Herford: The Man and the Lion

A Lion and a Man, as they
Were walking in a park one day,
Exchanging stories of their strength
And deeds of valor, came at length
Upon the statue of a Man
Slaying a Lion. Then began
A wrangle. Said the Man, "I call
That true to nature." " Not at all!"
The Lion roared. "You think it true
Because it shows Man's point of view.
If it were mine, the Man would not
Be seen!" Exclaimed the other, "What!
No Man at all?" " Oh, yes," replied
The Lion, "he would be inside!"

Source: Herford Aesop 12.

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Herford: The Ox and the Frog

An Ox, not heeding, as he chewed
His midday cud, stepped on a brood
Of little Frogs, and all were crushed
Save one, who, panic-stricken, rushed
To tell his mother how there came
A great huge beast with eyes like flame
And cloven feet, and crushed to death
Her children. As he paused for breath,
"Was it as big as this?" said she,
Puffing herself out monstrously;
"Or this? or this?" "Oh, mother, spare
Yourself! You might as well compare
A Puffball to the Pyramid,"
Cried he. "If you don't have a care
You'll burst!' And sure enough she did.

Source: Herford Aesop 11.

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Herford: The Star Gazer

A wise Old Man whose chief delight
Was studying the stars at night,
One evening, gazing at the sky,
With head thrown back and chin held high,
Picking out just which star was which,
Stumbled and fell into a ditch.
Chancing to hear the Old Man's cry
A Stranger who was passing by
Beheld his plight and drawing near
Addressed him thus: "My friend, I fear
That when at night you walk about
With face uplifted, picking out
This star and that, you overlook
A planet, which, tho' in your book,
You will not see howe'er you try
By looking for it in the sky;
A planet you will find well worth
Your while to watch 'tis called THE EARTH."

Source: Herford Aesop 35.

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Herford: The Deer and the Vine

A Stag, exhausted by the chase,
Discovered for a hiding place
A Vine whose leaves so thickly grew
They hid him from the Hunter's view.
Here, thinking now the danger past,
And hungry from his all-day fast,
He nibbled at the leaves, which made
A rustling that at once betrayed
Where he was hidden. Peering through
The Vine, the Hunter found and slew
The Stag, who thus was justly paid
For hurting leaves that gave him aid.

Source: Herford Aesop 4.

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Herford: The Ass and the Image

An Ass once carried through the town
A precious Image of renown
Upon his back. Observing how
The crowds upon the streets would bow
Their heads devoutly as he passed
He thought they bowed to him. "At last!
Brayed he, "the world has come to see
My wisdom, my nobility,
My majesty, my strength of will!"
Reflecting thus, the Ass stood still;
Nor would he stir a step until
In angry tones the driver cried,
"Get up, you lazy beast!" and plied
His whip. "Maybe you think it's you
The people there are bowing to!
Things have come to a pretty pass
When folks turn out to laud an ASS!"

Source: Herford Aesop 19.

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Click here for a SLIDESHOW of all the Billinghurst images. In the ancient world, the donkey was usually carrying an image of Isis, but here the story has been adapted to a Christian context!

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Herford: The Lion and the Fox

A Lion that had grown too weak
With age to leave his den to seek
For food, foreseeing now that he
Must get his meals by strategy,
Lay down, pretending to be sick.
The beasts, not dreaming 'twas a trick,
And thinking one so near his end
No harm could possibly intend,
Flocked to condole, alas! to learn
The truth too late, as each in turn
Was gobbled up. The Fox, less prone
To trust appearances, alone
Saw through the trick and stayed outside.
"Come in, I beg," the Lion cried.
"Thanks," said the Fox, "but I prefer
To stay without. I notice, Sir,
That all the footprints hereabout
Go toward your den, and none come out!"

Source: Herford Aesop 13.

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Click here for a SLIDESHOW of all the colored Steinhowel images. You can see the artist has even drawn in some of those tell-tale animal tracks!

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Herford: The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg

A Farmer once a Goose possessed
That laid each morning in her nest
A Golden Egg, to him, indeed,
A fortune. Yet such was his greed
He grew in time suspicious lest
One Egg per day were not the best
The Goose could do. "I'm satisfied,"
Said he, "she has in her inside,
A mint of Gold." And so the dunce,
Thinking to get it all at once,
Killed her and found to his chagrin
Just flesh and feathers, bones and skin,
And other things no earthly use
To anyone except a Goose.

Source: Herford Aesop 46.

