The Two Associates

Perry 065

7.08. De duobus sociis
Caxton: Of the two felawes
Men ought not to hold felauship with hym / whiche is acustommed to begyle other / As hit appiereth by thys Fable / Of two felawes whiche somtyme held felauship to eche other for to goo bothe by montaynes and valeyes / And for to make better theyre vyage / they were sworne eche one to the other / that none of them bothe shold leue other vnto that the tyme of dethe shold come and departe them / And as they walked in a forest they mette with a grete wyld bere / & bothe felaws ran sone awey for fere / of the whiche the one clymmed vpon a tree / And whan the other sawe that his felawe had lefte hym leyd hym self on the erthe / and fayned to be dede / And Incontynent the bere came for to ete hym / but by cause the gallaunt playd wel his game / the bere went forthe his waye and touched hym not / And thenne his felawe came doun fro the tree whiche sayd to hym / I pray the to telle me what the bere sayd to the / For as me semeth he spake to the / and hath shewed to the grete synge or token of loue / And thenne his felawe sayd to hym / He taught to me many fayre secretes / but emonge alle other thynges he sayd to me / that I shold neuer trust hym who ones hath deceyued me
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Perry 65. Two Friends and the Bear

I've created an animated gif with the illustrations I've found so far for the fable of The Two Friends and the Bear. Use this link to find out more about these illustrations and the English versions of the fables that go with them:

The Travelers and the Bear

052. THE TRAVELLERS AND THE BEAR Two friends were travelling on the same road together when they met with a Bear. The one in great fear without a thought of his companion climbed up into a tree and hid himself. The other, seeing that he had no chance single-handed against the Bear, had nothing left but to throw himself on the ground and feign to be dead, for he had heard that the Bear will never touch a dead body.
As he thus lay, the Bear came up to his head, muzzling and snuffing at his nose and ears and heart, but the man immovably held his breath, and the beast supposing him to be dead, walked away.
When the Bear was fairly out of sight, his companion came down out of the tree, and asked what it was that the Bear whispered to him, “for,” says he, “I observed he put his mouth very close to your ear.”
“Why,” replies the other, “it was no great secret; he only bade me have a care how I kept company with those who, when they get into a difficulty, leave their friends in the lurch.” [more info]

The Travelers and the Bear

046. THE TRAVELLERS AND THE BEAR. Two men being to travel through a forest together, mutually promised to stand by each other in any danger they should meet upon the way. They had not gone far before a bear came rushing towards them out of a thicket; upon which one, being a light nimble fellow, got up into a tree; the other, falling flat upon his face, and holding his breath, lay still, while the bear came up and smelled at him; but that creature supposing him to be a dead carcase, went back again into the wood, without doing him the least harm.
When all was over, the spark who had climbed the tree, came down to his companion, and with a pleasant smile, asked him what the bear had said to him, “for,” says he, “I took notice that he clapped his mouth very close to your ear.”
“Why,” replies the other, “he charged me to take care for the future, not to put any confidence in such cowardly rascals as you are.” [more info]

The Travelers and the Bear

13. THE TRAVELLERS AND THE BEAR. Two travellers before entering a forest promised to help each other in any trouble that might arise on the way, either from wild beasts or from robbers. They had not journeyed far before a large bear rushed out of the thicket. One traveller climbed up a tree. The other, left to fend for himself, fell flat on his face, and held his breath.
The beast came up to the man on the ground, sniffed at him carefully, and then thinking him dead, walked off, for, as the traveller knew, bears will not touch anyone dead.
When the coast was clear, the traveller who had fled first, came down from his tree, and, joining the other, said with a pleasant smile: "What was it the bear said to you? I noticed he clapped his mouth close to your earl"
"Oh!" answered the other, "he told me not to believe again in the promises of such cowardly rascals as you." [more info]

The Travelers and the Bear

087. THE TRAVELLERS AND THE BEAR. Two men being to travel through a forest together, mutually promised to stand by each other in any danger they should meet upon the way. They had not gone far before a bear came rushing towards them out of a thicket; upon which one, being a light nimble fellow, got up into a tree; the other, falling flat upon his face, and holding his breath, lay still, while the bear came up and smelled at him; but that creature supposing him to be a dead carcase, went back again into the wood, without doing him the least harm.
When all was over, the spark who had climbed the tree, came down to his companion, and with a pleasant smile, asked him what the bear had said to him, “for,” says he, “I took notice that he clapped his mouth very close to your ear.”
“Why,” replies the other, “he charged me to take care for the future, not to put any confidence in such cowardly rascals as you are.” [more info]

