Sunday, November 20, 2011

Boothby: The Eagle and the Serpent

An Eagle, on the wing for prey.
Observed a Snake that sleeping lay,
And seiz'd him in her claws; the Snake
Us'd his last force revenge to take.
Dying, he writh'd his body round,
And gave his foe a mortal wound.
Tyrants will oft their ruin find
In ills for others they designed.


Source: Boothby - Aesop 2.29

Corvus et Serpens

Click here for a SLIDESHOW of all the 1590 Aesop images; the bird here is not an eagle, of course - this fable is usually told about a raven.
M0621 Perry128

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