Aesopic Proverbs 41-50: Love, Squinting, and the Sufferings of the Soul

41.
“Love without purpose, and do not hate without reason.”
Interpretation:
“Treat those whom you meet, if it is necessary, as friends. Do not indulge your enemies in their hate against you.”
Εἰκῇ φιλοῦ, μάτην μὴ μισοῦ.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Καὶ τοὺς τυχόντας, εἰ δέοι, φίλους ἔχε·
᾿Εχθροῖς δὲ μὴ χαρίζου τὸ πρὸς σὲ μῖσος.

42.
“Sought, and not hated.”
Interpretation:
“By not wanting to visit with your friends frequently, you will become loved but not hated.”
Ζητούμενος καὶ μὴ μισούμενος.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Θαμινὰ φοιτᾶν τοῖς φίλοις οὐκ ἐθέλων
᾿Αγαπητός, ἀλλ’ οὐ μισητὸς γενήσῃ.

43.
“The one who conceals an itch simply doubles it.”
Interpretation:
“Often, an imprudent mind has worsened its symptoms by wishing to escape them.”
῾Ο κρύβων τὴν ψώραν αὐτοῦ διπλῆν αὐτὴν ποιεῖ.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Πολλοῖς ἐμεγάλυνε τὰ συμπτώματα
Νοῦς ἄφρων <μάτην> τὸ λαθεῖν ἐθελήσας.

44.
“The birthday of one’s eyes begins the suffering of one’s soul.”
<Interpretation>
“The enjoyment of the various amusements afforded to the idea give the soul pain and many laments.”
᾿Οφθαλμῶν γενέσια ψυχῆς ὀδύνη.
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
Τέρψις ὀφθαλμῶν ἀλλοτρίας ἑορτῆς
Λύπας φέρει τῇ ψυχῇ καὶ θρήνους πολλούς.

45.
“Hey Squinty, where is your little ear?”
Interpretation:
“A malicious man, imagining that nothing is well-wrought, fights even with the noble at every turn.”
Στρεβλέ, ποῦ ἐστι τὸ ὠτίον σου;
῾Ερμηνεία.
Οὐδὲν εὐθὲς ἐννοῶν δυσμενὴς ἀνὴρ
Καὶ τοῖς φανεροῖς μάχεται παντὶ τρόπῳ.

46.
“May you fall asleep and walk about your ship.”
Interpretation:
“Fortune decrees wealth to sleeping mortals with a wakeful providence.”
Σὺ ὑπνοῖς καὶ τὸ πλοῖόν σου περιπατεῖ.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Καθεύδουσιν ἡ Τύχη ἀνθρώποις πλοῦτον
Διαπεραίνει ἀγρύπνῳ τῇ προνοίᾳ.

47.
“Watch over your son, so that he does not fall into a well while you say that God willed it so.”
Interpretation:
“God has granted your reason as a guard, so that you can guard yourself against those things which must be watched out for.”
Τήρει τὸν υἱόν σου, ἵνα μὴ πέσῃ εἰς τὸ φρέαρ καὶ εἴπῃς
ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἤθελεν.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Τὸν νοῦν σου φύλακα δέδωκεν ὁ θεός,
῞Ινα σαυτῷ φυλάσσῃς ἃ φρουρεῖν πρέπει.

48.
“Swiftness has its charm.”
Interpretation:
“Those gift-givers become most pleasing, who crown every gift with the blessing of swiftness.”
Τὸ ταχὺ χάριν ἔχει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Εὐχάριστοι γίνονται οἱ φιλόδωροι
Ταχυτῆτι στέφοντες ἅπασαν δόσιν.

49.
“Grapes ripen when looking on other grapes.”
Interpretation:
“Those engaged in some labor will accomplish what must be done when they look upon each other with a zealous mind.”
Σταφυλὴ σταφυλὴν βλέπουσα πεπαίνεται.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Εἰς ἀλλήλους βλέποντες οἱ μοχθοῦντές τι
Προθύμῳ γνώμῃ τὰ πρακτέα τελοῦσιν.

50.
“A lion inside, a fox without.”
Interpretation:
“By mixing boldness with villainy, you appear to demonstrate who you are not, and to hide what you are.”
῎Εσω λέων καὶ ἔξω ἀλώπηξ.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Κακουργίαν θρασύτητι μίξας φαίνῃ
Δεικνὺς ὃ μὴ εἷς, καὶ κρύπτων ὃ τυγχάνεις.

