value my self upon my Respect and Loyalty
to your Majesty, equal at least to any of your other Subjects; and I will
be bold to say, that put them all together, they have not taken half the
Pains for your Majesty’s Service now upon this very Occasion, that I have
done. I have been Hunting up and down far and near, since your unhappy
Indisposition, to find out a Remedy for ye, which with much ado I have
now Compass’d at last, and it is that which I promised my self will prove
an Infallible Cure. Tell me immediately (says the Lion) what is it then:
Nothing in the World, says the Fox, but to Flay a Wolf alive, and Wrap
your Body up in the Warm Skin. The Wolf was by all this while; and the
Fox in a Snearing way advised him for the future, not to irritate a Prince
against his Subjects, but rather to Sweeten him with Peaceable and Healing
Councels.
THE MORAL. The Bus’ness of a Pickthank is the Basest of Offices, but
yet Diverting enough sometimes, when One Rascal happens to be Encounter’d
with Another.
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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