Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
179. A CROW AND A RAVEN (Perry 125)
Your Raven has a Reputation in the World for a Bird of Omen, and a kind
of small Prophet. A Crow that had Observ’d the Raven’s manner and Way
of Delivering his Predictions, sets up for a Foreboder too; nd so gets
upon a Tree, and there stands Nodding and Croaking, just over the Heads
of some People that were Passing by. They were a little Surpriz’d at first;
but so soon as they saw how ‘twas. Come, my Masters (says One of the Company)
let’s e’en go forward, for this is but the chattering of a foolish Crow,
it signifies Nothing.
THE MORAL. How are Superstitious Men Hagg’d out of their Wits and Senses,
with the Fancy of Omens, Forebodings, Old Wives Tales and Visions; and
upon a Final Examination of the Matter, nothing at all in the Bottom on’t.
 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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