Aesopic Proverbs 31-40: Old Wolves, Missing Proverbs

: 31.
“An aged wolf lays down the laws.”
Interpretation:
“An aged evildoer, when he arrives at old age, will ordain laws to flee the young who do the same things which he himself did.”
Λύκος γηράσας νόμους ὁρίζει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Νουθετήσει κακοῦργος εἰς γῆρας μολὼν
Φεύγειν τοὺς νέους ἅπερ αὐτὸς ἔπραξεν.

32.
“A wolf is not scared to take from the multitude.”
Interpretation:
“Neither votes, nor decrees, nor even the barring of doors will check the thieving mind.”

Λύκος ἀπὸ ἀριθμοῦ οὐ φοβεῖται λαβεῖν.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Τὸ κλεπτικὸν φρόνημα παύσει οὐδέπω
Οὐ ψῆφος, οὐ σφραγῖδες, οὐ κλείθρων θέσις.

33.
“When the ape sees its own children, it says ‘These are not beautiful.’”
Interpretation:
“Even when a mindless being is brought to perception, it recognizes that it has committed injustice in the things which it has done.”
Πίθηκος ἰδὼν τὰ ἑαυτοῦ τέκνα ἔφη “ταῦτα οὐ καλά.”
῾Ερμηνεία.
Εἰς αἴσθησιν καὶ ἄφρων ἐλάσας ποτὲ
῎Εγνωσεν ἀδικήσας ἐν οἷς ἔπραξεν.

34.
<Proverb Missing in Text>
Interpretation:
“The labors of lament [lead] to the ruin of tears, but the wailing of hunger does not seize the whip.”
< >
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
Θρήνων μὲν πόνοι εἰς δακρύων <τὴν> φοράν,
Λιμοῦ δὲ κλαυθμὸς οὐκ αἴρει τὴν μάστιγα.

35.
“A silent river runs deep below the earth.”
Interpretation:
“A wicked man, though he seems gentle to those near him, holds them as slaves to his hidden evil.”

Σιγηρὸς ποταμὸς κατὰ γῆν βαθύς.
῾Ερμηνεία.
᾿Ανὴρ κακοῦργος πρᾶος τοῖς πέλας φανεὶς
Κεκρυμμένῃ κακίᾳ τοὺς δόλους ἔχει.

36.
“Move even your hands with god.”
Interpretation:
“Don’t sleep while you look upon chance; good fortune consists of being active in deeds.”
Σὺν θεῷ καὶ τὰς χεῖρας κίνει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Τὴν τύχην βλέπων μὴ καθεύδειν ἔθελε·
Εὐτυχία γὰρ ἀνδρὶ τὸ ἐν ἔργοις εἶναι.

37.
“God is the avenger of a silent mouth.”
Interpretation:
“He who honors fairness with his mind will have help against his enemies from the gods.”
Στόματος σιγῶντος θεὸς ἔκδικος.
῾Ερμηνεία.
᾿Επιείκειαν ὁ τῇ φρονήσει τιμῶν
Θεόθεν ἔξει τὴν κατ’ ἐχθρῶν βοήθειαν.

38.
“I honor you and you do not perceive it; I dishonor you, so that you may perceive.”
Interpretation:
“If senseless men do not rejoice in noble things, change their ungrateful minds with bad ones.”
Τιμῶ σε καὶ οὐκ αἰσθάνῃ· ἀτιμάζω σε, ἵνα αἴσθησιν λάβῃς.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Καλοῖς εἰ μὴ χαίρουσιν ἄνδρες ἄφρονες,
Κακοῖς ἀμείβου τὴν ἀχάριστον γνώμην.

39.
“A needy spirit has come near in the assembly.”
Interpretation:
“Whoever wanders in the market without money will grieve at heart as he looks upon all in vain.”
῎Ακερμος ἐν πανηγύρει δαίμων πελαζόμενος.
῾Ερμηνεία.
῞Οστις ἐν ἀγορᾷ χρημάτων δίχα φοιτᾷ,
Νοσεῖ τὴν φρένα μάτην τοὺς πάντας ὁρῶν.

40.
“From a bad money-lender a chickpea.”
Interpretation:
“When there is clear loss among all, consider it a windfall if you receive even the smallest portion.”
᾿Απὸ κακοῦ δανειστοῦ κἂν ὀρόβια
῾Ερμηνεία.
Ζημίας δήλης ἐν ἅπασι κειμένης,
Τοὐλάχιστον εἰ λάβοις ἕρμαιον κάλει.

