Sunday, August 29, 2010

L'Estrange: A Lion, An Ass etc. A Hunting

A Lion, an Ass, and some other of their Fellow-Foresters, went a hunting one day; and every one to go share and share-like in what they took. They pluck'd down a Stag, and cut him into so many Parts; but as they were ent'ring upon the dividend, Hands off, says the Lion, This Part is mine by the Privilege of my Quality; this, because I'll have it in spite of your teeth; this again, because I took most pains for't; and if you dispute the fourth, we must e'en pluck a Crow about it. So the Confederates Mouths were all stopt, and they went away as mute as Fishes.

There's no ent'ring into Leagues or Partnerships with those that are either too powerful, or too crafty for us. He that has the Staff in his Hand will be his own Carver. Bought Wit is best.

Source: L'Estrange XXX. L'Estrange oddly includes a donkey here, when usually this particular version of the lion's share fable is about a cow, a goat and a sheep, as in the illustration below.

leo, vacca, capra et ovis

Click here for a SLIDESHOW of all the colored Steinhowel images. Notice the very red blood!

M0016 Perry339

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