Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)
189. THE FOX AND THE CROCODILE
Perry 20 (Chambry
35 *)
The fox and the crocodile were disputing about their pedigrees. The crocodile
was proudly enumerating the eminent qualities of his ancestors, and when
he said that they had been the highest ranking athletic officials, the
fox remarked, 'My dear sir, even if you had not mentioned it, the mere
condition of your skin is evidence enough that you have suffered long
years of athletic sports out of doors in the sun!'
Note: The joke is based on the crocodile boasting that his ancestors
had been 'Gymnasiarchs,' city officials who presided over the athletic
gymnasiums in ancient Greece.
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.
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