Aesopic Proverbs 21-30: Dry Fountains, Gouty Feet, and Dubious Wisdom

21.

“Let the fountain from which I do not drink run dry.”

Interpretation

“Let common things which Fortune metes out remain. But if wealth is not held in common, let no one enjoy luxury.”

Πηγῆς ἐξ ἦς οὐ πίνω ξηρανθείη.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Μενέτω κοινά, ἅπερ ἡ Τύχη νέμει·

Εἰ δ’ οὐ κοινὸς ὁ πλοῦτος, μηδεὶς τρυφάτω.

 

22.

“You have feet, so expect gout.”

Interpretation:

“Suffering always succeeds pleasure if Fortune is not your ally.”

Πόδας ἔχων <σὺ> καὶ ποδάγρας ἔλπιζε.

῾Ερμηνεία.

῞Επεται πάντως τοῖς τερπνοῖς τὰ λυπηρά,

Εἰ μή που Τύχη σύμμαχος παραστατεῖ.

 

23.

“Habit is a second nature.”

Interpretation

“Habit is formed by time, and imitates nature in an incredible way.”

Δευτέρα φύσις συνήθεια.

<῾Ερμηνεία.>

Εἰργάσατό τι τῷ χρόνῳ συνήθεια

Μιμησαμένη παραδόξως τὴν φύσιν.

 

24. 

“Get yourself a doctor as a friend, so that you do not wholly feel the need of one.”

Interpretation:

“When you place wise doctors above every friend, pray that you never have need of their art.”

᾿Ιατρὸν κτῶ φίλον, χρείαν δὲ αὐτοῦ μηδ’ ὅλως ἔχῃς.

<῾Ερμηνεία.>

Παντὸς φίλου προτάττων ἰατροὺς σοφοὺς

Εὔχου τῆς τέχνης <—> χρῄζειν μηδέποτε.

 

25.

“A snail [doesn’t] murmur when it’s roasted.”

Interpretation:

“The ways of evildoers will rouse to anger both seemly men and those who are excessively soft.”

Κοχλίας, ἐὰν ὀπτηθῇ, [οὐ] τρύζει.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Τοὺς ἐπιεικεῖς ἄνδρας καὶ λίαν πράους

᾿Εγείρουσιν εἰς ὀργὴν κακούργων τρόποι.

 

26.

“A comic opens his mouth but doesn’t bite.”

Interpretation:

“The poor only rail at the rich, but they have neither power nor reason on their side.”

Κωμῳδὸς χαίνων καὶ μὴ δάκνων.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Λοιδοροῦσι πένητες πλουτοῦντας μόνον,

Δύναμιν οὐκ ἔχοντες ἀλλ’ ἢ τοὺς λόγους.

 

27.

“If you are ever doing well, remember the lentils.”

Interpretation:

“Even if you become rich and famous, remember the poverty of your fellow human.”

Κἂν εὐτυχήσας τῆς φακῆς μνημόνευε.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Κἂν πλούσιος γέγονας καὶ περίβλεπτος,

Πενίας μνημόνευε τῆς σῆς συντρόφου.

 

28.

“Let’s close the door and speak the truth.”

Interpretation:

“Hold within the scorn of your enemies, whenever the time summons you to speak the truth.”

Κλείσωμεν τὴν θύραν, τὴν δὲ ἀλήθειαν εἴπωμεν.

῾Ερμηνεία.

῎Ενδον ἔχε τὰς μέμψεις τῶν σῶν ἐχθίστων,

῞Οταν καλῇ καιρός σε τἀληθῆ λέγειν.

 

29.

“Even the treasure goes to the flock.”

Interpretation:

“They say that it bites deep into the heart of the wise man that the foolish live in ungrudging luxury.”

 

Καὶ τὰ κειμήλια εἰς πρόβατον.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Δάκνει πάντως τοῦ σοφοῦ τὴν φρένα, φασί,

Τὸ τοὺς ἐναντίους ἀφθόνως <ἐν>τρυφᾶν.

 

30.

“Evil does not seize upon evil.”

Interpretation:

“The friend to bad men who loves wandering ways does not ward off someone of similar ways.”

Κακὸν κακοῦ οὐχ ἅπτεται.

῾Ερμηνεία.

᾿Αγαπῶν τὴν πλάνην φιλοπόνηρος ἀνὴρ

Τὸν ὅμοιον τοῖς τρόποις οὐκ ἀμύνεται.

