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Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)

195. THE SOW AND THE LIONESS
Perry 257 (Chambry 194 *)

The story goes that a sow who had delivered a whole litter of piglets loudly accosted a lioness, 'How many children do you breed?' asked the sow. 'I breed only one,' said the lioness, 'but he is very well bred!'
The fable shows that a single man who is remarkable for physical strength and bravery and wisdom is mightier than many weak and foolish people.

Note: Other versions of this fable (included in Chambry's first edition of the Greek fables) feature a fox, not a sow, debating with the lioness.


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.