The Bear and the Two Companions

05.20: THE BEAR AND THE TWO COMPANIONS.
Two fellows, needing funds, and bold,
A bearskin to a furrier sold,
Of which the bear was living still,
But which they presently would kill—
At least they said they would.
And, if their word was good,
It was a king of bears—an Ursa Major—
The biggest bear beneath the sun.
Its skin, the chaps would wager,
Was cheap at double cost;
'Twould make one laugh at frost—
And make two robes as well as one.
Old Dindenaut, in sheep who dealt,
Less prized his sheep, than they their pelt—
(In their account 'twas theirs,
But in his own, the bears.)
By bargain struck upon the skin,
Two days at most must bring it in.
Forth went the two. More easy found than got,
The bear came growling at them on the trot.
Behold our dealers both confounded,
As if by thunderbolt astounded!
Their bargain vanish'd suddenly in air;
For who could plead his interest with a bear?
One of the friends sprung up a tree;
The other, cold as ice could be,
Fell on his face, feign'd death,
And closely held his breath,—
He having somewhere heard it said
The bear ne'er preys upon the dead.
Sir Bear, sad blockhead, was deceived—
The prostrate man a corpse believed;
But, half suspecting some deceit,
He feels and snuffs from head to feet,
And in the nostrils blows.
The body's surely dead, he thinks.
'I'll leave it,' says he, 'for it stinks;'
And off into the woods he goes.
The other dealer, from his tree
Descending cautiously, to see
His comrade lying in the dirt,
Consoling, says, 'It is a wonder
That, by the monster forced asunder,
We're, after all, more scared than hurt.
But,' addeth he, 'what of the creature's skin?
He held his muzzle very near;
What did he whisper in your ear?'
'He gave this caution,—"Never dare
Again to sell the skin of bear
Its owner has not ceased to wear."'
[more info]

The Bear and the Two Travelers

033. THE BEAR AND THE TWO TRAVELLERS. TWO MEN were traveling together, when a Bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and concealed himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he must be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and when the Bear came up and felt him with his snout, and smelt him all over, he held his breath, and feigned the appearance of death as much as he could. The Bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch a dead body. When he was quite gone, the other Traveler descended from the tree, and jocularly inquired of his friend what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear. “He gave me this advice,” his companion replied. “Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger.”
Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends. [more info]

The Bear and Two Friends

1.25. THE BEAR AND THE TWO FRIENDS. Cowards are incapable of true Friendship.
Two Friends, setting out together upon a journey which led through a dangerous forest, mutually promised to assist each other if they should happen to be assaulted. They had not proceeded far before they perceived a Bear making towards them with great rage. There were no hopes in flight; but one of them, being very active, sprung up into a tree; upon which the other, throwing himself flat on the ground, held his breath, and pretended to be dead, remembering to have heard it asserted that this creature will not prey upon a dead carcase. The Bear came up, and after smelling to him for some time, left him, and went on. When he was fairly out of sight and hearing, the hero from the tree calls out —Well, my friend, what said the Bear? He seemed to whisper you very closely. He did so, replied the other, and gave me this good piece of advice: Never to associate with a wretch who in the hour of danger will desert his friend. [more info]

The Travelers and the Bear

24. THE TRAVELERS AND THE BEAR
Two men, travelling through a forest, agreed
To stand by each other in all times of need.
They had not gone far, though the day was quite fair,
When they saw in their path a fierce-looking bear.
One man—nimble fellow—climbed up a tree,
The other, much stouter and wiser than he,
Concluded to lay himself flat on the ground,
And the fierce bear soon came smelling around.
The man kept quite still, and the bear thought him dead,
Left him unhurt and to the woods quickly sped.
All danger over, the coward came down,
And said to the man who yet lay on the ground:
"Pray, what did that huge bear whisper in your ear,
While I in the treetop was trembling with fear?"
"He told me hereafter to have nothing to do
With a mean, contemptible coward like you."
In this forest called life, you cannot depend
In times of great danger on an untried friend.
[more info]