Aesopic Proverbs 11-20

NOTE: I felt extremely uncertain about 12 and 14, and hope that this preemptive confession of my own ignorance will simultaneously save me from raillery and invite constructive suggestions on the best way to deal with this less than wholly lucid Greek.

11.
“The theft of insomnia is not worth it.”
Interpretation:
“Toil which does not bring a well-matched profit will always add despondency to one’s troubles.”
Οὐκ ἄξιον τὸ κλέμμα τῆς ἀγρυπνίας.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Κόπος οὐκ ἔχων ἰσόρροπον τὸ κέρδος
᾿Αθυμίαν δίδωσι τοῖς μόχθοις ἀεί.
12.
“All of life is a candle wick.”
Interpretation:
“In a brief phrase, delusion at last holds the entire observable part of life.
῞Ολος ὁ βίος ἐλλύχνιον.
῾Ερμηνεία.
῞Απαν τοῦ βίου τὸ περίβλεπτον τύφος
Βραχυτάτῳ ῥήματι τὸ πέρας ἔχει.

13.
“He who has pepper throws it even on lentils.”
Interpretation:
“Someone who has taken up liberality of goods will make use of strange preparations.”

῾Ο πέπερι ἔχων καὶ εἰς φακὸν βάλλει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
᾿Αφθονίαν χρημάτων ἄνθρωπος λαχὼν
᾿Αλλοκότοις κέχρηται παραρτύσεσιν.

14.
“He’s leading up the leader-down.”
Interpretation
“Poverty sometimes gets the better of wealth, which is struck and downcast by the verdict of justice.”
῾Ο ἀνάγων τὸν κατάγοντα.
῾Ερμηνεία.
῎Ηλεγξεν ἡ πενία τὸν πλοῦτόν ποτε
Κάτωπον κεκυφότα ψήφῳ / τῆς δίκης.

15.
“The ass and the man who needs to be whipped share the same fate.”
Interpretation:
“A man forced into slavery will bear misfortune better than one born into it.”

῎Ονος καὶ κοπίδερμος μίαν τύχην ἔχουσιν.
῾Ερμηνεία.
᾿Ανὴρ ἐκδουλωθεὶς <καὶ> μᾶλλον οἰκέτου
Οἴσει τὴν μοχθηρίαν ἡδονῆς χάριν.
16.
“Let there be skulls, lest we also destroy our brains.”
Interpretation:
“He who loses self-possession at the same time loses the ability to reason well.”

῎Εστω τὰ κρανία, μὴ καὶ τοὺς ἐγκεφάλους ἀπωλέσαμεν.
῾Ερμηνεία.
῞Οστις ἀφῃρέθη τὴν <ἑαυτοῦ> κτῆσιν,
Συναφῃρέθη καὶ <αὐτὸ> τὸ φρονεῖν καλῶς.

17.
“The thigh smells from within.”
Interpretation:
“I say that for the most part that misfortunes are born specifically from the intentions of evil-doers.”
῾Ο μηρὸς ἔσωθεν ὄζει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Τὰς συμφορὰς ἔσωθεν τὰ πλεῖστά φημι
Διαρρήδην τίκτεσθαι κακούργων γνώμαις.

18.
“What you hide will be announced to the agora.”
Interpretation:
“A bad man is forced to hide his notorious and much-discussed mistake.”
῝Ο σὺ κρύβεις εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν κηρύσσεται.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Σφάλμα τὸ περίφημον καὶ πᾶσι ῥητὸν
᾿Ανὴρ κακὸς <συγ>κρύπτειν ἐκβιάζεται.

19.
“A father is the one who raised you, not the one who sired you.”
Interpretation:
“Let him be called ‘father’ who educated us; for the man who sired us was just a slave to pleasure.”
Πατὴρ μὲν ὁ θρέψας, οὐ μὴν δὲ ὁ γεννήσας.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Πατὴρ καλοῖτο ἂν ὁ <τὰς> τροφὰς διδούς·
῾Ο γὰρ φυτεύσας ἡδονῇ δεδούλευκεν.

20.
“The baser things in life please the multitude.”
Interpretation:
“Few eagerly pursue virtue; the majority nod off toward its opposite.”
Πολλοῖς ἀρέσκει τὰ τοῦ βίου χείρονα.
῾Ερμηνεία.
᾿Ολίγοις ἐσπούδασται τὰ τῆς ἀρετῆς·
Οἱ πλεῖστοι γὰρ νεύουσιν εἰς τἀναντία.

