Aesop’s Fables: The Old Woman and the Doctor

An Old Woman became almost totally blind from a disease of the eyes, and, after consulting a Doctor, made an agreement with him in the presence of witnesses that she should pay him a high fee if he cured her, while if he failed he was to receive nothing.

The Doctor accordingly prescribed a course of treatment, and every time he paid her a visit he took away with him some article out of the house, until at last, and the cure was complete, there was nothing left. When the Old Woman saw that the house was empty she refused to pay him his fee; and, after repeated refusals on her part, he sued her before the magistrates for payment of her debt.

On being brought into court she was ready with her defense. “The claimant,” said she, “has stated the facts about our agreement correctly. I undertook to pay him a fee if he cured me, and he, on his part, promised to charge nothing if he failed. Now, he says I am cured; but I say that I am blinder than ever, and I can prove what I say. When my eyes were bad I could at any rate see well enough to be aware that my house contained a certain amount of furniture and other things; but now, when according to him I am cured, I am entirely unable to see anything there at all.”

(From a facsimile of the 1912 edition, Avenel Books, New York)

Aesop’s Fables: The Two Bags

[Part two of an occasional series, sourced from a facsimile of the 1912 Avenal Books Edition of the ancient fables credited to Aesop, a slave and story-teller who lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 560 BCE]

Every man carries Two Bags about with him, one in front and one behind, and both are packed full of faults. The Bag in front contains his neighbors faults, the one behind his own. Hence it is that men do not see their own faults, but never fail to see those of others.

Aesop’s Fables: The Mice in Council

Aesop, as depicted in the Nuremberg Chronicle by Hartmann Schedel. Here he is shown wearing 15th century German clothing

(Part one of a new occasional series, sourced from a facsimile of the 1912 Avenal Books Edition of the ancient fables credited to Aesop, a slave and story-teller who lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 560 BCE).

 

THE MICE IN COUNCIL

Once upon a time all the mice met together in Council, and discussed the best means of securing themselves against the attacks of the cat. After several suggestions had been debated, a Mouse of some standing and experience got up and said, “I think I have hit upon a plan that will ensure our safety in the future, provided you approve and carry it out. It is that we should fasten a bell round the neck of our enemy the cat, which will by its tinkling warn us of her approach.”

This proposal was warmly applauded, and it had already been decided to adopt it, when an old Mouse got upon his feet and said, “I agree with you all that the plan before us is an admirable one: but may I ask who is going to bell the cat?”