University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
A Poetical Translation Of The Fables of Phaedrus

With The Appendix of Gudius, And an accurate Edition of the Original on the opposite Page. To which is added, A Parsing Index For the Use of Learners. By Christopher Smart
Smart, Christopher (1722-1771)

collapse section 
[section]
  
[dedication]
collapse section 
THE FABLES of PHÆDRUS, Freed Man of AUGUSTUS, After the Manner of ESOP. In FIVE BOOKS.
collapse section1. 
THE FIRST BOOK OF THE FABLES of PHÆDRUS.
  
Prologue.
 I. 
FABLE I. The Wolf and the Lamb.
 II. 
FABLE II. The Frogs desiring a King.
 III. 
FABLE III. The vain Jackdaw.
 IV. 
FABLE IV. The Dog in the River.
 V. 
FABLE V. The Heifer, Goat, Sheep, and Lion.
 VI. 
FABLE VI. The Frogs and Sun.
 VII. 
FABLE VII. The Fox and Tragic Mask.
 VIII. 
FABLE VIII. The Wolf and Crane.
 IX. 
FABLE IX. The Hare and the Sparrow.
 X. 
FABLE X. The Wolf and Fox, with the Ape for their Judge.
 XI. 
FABLE XI. The Ass and Lion hunting.
 XII. 
FABLE XII. The Stag at the Fountain.
 XIII. 
FABLE XIII. The Fox and the Crow.
 XIV. 
FABLE XIV. The Cobler turn'd Doctor.
 XV. 
FABLE XV. The sapient Ass.
 XVI. 
FABLE XVI. The Sheep, the Stag, and the Wolf.
 XVII. 
FABLE XVII. The Sheep, the Dog, and the Wolf.
 XVIII. 
FABLE XVIII. The Woman in Labour.
 XIX. 
FABLE XIX. The Bitch and her Puppies.
 XX. 
FABLE XX. The hungry Dogs.
 XXI. 
FABLE XXI. The Old Lion.
 XXII. 
FABLE XXII. The Man and the Weasel.
 XXIII. 
FABLE XXIII. The faithful House-Dog.
 XXIV. 
FABLE XXIV. The proud Frog.
 XXV. 
FABLE XXV. The Dog and the Crocodile.
 XXVI. 
FABLE XXVI. The Fox and the Stork.
 XXVII. 
FABLE XXVII. The Dog, Treasure, and Vulture.
 XXVIII. 
FABLE XXVIII. The Fox and Eagle.
 XXIX. 
FABLE XXIX. The Frogs and Bulls.
 XXX. 
FABLE XXX. The Kite and the Doves.
collapse section2. 
THE SECOND BOOK OF THE FABLES of PHÆDRUS.
  
Prologue.
 I. 
FABLE I. The judicious Lion.
 II. 
FABLE II. The Bald-pate Dupe.
 III. 
FABLE III. The Man and the Dog.
 IV. 
FABLE IV. The Eagle, the Cat, and the Sow.
 V. 
FABLE V. Cæsar and his Slave.
 VI. 
FABLE VI. The Eagle, Carrion Crow, and the Tortoise.
 VII. 
FABLE VII. The Mules and Robbers.
 VIII. 
FABLE VIII. The Stag and the Oxen.
  
Epilogue.
collapse section3. 
THE THIRD BOOK OF THE FABLES of PHÆDRUS.
  
Prologue to Eutychus.
 I. 
FABLE I. The Old Woman and Empty Cask.
 II. 
FABLE II. The Panther and Shepherds.
 III. 
FABLE III. The Ape's Head.
 IV. 
FABLE IV. Æsop and the insolent Fellow.
 V. 
FABLE V. The Fly and the Mule.
 VI. 
FABLE VI. The Dog and the Wolf.
 VII. 
FABLE VII. The Brother and Sister.
 VIII. 
FABLE VIII. A Saying of Socrates.
 IX. 
FABLE IX. Of Doubt and Credulity.
 X. 
FABLE X. The Eunuch and Wicked Fellow.
 XI. 
FABLE XI. The Cock and the Pearl.
 XII. 
FABLE XII. The Bees and the Drones.
 XIII. 
FABLE XIII. Esop playing.
 XIV. 
FABLE XIV. The Dog and the Lamb.
 XV. 
FABLE XV. The Owl and the Grashopper.
 XVI. 
FABLE XVI. The Trees protected.
 XVII. 
FABLE XVII. Juno and the Peacock.
 XVIII. 
FABLE XVIII. Esop and the importunate Fellow.
 XIX. 
FABLE XIX. The Ass and Priests of Cybele.
collapse section4. 
THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE FABLES of PHÆDRUS.
  