Aesopic Proverbs: 1-10

A number of proverbs attributed to Aesop, along with interpretations, have survived among the sometimes unbearably large and confusing body of works attributed to Aesop, composed in the Aesopic mode, or even simply about Aesop. The proverbs themselves are occasionally perplexing, even with the Interpretation; As I post these, I welcome any comments or elucidation!

aesop1

1.

“The things of yesteryear are always fine.”

Interpretation: When someone experiences the mischief of his recent time, he will be mindful of the glory that came before.”

᾿Αεὶ τὰ πέρυσι καλά.

῾Ερμηνεία.

῎Αρτι τῆς ὥρας τὴν βλάβην ὁ πειραθεὶς

Τῆς πρόσθεν οὗτος εὐκλείας μεμνήσεται.

 

2.

“When you live with a lame person, you will learn to limp.”

Interpretation: When you spend time with the wicked you become like them.”

Χωλῷ παροικήσας ὑποσκάζειν μάθοις.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Συνὼν πονηροῖς ὅμοιος αὐτοῖς γενήσῃ.

 

3.

“The gold persuaded a willing Danae.”

Interpretation: Love of profitmasters even the prudent who is decked out with instruments against wantonness.”

Χρυσὸς Δανάην ἔπεισεν ἐθέλουσαν.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Καὶ τὸν σώφρονα χειροῦται τιμάρια,

Χρήμασιν ὁπλίζοντα πρὸς ἀσέλγειαν.

danae_276

4.

“Have good fortune and rail at me.

Interpretation:

The rich jeer at the ways of the poor. They see the rags, and not their courage.”

Εὐτυχεῖτε καὶ λοιδορεῖτέ με.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Γελῶσιν οἱ πλουτοῦντες ἤθη πενήτων·

Τὰ ῥάκη γὰρ ὁρῶσιν, οὐχὶ τὴν τόλμαν.

 

5.

“The Crocodile said ‘I settled in my city as an oil salesman.’

Interpretation: The wicked, and the evilly-disposed love to be thought of as having a great lineage and a noble reputation.”

Κροκόδειλος ἔλεγεν ὅτι “εἰς τὴν πόλιν μου ἐλαιοπώλης ἤμην.”

῾Ερμηνεία.

Φιλοῦσιν οἱ πονηροὶ καὶ κακότροποι

Γένους μεγάλου λέγεσθαι καὶ δόξης καλῆς.

 

6.

“The serpent sheds his skin, but never his mind.”

Interpretation:

“A wicked man does not change his ways, but changes his appearance for the sake of deceit.”

῎Οφις τὸ δέρμα ἀποδύεται, τὴν γνώμην δὲ οὐδαμῶς.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Κακοῦργος ἀνήρ, τοὺς τρόπους οὐκ ἀμείβων,

Τὸ σχῆμα μεταλλάσσει ἀπάτης χάριν.

 

7.

“You see a face – don’t scrutinize its intentions.”

Interpretation:

“Often the ill-composed face will make clear the sinister turn of its perverse soul.”

῎Οψιν εἶδες, περὶ τῆς γνώμης μὴ ἐξέταζε.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Δηλοῖ πολλάκις κακοσύνθετος ὄψις

Ψυχῆς διεστραμμένης τὸν σκαιὸν τρόπον.

 

8.

He is not Hermes, nor he Heracles.”

Interpretation

“A character given to boasting will always injure the wicked with a free tongue.”

Οὔτε οὗτος ῾Ερμῆς οὔτε οὗτος ῾Ηρακλῆς.

῾Ερμηνεία.

῾Ο φιλοκόμπον ἦθος ἐλέγχων ἀεὶ

Γλώττῃ τιτρώσκει τοὺς κακοὺς ἐλευθέρᾳ.

 

9.

The living look upon the living.”

Interpretation

“Properly, those who are breathing look upon each other. For, those who are dead are unseen by the living.”

῾Ο ζῶν τοὺς ζῶντας βλέπει.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Τοὺς ἐμπνέοντας εἰκὸς ἀλλήλους βλέπειν·

Οἱ γὰρ θανόντες τοῖς ζῶσιν ἀθέατοι.

 

10.

“Fine words will soften the bones.”

Interpretation:

“A mild character and gentle speech know how to soften even the most stone-cold people.”

Λόγος καλὸς ὀστοῦν κατεάξει.

῾Ερμηνεία.

῏Ηθος τὸ πρᾶον καὶ τὸ προσηνὲς ῥῆμα

Μαλάττειν οἶδεν καὶ τοὺς ἄγαν λιθώδεις.

