An Old Lion

014. An Old Lion. A Lion that in the Days of his Youth and Strength, had been very Outragious and Cruel, came in the end to be Reduced by Old Age, and Infirmity, to the last Degree of Misery, and Contempt: Insomuch that All the Beasts of the Forrest; some out of Insolence, others in Revenge, some in fine, upon One Pretence, some Upon Another, fell upon him by Consent. He was a Miserable Creature to all Intents and Purposes; but Nothing went so near to the Heart of him in his Distress, as to find himself Batter'd by the Heel of an Asse.
Moral. A prince that does not secure Friends to Himself while he is in Power and Condition to oblige them, must never expect to find Friends, when he is Old and Impotent, and no longer Able to do them any Good. If he Governs Tyrannically in his Youth, he will be sure to be Treated Contemptuously in his Age; and the Baser his Enemies are, the more Insolent, and Intollerable will be the Affront.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration by Francis Barlow:

L'Estrange. Aesop and Other Eminent Mythologists, 1669

Although this book is not illustrated, L'Estrange's Aesop and Other Eminent Mythologists is a delight, so I will be transcribing the fables and morals (but not the reflections) here, using the 1669 third edition as available at the Internet Archive (and there are more editions online here). Then, I will add an illustration to each fable from the illustrations already available at this site.

Here is the frontispiece to that edition:

And here are the fables I have transcribed so far:

001. A Cock and a Diamond
002. A Cat and a Cock
003. A Wolf and a Lamb
004. A Frog and a Mouse
005. A Lion and a Bear
006. A Dog and a Shadow
007. A Lion, An Ass, etc. a Hunting
008. A Wolf and a Crane
009. A Countryman and a Snake
010. A Lion and an Asse
011. A City Mouse and a Country Mouse
012. A Crow and a Muscle
013. A Fox and a Raven
014. An Old Lion

A Fox and a Raven

013. A Fox and a Raven . A Certain Fox spy'd out a Raven upon a Tree with a Morsel in his mouth, that set his Chops a watering; but how to come at it was the Question. O thou Blessed Bird! (says he) the Delight of Gods, and of Men! and so he lays himself forth upon the Gracefulness of the Ravens Person, and the Beauty of his Plumes; His Admiral Gift of Augury, etc. And now, says this Fox, If thou hadst but a Voice answerable to the rest of thy Excellent Qualities, the Sun in the Firmament could not shew the World such Another Creature. This Nauseous Flattery sets the Raven immediately a Gaping as Wide as ever he could stretch, to give the Fox a taste of his Pipe; but upon the Opening of his Mouth then drops his Breakfast, which the Fox presently Chopt up, and then bad him remember, that whatever he had said of his Beauty, he had spoken nothing yet of his Brains.

Moral. There's hardly any Man living that may not be wrought upon more or less by Flattery: For we do all of us Naturally Overween in our Own Favour: But when it comes to be Apply'd once to a Vain Fool, it makes him forty times an Arranter Sot than he was before.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration by Arthur Rackham:

A Crow and a Mussel

012. A Crow and a Muscle. There was one of Your Royston-Crows, that lay Battering upon a Muscle, and could not for his Blood break the Shell to come at the Fish. A Carrion-Crow, in this Interim, comes up and tells him, that what he could not do by Force, he might do by Stratagem. Take this Muscle up in the Air, says the Crow, as High as you can carry it, and then let him fall upon that Rock there; His Own Weight, You shall see, shall break him. The Roystoner took his Advice, and it succeeded accordingly; but while the One was upon Wing, the Other stood Lurching upon the Ground, and flew away with the Fish.

Moral. Charity begins at Home, they say; and most People are kind to their Neighbours for their Own sakes.

[more info; this fable is usually told about an eagle and a crow, with the eagle trying to eat a tortoise, while L'Estrange has told the story about one type of crow tricking another crow to get at a mussel; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration by Ogilby, who tells the story about an eagle trying to open a scallop and a jackdaw:

