Aesop for Thursday, January 24

In his travels, Aesop visited Athens, Corinth, and many other cities and provinces, teaching the people by means of fables. He reasoned wisely that while men do not like to be told their faults outright, they will gladly listen to a story which may be made to carry its own lesson.

Once while Aesop was visiting Athens, he found the Athenians complaining against the rule of Pisistratus; and to rebuke them he told the fable of the "Frogs Desiring a King."

A mission to Delphi, on behalf of King Croesus was the occasion of Aesop's death. He had been sent thither to distribute a large sum of silver to the citizens. But the Delphians, insead of showing their gratitude were so greedy that no plan which Aesop could devise would suit them. Each man was afraid lest me might not get every coin possible.

We can imagine how disgusted Aesop grew at their covetousness. He may have told them the fable of the "Goose with the Golden Eggs." He became so provoked at last that he refused to give them the silver at all, and sent it back to the king. The Delphians flew at him in a rage, in spite of the fact that he was an embassador, and hurled him over a high cliff. Thus died Aesop, about the year 564 BC.

Aesop's death did not go unavenged. A series of calamities were visited upon the Delphians until they begged for mercy. They offered to pay a sum of money, equal to that which had been sent them, to any member of Aesop's family. There being none living, a grandson of his former master and friend, Iadmon, came forward and claimed it. This crime and punishment became talked of to such an extent that it gave rise to a proverb, "Aesop's blood."

The Frogs Desiring a King

The frogs living an easy, free sort of life among the lakes and ponds, once prayed Jupiter to send them a king. Jupiter, being at that time in a merry mood, threw them a log, saying as he did so, "There, then, is a king for you."

Awed by the splash, the frongs watched their king in fear and trembling, till at last, encouraged by his stillness, one more daring than the rest jumped upon the shoulder of his monarch. Soon many others followed his example, and made merry on the back of their unresisting king.

Speedily tiring of such a torpid ruler, they again petitioned jupiter, and asked him to send them something more like a king. This time he sent them a stork, who chased them about and gobbled them up as fast as he could. They lost no time, therefore, in beseeching the god to give them again their former state.

"No, no," replied he; "a King that did you no harm did not please you. Make the best of the one you have, or you may chance to get a worse in his place."

Let well enough alone.

*From the Fables of Aesop

Based on the texts of L'Estrange and Croxall

Books, Inc. Publishers, NY (no date)

Part 1: The Fables of Aesop

Part 2: Aesop for Thursday, January 17

Part 3: Aesop for Friday, January 18

Part 4: Aesop for Monday, January 21

Part 5: Aesop for Tuesday, January 22

Part 6: Aesop for Wednesday, January 23