Aesop Fable VI – The Goatherd and the Wild Goats

“A Goatherd once took his goats out to pasture. When evening was coming on, he saw the wild goats mixed with his own, and he drove them all to the same cavern. On the next day there was a great winter storm, and since he was not able to lead them out to the accustomed pasturage, he looked after them inside, tossing out a moderate portion of food to his own goats so that they would not feel hungry, and heaping up even more for the wild ones so that he could make them his own. Once the storm stopped, he led them out to the pasture, and the wild goats took to the mountains and fled. When the Goatherd began to upbraid their ingratitude, for taking an excessive portion of his kindness yet still leaving him, they turned to him and said, ‘But we are even more on our guard for that very reason. For if you esteemed us, who came to you yesterday, above those who had long been with you, it is clear that if others were to come to you after us, you would esteem them more than us.’

This tale makes it clear that we should not receive gladly the friendship of those who esteem us as newcomers more than they esteem their old friends; we should understand that as we spend more time with them they will give their friendship to others whom they will prefer above us.”

fable6

αἰπόλος τὰς αἶγας αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ νομὴν ἀπελάσας ὡς ἐθεάσατο ἀγρίαις αὐτὰς ἀναμιγείσας, ἑσπέρας ἐπιλαβούσης πάσαςεἰς τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σπήλαιον εἰσήλασε. τῇ δὲ ὑστεραίᾳ χειμῶνος πολλοῦ γενομένου μὴ δυνάμενος ἐπὶ τὴν συνήθη νομὴν αὐτὰς παραγαγεῖν ἔνδον ἐτημέλει, ταῖς μὲν ἰδίαις μετρίαν τροφὴν παραβάλλων πρὸς μόνον τὸ μὴ  ιμώττειν, ταῖς δὲ ὀθνείαις πλείονα παρασωρεύων πρὸς τὸ καὶ αὐτὰς ἰδιοποιήσασθαι. παυσαμένου δὲ τοῦ χειμῶνος ἐπειδὴ πάσας ἐπὶ νομὴν ἐξήγαγεν, αἱ ἄγριαι ἐπιλαβόμεναι τῶν ὀρῶν ἔφευγον. τοῦ δὲ ποιμένος ἀχαριστίαν αὐτῶν κατηγοροῦντος, εἴ γε περισσοτέρας αὐταὶ τημελείας ἐπιτυχοῦσαι καταλείπουσιν αὐτόν, ἔφασαν ἐπιστραφεῖσαι· „ἀλλὰ δι’ αὐτὸ τοῦτο μᾶλλονφυλαττόμεθα· εἰ γὰρ ἡμᾶς τὰς χθὲς προσεληλυθυίας μειζό-νως τῶν πάλαι σὺ προετίμησας, δῆλον ὅτι, εἰ καὶ ἕτεραί σοι μετὰ ταῦτα προσπελάσουσιν, ἐκείνας ἡμῶν προκρινεῖς.”

     ὁ λόγος δηλοῖ μὴ δεῖν τούτων ἀσμενίζεσθαι τὰς φιλίας, οἳ τῶν παλαιῶν φίλων ἡμᾶς τοὺς προσφάτους προτιμῶσι, λογιζομένους, ὅτι καί, ἂν ἡμῶν ἐγχρονιζόντων ἑτέροις φιλιάσωσιν, ἐκείνους προκρινοῦσιν.

 

Aesop Fable V – The Athenian Debtor

“In Athens a debtor, when asked by the creditor for repayment of the original debt, entreated for a delay, alleging that he had insufficient funds. Since he did not persuade the creditor, he led forth the one pig which he had and sold it in the creditor’s presence. When a buyer came forth and asked whether the pig was capable of breeding, the debtor responded that she did not just give birth, but did so in an incredible way: it brought forth female offspring during the Mysteries, and male offspring during the Panathenaea. The buyer was astounded by this report, but the creditor said, ‘Don’t be surprised: it will even give birth to goats during the Dionysia.”

This story shows that many people, when it comes to personal gain, will not hesitate to bear false witness even to the powerless.”