City Mouse and Country Mouse

011. A City Mouse and a Country Mouse . There goes an old Story of a Country Mouse that Invited a City-Sister of hers to a Country Collation, where she spar'd for Nothing that the Place afforded; as Mouldy Crafts, Cheese-Parings, Musty Oatmeal, Rusty Bacon, and the like. Now the City-Dame was so well bred, as Seemingly to take All in Good Part: But yet at last, Sister (says she, after the Civilest Fashion) why will you be Miserable when you may be Happy? Why will you lie Pining, and Pinching your self in such a Lonesome Starving Course of Life as This is; when 'tis but going to Town along with me; to Enjoy all the Pleasures, and Plenty that your Heart can Wish? This was a Temptation the Country Mouse was not able to Resist; so that away they Trudg'd together, and about Midnight got to their Journeys End. The City Mouse shew'd her Friend the Larder, the Pantry, the Kitchin, and Other Offices where she laid her Stores; and after This, carry'd her into the Parlour, where they found, yet upon the Table, the Reliques of a Mighty Entertainment of That very Night. The City-Mouse Carv'd her Companion of what she lik'd Best, and so to't they fell upon a Velvet Couch together: The Poor Bumkin that had never seen, nor heard of such Doings before, Bless'd her self at the Change of her Condition, when (as ill luck would have it) all on a Sudden, the Doors flew open, and in comes a Crew of Roating Bullies, with their Wenches, their Dogs and their Bottles, and put the Poor Mice to their Wits End, how to save their Skins. The Stranger Especially, that had never been at This Sport before; but she made a Shift however for the present, to slink into a Corner, where she lay Trembling and Panting 'till the Company went their Way. So soon as ever the House was Quiet again, Well: My Court Sister, says she, If This be the Way of Your Town-Gamboles, I'll e'en back to my Cottage, and my Mouldy Cheese again; for I had much rather lie Knabbing of Crusts, without either Fear or Danger, in my Own Little Hold, then be Mistress of the Whole World with Perpetual Cares and Alarums.

Moral. The Difference betwixt a Court and a Country Life. The Delights, Innocence, and Security of the One, Compar'd with the Anxiety, the Lewdness, and the Hazards of the Other.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration by Tenniel:

A Countryman and a Snake

009. A Countryman and a Snake . A Countryman happen'd in a Hard Winter to spy a Snake under a Hedge, that was half Frozen to Death. The Man was good Natur'd and Took it up,and kept it in his Bosom, till Warmth brought it to Life again; and so soon as ever it was in Condition to do Mischief, it bit the very Man that sav'd the Life on't. Ah thou Ungrateful Wretch! Says he, Is that Venemous Ill Nature of thine to be Satisfi'd with nothing less then the Ruine of thy Preserver.

Moral. There are Some Men like Some Snakes; 'Tis Natural to them to be doing Mischief; and the Greater the Benefit on the One side, the More implacable is the Malice on the other.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration from a 15th-century Latin Aesop:

A Wolf and a Crane

008. A Wolf and a Crane. A Wolf had got a Bone in's Throat, and could think of no better Instrument to Ease him of it, than the Bill of a Crane; so he went and Treated with a Crane to help him out with it, upon Condition of a very considerable Reward for his pains. The Crane did him the Good Office, and then claim'd his Promise. Why how now Impudence! (says t'other) Do you put your Head into the Mouth of a Wolf, and then, when y'ave brought it out again safe and sound, do you talk of a Reward? Why Sirrah, you have your Head again, and is not that a Sufficient Recompence.

Moral. One Good Turn they say requires another: But yet He that has to do with Wild Beasts (as some Men are No Better) and comes off with a Whol Skin, let him Expect No Other Reward.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration from a Latin Aesop published in 1485:

The Lion's Share

007. A Lion, An Ass, etc. a Hunting . A Lion, an Ass, and some other of their Fellow-Forresters, 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 up into so many Parts, but as they were entering upon the Dividend, Hands off says the Lion: This Par tis 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.

Moral. There's no Entring 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.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration by Francis Barlow:

A Dog and a Shadow

006. A Dog and a Shadow. As a Dog was crossing a River, with a Morcel of Good Flesh in his Mouth, he saw (as he thought) Another Dog under the Water, upon the very same Adventure. He never consider'd that the one was only the Image of the Other; but out of a Greediness to get Both, he Chops at the Shadow, and Loses the Substance.