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Herford: The Miser

There was a Miser once who sold
His birthright for a lump of gold
And hid the lump of gold away
In a deep hole, to which each day
He came to feast his eyes upon
His treasure. - - One day it was gone.
A thief had found the hiding-place
And helped himself and left no trace.
The miser raved and tore his hair.
A neighbor, marking his despair,
Counseled him thus: "Pray why be sad
At losing what you never had?
Your lump of gold, you can't deny,
Was only worth what it would buy.
Go get a stone of equal size
And weight, then, if you shut your eyes,
For all the good you'll get of it
That stone will serve you every bit
As well, for with it can be bought
All you would buy and that is naught!"

Source: Herford Aesop 50.

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Herford: The Fox and the Grapes

A thirsty Fox once saw some fine
Ripe Grapes that hung on a tall vine.
"Just what I'm longing for!" cried he,
And sprang to get them eagerly.
Alas! the clusters hung so high
He could not reach them. By and by,
Finding his efforts all in vain,
His longing turned into disdain;
"They're only fit," snarled he, "for Apes.
What do I want with Sour Grapes!"

Source: Herford Aesop 18.

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Herford: A Fox and a Crab

A Fox in search of food one day
Espied a stranded Crab that lay
Upon the beach. "What luck!" said he,
"A breakfast ready made for me!"
"The luck is yours," the Crab replied;
"Mine left me with the ebbing tide.
Had I been faithful to the sea,
I would not now your breakfast be!"

Source: Herford Aesop 28.

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Herford: The Lioness

Once the wilderness was rent
With a storm of argument.
Never was there such a din!
All the animals joined in,
Big and little, as they tried
This Great Question to decide,
Which of them could mother be
To the largest family.
When convinced at last that they
Could not settle it that way,
To the Lioness they went.
"Pray decide our argument;
But," said they, "before you do,
Tell how many cubs have you."
"Well! ' replied the Lioness,
"Since you ask me, I confess
I have only one; but why on
Numbers dwell? That one's a LION."

Source: Herford Aesop 39.

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Click here for a SLIDESHOW of all the Barlow images. This illustration is for a version of the story when it is only the fox who disputes with the lioness about fertility.

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Herford: The Donkey in the Lion's Skin

Once a Donkey, wondering
How it felt to be a King,
Donned a Lion's skin he found
Left by hunters on the ground.
Thus in Regal Robe arrayed,
All the other Beasts, dismayed
When they saw him coming, fled,
Save the Fox, who laughed and said,
"You're no Lion, that I know
By your voice, my friend, for tho'
I've seen some Lions in my day,
I've yet to hear a Lion bray!"

Source: Herford Aesop 44.

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Herford: The Crab and his Mother

Said a Crab in tone irate
To her son, "Your sidelong gait
Annoys me; can you not go straight?
Said the Son, "I'll try, if you
Will show me how." What could she do?
Mother Crab went sideways too!

Source: Herford Aesop 23.

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Herford: The Crow and the Water Jar

A thirsty Crow once found a Jar
That held some water, but 'twas far
Too narrow necked, and much too low
The water was, for Master Crow
With his short neck to get a drink.
The Crow then set himself to think -
At last upon a plan he hit.
"Since I cannot reach down to it,
I must invent some way," said he,
"To make the water rise to me."
With little pebbles, one by one,
He filled the Jar; as this was done
The water rose and rose, until
The thirsty Crow could drink his fill.

Source: Herford Aesop 22.

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Herford: The Fox and the Crow

A Crow once stole a piece of cheese,
And, to enjoy it at her ease,
Flew to the top of a high tree.
A Fox who, passing, chanced to see,
Resolved to exercise his wit
And win from her the dainty bit
That in her beak she held so tight.
"My dear," said he, with smile polite,
"I never was aware till now
How perfect is your form, nor how
Superb your plumage. Had your voice
An equal charm, I should rejoice
To hear you sing!" At that the Crow,
Parting her beak to sing, let go
The piece of cheese and saw the prize
Snapped up before her very eyes,
And heard the Fox's parting jeer -
"Don't trouble now to caw, my dear!"

Source: Herford Aesop 34.

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Herford: The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

A Country Mouse once asked a friend
Who lived in Town to come and spend
The day, and breathe his country air,
And taste his simple country fare.
But simple fare like cheese and rye
And oatmeal failed to satisfy
The City Mouse's pampered taste.
"Your life, my friend, is going to waste
In this outlandish hole," said he.
"Come into Town and visit me -
And I will show you how (forgive
Plain speech) a gentlemouse should live."
His host accepted with delight,
So off they set and that same night,
Arriving at the city house,
Sat down to dine. The Country Mouse,
Bewildered, scarce believed his eyes,
For here were almonds, nuts and pies,
Honey and custard, cream and cake,
And - - "What's that noise? For mercy's sake!"
The Country Mouse exclaimed in fright,
As through the floor with all their might
They scampered, panting, out of breath.
"It almost frightened me to death!"
"Oh, that - " explained the City Mouse,
"That is the Man who shares my house;
But he won't hurt you -" "That may be,"
Replied the guest, "but not for me
This whirl of cake and custard gay;
It is not worth the price you pay.
I'm just as much obliged, but I
Prefer the Simple Life - - Good-bye!"

Source: Herford Aesop 43.

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Herford: The Mice in Council

Once, in the absence of the Cat,
The Mice in solemn council sat,
Some plan of action to discuss
To curb her practice odious
Of prying into their affairs
And pouncing on them unawares.
After much talk the plan that met
With most approval was to get
A piece of cord and hang thereby
To Pussy's neck, upon the sly,
A bell that would not fail to ring
When Pussy was about to spring,
And so announce her fell intention.
Truly a wonderful invention!
The Mice delightedly agreed;
"Now," said the Chairman, "all we need
Is someone to attach the bell."
At this, an awful silence fell
Upon the meeting; no one spoke.
At length a voice the stillness broke,
"I move, since no one seems to yearn
To bell the Cat, that we adjourn."

Source: Herford Aesop 30.

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Click here for a SLIDESHOW of all the Barlow images. Look closely and you can see the bell there where the mice are!

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Herford: The Arab and his Camel

A Camel standing in the cold
Outside an Arab's tent made bold
To ask if he might put his head
Inside the door. "Why, surely," said
The Arab. "Well, since you're so kind,"
Resumed the Camel, "would you mind
If I should put my neck in too?"
The Arab smiled assent. "Pray do!"
The Camel thanked him and complied,
Remarking as he pushed inside,
"Far be it from me to presume,
But could you for my knees make room?"
"Aye! ' cried the man, "without a doubt!
"Well," said the Camel, "how about
My hind legs? Standing halfway through
Keeps the door open." "Very true;
Come in and close the flap," replied
The kindly Arab. Once inside
The Camel found it cramped. "Dear me!
This tent's too small for two!" cried he,
"I must have room to turn about!"
With that he pushed the Arab out.

Source: Herford Aesop 49.

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(image source)

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(not in Mille Fabulae et Una) (not in Perry)

Herford: The Nurse and the Wolf

A hungry Wolf once paused outside
A cottage where an infant cried,
And, listening, heard the nurse exclaim,
"Be still, you naughty child! For shame!
If you don't stop at once, I'll throw
You to the wolf outside." "Oho!"
Chuckled the Wolf, "how fortunate!
I'll stay just where I am and wait,
And soon my supper I shall get."
For all we know, he's waiting yet.

Source: Herford Aesop 29.

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Herford: The Miller and His Son and Their Ass

A Miller and his Son one day,
As they were trudging on their way
To sell their Donkey at the fair,
Passed by a group of girls. "Look there!
At those two simpletons!" one cried,
"Who walk when there's a beast to ride!"
The Miller hearing, bade his Son
Get on the Donkey's back. This done,
Proceeding on their way again
They met a party of old men,
Discoursing gravely. "There!" cried one,
"Look at that good-for-nothing son
Who rides and lets his father go
On foot. - You rascal! have you no
Respect for Age? no filial pride?
Get off and let the old man ride!"
Without a word the boy obeyed
And, leaping from the Donkey, made
His father take his place and ride
While he ran by the Donkey's side.
As thus they journeyed merrily,
Along there came a company
Of womenfolk and children, who
Set up a terrible to-do,
"Have you no heart?" the women cried;
"A great, strong man like you to ride
And let your son, poor little man,
Keep pace with you as best he can!"
The Miller, naturally kind,
At this, took up his Son behind;
And on the Donkey's back the pair
Rode on to town. When almost there,
A Stranger, in ill-natured tone,
Accosted them, "Pray do you own
That Donkey, Sir?" " Most certainly!
Replied the Miller. "Well," said he,
"One would not think so by the way
You load him! If I had my say,
I'd make the pair of you alight
And carry him!" "Perhaps you're right;
It is the only thing," replied
The Miller, "that we have not tried.
We aim to please." So then and there
Dismounting, that obliging pair
Tied the poor Donkey's feet and slung
Him to a pole from which he hung,
Braying his protest, upside down,
And started with him to the town
Upon their shoulders. At the sight
The townsfolk, shouting with delight,
Came flocking round on every side,
Until the Donkey, terrified,
Just as they reached a bridge, broke through
The cords and tumbled off into
The river and was swept away.
Thus did the foolish Miller pay
For trying to please everyone;
He lost his Donkey and pleased none.

Source: Herford Aesop 17.

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Click here for a SLIDESHOW of all the Brant images. All the versions are here: donkey unladen, father on donkey, son on donkey, both on donkey, and - finally - carrying the donkey!

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