Sat1

     ᾿Αθήνησιν ἀνὴρ χρεωφειλέτης ἀπαιτούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ δανειστοῦ τὸ χρέος τὸ μὲν πρῶτον παρεκάλει ἀναβολὴν αὐτῷ παρασχέσθαι ἀπορεῖν φάσκων. ὡς δ’ οὐκ ἔπειθε, προσαγαγὼν ἣν μόνην εἶχεν ὗν παρόντος αὐτοῦ ἐπώλει. ὠνητοῦ δὲ προσελθόντος καὶ διερωτῶντος, εἰ τοκὰς ἡ ὗς εἴη,  ἐκεῖνος ἔφη μὴ μόνον αὐτὴν τίκτειν ἀλλὰ καὶ παραδόξως· τοῖς μὲν γὰρ μυστηρίοις θήλεα ἀποκύειν, τοῖς δὲ Παναθηναίοις ἄρσενα. τοῦ δὲ ἐκπλαγέντος πρὸς τὸν λόγον ὁ δανειστὴς εἶπεν· „ἀλλὰ μὴ θαύμαζε· αὕτη γάρ σοι καὶ Διονυσίοις ἐρίφους τέξεται.”

     ὁ λόγος δηλοῖ, ὅτι πολλοὶ διὰ τὸ ἴδιον κέρδος οὐκ ὀκνοῦσιν οὐδὲ τοῖς ἀδυνάτοις ψευδομαρτυρεῖν.

Aesop Fable IV – The Hawk and the Nightingale

Fable IV – The Nightingale and the Hawk

The Nightingale, perched upon a high oak, was singing in its customary way. The Hawk, seeing the Nightingale and in need of food, flew down and seized it. As she was about to be carried away, she asked the Hawk to set her down, saying that she was not sufficient to fill the Hawk’s stomach; indeed, that the Hawk should turn its attention to bigger birds if it were really in need of food. The Hawk, taking up this argument, said, ‘But I would be stupid if I let the meal at hand go so that I could seek one that never appears.’

Thus are the foolish among mortals who let go of what is ready to hand through hope of greater things to come.

fable4

     ἀηδὼν ἐπί τινος δρυὸς ὑψηλῆς καθημένη κατὰ τὸ σύνηθες ᾖδεν. ἱέραξ δὲ αὐτὴν θεασάμενος ἀπορῶν τροφῆς ἐπιπτὰς ἀνελάβετο αὐτήν. ἡ δὲ μέλλουσα ἀναιρεῖσθαι ἐδέετο αὐτοῦ λέγουσα μὴ βρωθῆναι αὐτήν, ἐπειδὴ οὐχ ἱκανή ἐστιν ἱέρακος πληρῶσαι γαστέρα, δεῖ δὲ αὐτόν, εἰ τροφῆς ἀπορεῖ,  ἐπὶ τὰ μείζονα τῶν ὀρνέων τρέπεσθαι. ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ ἱέραξ ἔφη· „ἀλλ’ ἔγωγε ἄφρων ἂν εἴην, τὴν ἐν χερσὶν ἑτοίμην βορὰν παρεὶς τὰ μηδέπω φαινόμενα διώκειν.”

    ὁ μῦθος δηλοῖ, ὅτι οὕτω καὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀλόγιστοί εἰσιν, οἳ δι’ ἐλπίδα μειζόνων τὰ ἐν χερσὶν ὄντα προίενται.

 

Aesop Fable III – The Eagle and the Beetle

An Eagle was hunting a Hare. The Hare, lacking anyone who could render him assistance saw a Beetle, the one thing which chance offered him, and so began to supplicate him. The Beetle encouraged him and, seeing the Eagle coming near, enjoined him not to carry off his suppliant. The Eagle, scorning the smallness of the Beetle, devoured the Hare in front of him. The Beetle, remembering the evil done by the Eagle, kept watch over his nest; and, if the Eagle ever gave birth, the Beetle rolled them along and dropped them, until the Eagle, driven away at every turn, finally fled to Zeus (for the Eagle is the sacred bird of Zeus) and asked him to give him a safe place for birthing his young. Zeus offered the Eagle a space within his robe for giving birth. The Beetle saw this, rolled up a globule of dung, went up to Zeus and dropped the ball into the folds of Zeus’s robe. Zeus, wanting to shake the dung out, stood up and did not realize that he hurled away the eggs. For this reason it is said that eagles do not hatch during beetle season.

