Aesop Fable VII – The Cat, the Doctor, and the Birds

Fable VII – The Cat, the Doctor, and the Birds

“A Cat once heard that there were some sick Birds in a certain nest, and so made himself look like a doctor, and took up all of the right tools of that trade. He came to them and, standing next to the nest, asked them how they were faring. They responded, ‘Wonderfully! As long as you take yourself away from here.’

Thus even among humans the wicked do not escape notice of the wise, even if they play should play the part of the kindliest people.”

αἴλουρος ἀκούσας ὅτι ἔν τινι ἐπαύλει ὄρνεις νοσοῦσι, σχηματίσας ἑαυτὸν εἰς ἰατρὸν καὶ τὰ τῆς ἐπιστήμης πρόσφορα ἀναλαβὼν ἐργαλεῖα παρεγένετο καὶ στὰς πρὸ τῆς ἐπαύλεως ἐπυνθάνετο αὐτῶν, πῶς ἔχοιεν. αἱ δὲ ὑποτυχοῦσαι· „καλῶς”, ἔφασαν, „ἐὰν σὺ ἐντεῦθεν ἀπαλλαγῇς.” οὕτω καὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων οἱ πονηροὶ τοὺς φρονίμους οὐ λανθάνουσι, κἂν τὰ μάλιστα χρηστότητα ὑποκρίνωνται.