Prologue.
 I. 
FABLE I. The Weasel and Mice.
 II. 
FABLE II. The Fox and the Grapes.
 III. 
FABLE III. The Horse and Boar.
 IV. 
FABLE IV. Esop and the Will.
 V. 
FABLE V. The Battle of the Mice and Weasels.
 VI. 
FABLE VI. Phædrus to the Cavillers.
 VII. 
FABLE VII. The Viper and the File.
 VIII. 
FABLE VIII. The Fox and the Goat.
 IX. 
FABLE IX. The Two Bags.
 X. 
FABLE X. The sacrilegious Thief.
 XI. 
FABLE XI. Hercules and Plutus.
 XII. 
FABLE XII. The He-Goats and She-Goats.
 XIII. 
FABLE XIII. The Pilot and Sailors.
 XIV. 
FABLE XIV. The Man and the Adder.
 XV. 
FABLE XV. The Fox and the Dragon.
 XVI. 
FABLE XVI. Phædrus of his Fables.
 XVII. 
FABLE XVII. The Shipwreck of Simonides.
 XVIII. 
FABLE XVIII. The Mountain in Labour.
 XIX. 
FABLE XIX. The Ant and the Fly.
 XX. 
FABLE XX. The Escape of Simonides.
  
Epilogue to Eutychus.
collapse section5. 
THE FIFTH BOOK OF THE FABLES of PHÆDRUS.
  
Prologue to Particulo.
 I. 
FABLE I. Demetrius and Menander.
 II. 
FABLE II. The Thief and the Travellers.
 III. 
FABLE III. The Bald Man and the Fly.
 IV. 
FABLE IV. The Man and the Ass.
 V. 
FABLE V. The Buffoon and Country-Fellow.
  
To Particulo.
 VI. 
FABLE VI. The Two Bald Men.
 VII. 
FABLE VII. Prince the Piper.
 VIII. 
FABLE VIII. Opportunity.
 IX. 
FAB. IX. The Bull and the Calf.
 X. 
FABLE X. The old Dog and the Huntsman.
collapse section 
THE APPENDIX OF GUDIUS.
 I. 
FABLE I. The Sick Kite.
 II. 
FABLE II. The Hares weary of Life.
 III. 
FABLE III. Jupiter and the Fox.
 IV. 
FABLE IV. The Lion and the Mouse.
 V. 
FABLE V. The Man and the Trees .

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section A Poetical Translation Of The Fables of Phaedrus
next section

FABLE IV. The Eagle, the Cat, and the Sow.

An Eagle built upon an oak—
A Cat and kittens had bespoke
A hole about the middle bough;
And underneath a woodland Sow
Had plac'd her pigs upon the ground.
Then treach'rous Puss a method found
61

To overthrow, for her own good,
The peace of this chance neighbourhood.
First to the Eagle she ascends—
“Perdition on your head impends,
“And, far too probable, on mine;
“For you observe that grubbing swine
“Still works the tree to overset,
“Us and our young with ease to get.”
Thus having fill'd the Eagle's pate
With consternation very great,
Down creeps she to the Sow below;
“The Eagle is your deadly foe,
“And is determin'd not to spare
“Your pigs, when you shall take the air.”
Here too a terror being spread,
By what this tattling gossip said,
She slily to her kittens stole,
And rested snug within her hole.
Sneaking from thence with silent tread
By night her family she fed,
But look'd out sharply all the day,
Affecting terror and dismay.
The Eagle, lest the tree should fall,
Keeps to the boughs, nor stirs at all;
And, anxious for her grunting race,
The Sow is loth to quit her place.
In short, they and their young ones starve,
And leave a prey for Puss to carve.
63

Hence warn'd, ye credulous and young,
Be cautious of a double tongue.
previous section A Poetical Translation Of The Fables of Phaedrus
next section