This story teaches us not to scorn anyone, realizing that no one is so powerless that they cannot avenge themselves when treated foully.

fable3

ἀετὸς λαγωὸν ἐδίωκεν. ὁ δὲ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ τῶν βοηθούντων ὑπάρχων, ὃν μόνον ὁ καιρὸς ὑπέσχεν, κάνθαρον ἰδὼν τοῦτον ἱκέτευεν. ὁ δὲ παραθαρρύνας αὐτὸν ὡς ἐγγὺς ἐλθόντα τὸν ἀετὸν ἐθεάσατο, παρεκάλει αὐτὸν ὁ κάνθαρος μὴ ἀπάγειν αὐτοῦ τὸν ἱκέτην. κἀκεῖνος ὑπεριδὼν τῆς σμικρότητος ἐν ὄψει τοῦ κανθάρου τὸν λαγωὸν κατέφαγεν. ὁ δὲ ἀπ’ ἐκείνου μνησικακῶν διετέλει παρατηρούμενος τοῦ ἀετοῦ τὰς καλιάς. καὶ εἴ ποτε ἐκεῖνος ἔτικτε, μετάρσιος αἰρόμενος ἐκύλιε τὰ ὠὰ καὶ κατέασσε, μέχρις οὗ πανταχόθεν ἐλαυνόμενος ὁ ἀετὸς ἐπὶ τὸν Δία κατέφυγεν—ἔστι δὲ τοῦ θεοῦ ἱερὸς ὁ ὄρνις—καὶ ἐδεήθη αὐτοῦ τόπον αὐτῷ ἀσφαλῆ πρὸς νεοττοποιίαν παρασχεῖν. τοῦ δὲ Διὸς ἐν τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ κόλποις ἐπιτρέψαντος αὐτῷ νεοττοποιεῖν ὁ κάνθαρος τοῦτο ἑωρακὼς κόπρου σφαῖραν ποιήσας ἀνέπτη καὶ

γενόμενος κατὰ τοὺς κόλπους τοῦ Διὸς καθῆκε τὴν κόπρον. ὁ δὲ Ζεὺς ἀποσείσασθαι τὴν κόπρον βουλόμενος ὡς ἐξανέστη, ἔλαθε τὰ ὠὰ ἀπορρίψας. ἀπ’ ἐκείνου τέ φασι, περὶ ὃν καιρὸν οἱ κάνθαροι γίνονται, τοὺς ἀετοὺς μὴ νεοττεύειν.

     ὁ μῦθος δηλοῖ μηδενὸς καταφρονεῖν λογιζομένους, ὅτι οὐδείς ἐστιν, ὃς προπηλακισθεὶς ἑαυτόν ποτε οὐκ ἐκδικήσει.

Scarabaeus_laticollis_2

Aesop Fable II – The Eagle, the Jackdaw, and the Shepherd

 

“An Eagle once flew down from a lofty rock and snatched a lamb. A Jackdaw saw this and jealously wished to imitate him. Sending himself down with a great whistle he landed upon a ram. He locked his talons into the ram’s wool, and unable to lift the ram, he beat his wings until a shepherd, seeing what was happening, ran up, grabbed the Jackdaw, and cut off his wings. When evening came, the shepherd carried them to his children. When they asked what sort of bird it was, he responded, ‘As I know clearly, he was a Jackdaw; but as he conceived it, he was an Eagle.’

Thus goes the struggle against those who exceed us: in addition to accomplishing nothing, one adds ridicule to misfortune.”

aesopfable2

 

     ἀετὸς καταπτὰς ἀπό τινος ὑψηλῆς πέτρας ἄρνα ἥρπασε· κολοιὸς δὲ τοῦτον θεασάμενος διὰ ζῆλον [τοῦτον] μιμήσασθαι ἤθελε. καὶ δὴ καθεὶς ἑαυτὸν μετὰ πολλοῦ ῥοίζου ἐπὶ κριὸν ἠνέχθη. ἐμπαρέντων δὲ αὐτοῦ τῶν ὀνύχων τοῖς

μαλλοῖς ἐξαρθῆναι μὴ δυνάμενος ἐπτερύσσετο, ἕως ὁ ποιμὴν τὸ γεγονὸς αἰσθόμενος προσδραμὼν συνέλαβεν αὐτὸν καὶ περικόψας αὐτοῦ τὰ ὀξύπτερα, ὡς ἑσπέρα κατέλαβε, τοῖς αὐτοῦ παισὶν ἐκόμισε. τῶν δὲ πυνθανομένων, τί εἴη τὸ ὄρνεον, ἔφη· „ὡς μὲν ἐγὼ σαφῶς οἶδα, κολοιός, ὡς δὲ αὐτὸς βούλεται, ἀετός.”

     οὕτως ἡ πρὸς τοὺς ὑπερέχοντας ἅμιλλα πρὸς τῷ μηδὲν ἀνύειν καὶ ἐπὶ συμφοραῖς προσκτᾶται γέλωτα.