The Bear and the Two Travelers

09. THE BEAR AND THE TWO TRAVELERS.
Two friends, when walking in a wood,
Met with a Bear. One, who was good
At climbing, quickly climbed a tree;
The other, not so spry as he,
Dropped on the ground, and when the Bear
Came up and sniffed his face and hair
With curious snout, he held his breath
And saved his life by feigning death;
For Bruin will not touch, 'tis said,
A body that he thinks is dead.
Soon as the Bear was gone, the man
Who climbed the tree came down and ran
To join his comrade. "Well," said he,
"What did the Bear say? From my tree
I saw him whispering in your ear."
"He told me, since you wish to hear,"
Replied the other, "to steer clear
Of friends who flee when danger's near;
He will not have to tell me twice.
I'm going to take that Bear's advice." [more info]

The Two Fellows and the Bear

50. THE TWO FELLOWS AND THE BEAR. Two Fellows were travelling together through a wood, when a Bear rushed out upon them. One of the travellers happened to be in front, and he seized hold of the branch of a tree, and hid himself among the leaves. The other, seeing no help for it, threw himself flat down upon the ground, with his face in the dust. The Bear, coming up to him, put his muzzle close to his ear, and sniffed and sniffed. But at last with a growl he shook his head and slouched off, for bears will not touch dead meat.
Then the fellow in the tree came down to his comrade, and, laughing, said "What was it that Master Bruin whispered to you?"
"He told me," said the other, "never trust a friend who deserts you at a pinch." [more info]

The Bear and the Two Companions

097. THE BEAR AND THE TWO COMPANIONS.
Two fellows, needing funds, and bold,
A bearskin to a furrier sold,
Of which the bear was living still,
But which they presently would kill—
At least they said they would.
And, if their word was good,
It was a king of bears—an Ursa Major—
The biggest bear beneath the sun.
Its skin, the chaps would wager,
Was cheap at double cost;
'Twould make one laugh at frost—
And make two robes as well as one.
Old Dindenaut, in sheep who dealt,
Less prized his sheep, than they their pelt—
(In their account 'twas theirs,
But in his own, the bears.)
By bargain struck upon the skin,
Two days at most must bring it in.
Forth went the two. More easy found than got,
The bear came growling at them on the trot.
Behold our dealers both confounded,
As if by thunderbolt astounded!
Their bargain vanish'd suddenly in air;
For who could plead his interest with a bear?
One of the friends sprung up a tree;
The other, cold as ice could be,
Fell on his face, feign'd death,
And closely held his breath,—
He having somewhere heard it said
The bear ne'er preys upon the dead.
Sir Bear, sad blockhead, was deceived—
The prostrate man a corpse believed;
But, half suspecting some deceit,
He feels and snuffs from head to feet,
And in the nostrils blows.
The body's surely dead, he thinks.
'I'll leave it,' says he, 'for it stinks;'
And off into the woods he goes.
The other dealer, from his tree
Descending cautiously, to see
His comrade lying in the dirt,
Consoling, says, 'It is a wonder
That, by the monster forced asunder,
We're, after all, more scared than hurt.
But,' addeth he, 'what of the creature's skin?
He held his muzzle very near;
What did he whisper in your ear?'
'He gave this caution,—"Never dare
Again to sell the skin of bear
Its owner has not ceased to wear."'
[more info]

The Bear and Two Travellers

087. THE BEAR AND TWO TRAVELLERS. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll down to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

Two Travelers and a Bear

TWO TRAVELERS AND A BEAR. Two Men were traveling in company through a forest, when, all at once, a huge Bear crashed out of the brush near them.
One of the Men, thinking of his own safety, climbed a tree.
The other, unable to fight the savage beast alone, threw himself on the ground and lay still, as if he were dead. He had heard that a Bear will not touch a dead body.
It must have been true, for the Bear snuffed at the Man's head awhile, and then, seeming to be satisfied that he was dead, walked away.
The Man in the tree climbed down.
"It looked just as if that Bear whispered in your ear," he said. "What did he tell you?"
"He said," answered the other, "that it was not at all wise to keep company with a fellow who would desert his friend in a moment of danger."
Misfortune is the test of true friendship. [more info]