Moral. All Covet, All Lose; which may serve for a Reproof to Those that Govern their Lives by Fancy and Appetite, without consulting the Honour, and the Justice of the Case.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration from John Ogilby:

A Lion and a Bear

005. A Lion and a Bear. There was a Lion and a Bear had gotten a Fawn betwixt them, and there were they at Tooth and Nail which of the Two should carry 't off. They Fought it out, till they were e’n glad to lie down and take Breath. In which instant, a Fox passing that way, and finding how the case stood with the Two Combatants, seiz'd upon the Fawn for his Own Use, and so very fairly scamper’d away with him. The Lion, and the Bear saw the Whole Action, but not being in condition to Rise and Hinder it, they pass’d this Reflexion upon the whole matter; Here we have been Worrying one another, who should have the Booty, ’till this Cursed Fox has bobb’d us Both on’t.

Moral. ‘Tis the Fate of All Gotham Quarrels, when Fools go together by the Ears, to have Knaves run away with the Stakes.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration by John Tenniel:

A Frog and a Mouse

004. A Frog and a Mouse. There fell out a Bloody Quarrel once betwixt the Frogs and the Mice, about the Sovereignty of the Fenns; and whilst Two of their Companions were Disputing it at Swords Point, down comes a Kite Powdering upon them in the Interim, and Gobbles up both together, to Part the Fray.

Moral. ‘Tis the Fate of All Gotham Quarrels, when Fools go together by the Ears, to have Knaves run away with the Stakes.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration by Francis Barlow:

A Wolf and a Lamb

003. A Wolf and a Lamb. As a Wolf was lapping at the Head of a Fountain, he spy'd a Lamb, paddling at the same time, a good way off down the Stream. The Wolf had no sooner the Prey in his Eye, but away he runs open-mouth to't. Villain (says he) how dare you lye mudling the Water that I'm a drinking? Indeed, says the poor Lamb, I did not think that my drinking there below, could have foul'd your Water so far above. Nay, says t'other, you'll never leave your chopping of Logick, till your Skin's turn'd over your Ears, as your Fathers was, a matter of six Months ago, for prating at this sawcy rate; you remember it full well, Sirrah. If you'll believe me, Sir, (quoth the innocent Lamb, with fear and trembling) I was not come into the World then. Why thou Impudence, cries the Wolf, hast thou neither Shame nor Conscience? But it runs in the Blood of your whole Race, Sirrah, to hate our Family; and therefore since Fortune has brought us together so conveniently, you shall e'en pay some of your Fore-Fathers Scores before you and I part; and so without any more ado, he leapt at the Throat of the miserable helpless Lamb, and tore him immediately to pieces.

Moral. Tis an easy Matter to find a Staff to beat a Dog. Innocence is no Protection against the Arbitrary Cruelty of a Tyrannical Power: But Reason and Conscience are yet so Sacred, that the Greatest Villanies are still Countenanc'd under that Cloak and Colour.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration by Richard Heighway:

A Cat and a Cock

002. A Cat and a Cock. It was the hard Fortune once of a Cock to fall into the Clutches of a Cat. Puss had a Months mind to be upon the Bones of him, but was not willing to pick a Quarrel however, without some plausible Colour for't. Sirrah (says he) what do you keep such a bawling and screaming a Nights for, that no body can sleep near you? Alas says the Cock, I never wake any body, but when 'tis time for People to rise, and go about their Business. Nay, says the Cat, and then there never was such a lycentuous Rascal: Why, you make no more Conscience of Lying with your own Mother, and your Sisters.--In truth, says the Cock again, that's only to provide Eggs for my Master and Mistress. Come come, says Puss, without any more ado, 'tis time for me to go to Breakfast, and Cats don't live upon Dialogues; at which word she gave him a Pinch, and so made an end both of the Cock, and of the Story.

Moral. Tis an easy Matter to find a Staff to beat a Dog. Innocence is no Protection against the Arbitrary Cruelty of a Tyrannical Power: But Reason and Conscience are yet so Sacred, that the Greatest Villanies are still Countenanc'd under that Cloak and Colour.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration by Harrison Weir:

A Cock and a Diamond

001. A Cock and a Diamond. As a Cock was turning up a Dung-hill, he spy’d a Diamond. Well (he says to himself) this sparkling Foolery now to a Lapidary in my place, would have been the Making of him; but as to any Use or Purpose of mine, a Barley-Corn had been worth Forty on’t.

Moral. He that’s Industrious in an Honest Calling, shall never fail of a Blessing. ‘Tis the part of a Wise Man to Prefer Things Necessary before Matters of Curiosity, Ornament, or Pleasure.

[more info; you can read L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]

And here is an illustration by Arthur Rackham: