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:

The Wolf and the Lamb

1.02. de lupo et agno
Caxton: Of the wulf and of the lambe
/ Of the Innocent and of the shrewe Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable / how it was so / that the lambe and the wulf had bothe thurst / and went bothe to a Ryuer for to drynke / It happed that the wulf dranke aboue & the lambe dranke bynethe / And as the wulf sawe and perceyued the lambe / he sayd with a hyghe voys / Ha knaue why hast thou troubled and fowled my water / whiche I shold now drynke / Allas my lord sauf your grece / For the water cometh fro yow toward me / Thenne sayd the wulf to the lambe / Hast thow no shame ne drede to curse me / And the lambe sayd My lord with your leue / And the wulf sayd ageyne / Hit is not syxe monethes passyd that thy fader dyd to me as moche / And the lambe ansuerd yet was I not at that tyme born / And the wlf said ageyne to hym / Thou hast ete my fader / And the lambe ansuerd / I haue no teeth / Thenne said the wulf / thou arte wel lyke thy fader / and for his synne & mysded thow shalt deye / The wulf thenne toke the lambe and ete hym /
This fable sheweth that the euylle man retcheth not by what maner he may robbe & destroye the good & innocent man
[more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

002. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.
A Lamb his thirsty scorchings did essay
From a coole brookes cleane margent to allay
Which made aWolfe in sullen murmurs chyde,
Cause hee disturb'd the springs; the Lamb reply'd
The seeming cause (Great Sir) of my offence
Results from ignorance, not insolence,
To which the Wolfe reioyn'd, have I not seene
How eager thou and all thy flock have been
To thwart me still, therefore false Lamb thy fate
Shall be as cruell as my wolvish hate.
Moral
Sogreatness oft oreswayes with armed might
Oppressed innocence 'gainst Law or right.
[more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

027. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB As a Wolf was lapping at the head of a running brook, he spied a stray Lamb paddling, at some distance, down the stream. Having made up his mind to seize her, he bethought himself how he might justify his violence. "Villain!" said he, running up to her, "how dare you muddle the water that I am drinking?"
"Indeed," said the Lamb humbly, "I do not see how I can disturb the water, since it runs from you to me, not from me to you."
"Be that as it may," replied the Wolf, "it was but a year ago that you called me many ill names."
"Oh, Sir!" said the Lamb, trembling, "a year ago I was not born."
"Well," replied the Wolf, "if it was not you, it was your father, and that is all the same; but it is no use trying to argue me out of my supper;" — and without another word he fell upon the poor helpless Lamb and tore her to pieces.
A tyrant never wants a plea. And they have little chance of resisting the injustice of the powerful whose only weapons are innocence and reason. [more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

01. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. As a hungry thief of a Wolf was loitering at the end of a lonely road, there passed by a mild-faced, timid-looking Lamb, who was returning to the maternal pen. As the Lamb wore a fine fleecy coat and carried about him many signs of good living, the marauder's jaws watered at the prospect of a supper.
"What do you mean," said he, glaring upon the little traveller with his fierce eyes, "by taking up so much of the path where I am walking?"
The Lamb, frightened at the Wolf's angry tone and terrible aspect, told him that, with all due submission, he could not conceive how his walking on such a wide path could occasion him any inconvenience.
"What!" exclaimed the Wolf, seemingly in great anger and indignation; "you are as impudent as your father, the magistrate's dog, with the letters on his collar, who seized me by the throat last year, and caused me to be kept in a cage for three months - having all my beautiful hair cut off!"
"If you will believe me," said the innocent Lamb, "my parents are poor simple creatures who live entirely by green stuffs, in Lambeth Walk, hard by; we are none of us hunters of your species."
"Ah! I see it's no use talking to you," said the Wolf, drawing up close to him; "it runs in the blood of your family to hate us Wolves; and therefore, as we have come so conveniently together, I'll just pay off a few of your forefathers' scores before we part."
So saying, he leapt at the throat of the poor Pet Lamb from behind, and garotted him with his own pretty gold-studded collar.
Moral. If you have made up your mind to hang your dog, any rope will do for the purpose. [more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

02. The Wolf and the Lamb As a Wolf was lapping at the head of a running brook, he spied a stray Lamb paddling, at some distance, down the stream. Having made up his mind to seize her, he bethought himself how he might justify his violence.
"Villain!" said he, running up to her, "how dare you muddle the water that I am drinking?"
"Indeed," said the Lamb humbly, "I do not see how I can disturb the water, since it runs from you to me, not from me to you."
"Be that as it may," replied the Wolf, "it was but a year ago that you called me many ill names."
"Oh, Sir!" said the Lamb, trembling, "a year ago I was not born."
"Well," replied the Wolf, "if it was not you, it was your father, and that is all the same; but it is no use trying to argue me out of my supper;" — and without another word he fell upon the poor helpless Lamb and tore her to pieces.
A tyrant can always find plenty of excuses for his wicked deeds. [more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

001. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. One day a Wolf and a Lamb happened to come at the same time to drink from a brook that ran down the side of the mountain. The Wolf wished very much to eat the Lamb, but meeting her as he did, face to face, he thought he must find some excuse for doing so.
So he began by trying to pick a quarrel, and said angrily: "How dare you come to my brook and muddy the water so that I cannot drink it? What do you mean?"
The Lamb, very much alarmed, said gently: "I do not see how it can be that I have spoiled the water. You stand higher up the stream, and the water runs from you to me, not from me to you."
"Be that as it may," said the Wolf, with a snarl, "you are a rascal all the same, for I have heard that last year you said bad things of me behind my back."
"Dear Mr. Wolf," cried the poor Lamb, "that could not be, for a year ago I was not born; I am only six months old."
Finding it of no use to argue any more, the Wolf began to snarl and show his teeth. Coming closer to the Lamb, he said, "You little wretch, if it was not you, it was your father, so it's all the same;" and he pounced upon the poor Lamb and ate her up. [more info]

Perry 155: The Wolf and the Lamb at the Stream

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

The Wolf and the Lamb

002. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. One hot sultry day, a wolf and a lamb happened to come just at the same time to quench their thirst in the stream of a clear silver brook, that ran tumbling down the side of a rocky mountain. The wolf stood upon the higher ground; and the lamb at some distance from him down the current. However, the wolf having a mind to pick a quarrel with him, asked him what he meant by disturbing the water and making it so muddy that he could not drink, and at the same time, demanded satisfaction.
The lamb, frightened at this threatening charge, told him, in a tone as mild as possible, that with humble submission he could not conceive how that could be: since the water that he drank ran down from the wolf to him, and therefore could not be disturbed so far up the stream.
“Be that as it will,” replies the wolf, “you are a rascal; and I have been told that you treated me with ill language behind my back, about half a year ago.”
“Upon my word,” says the lamb, “the time you mention was before I was born.”
The wolf, finding it to no purpose to argue any longer against the truth, fell into a great passion, snarling and foaming at the mouth, as if he had been mad; and drawing nearer to the lamb, “Sirrah,” says he, “If it was not you, it was your father, and that's all one.” So he seized the poor innocent, helpless thing, tore it to pieces, and made a meal of it. [more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

1.01. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. Driven by thirst, a Wolf and a Lamb had come to the same stream; the Wolf stood above, and the Lamb at a distance below. Then, the spoiler, prompted by a ravenous maw, alleged a pretext for a quarrel. “Why,” said he, “have you made the water muddy for me while I am drinking?”
The Fleece-bearer, trembling, answered: “Prithee, Wolf, how can I do what you complain of? The water is flowing downwards from you to where I am drinking.”
The other, disconcerted by the force of truth, exclaimed: “Six months ago, you slandered me.”
“Indeed,” answered the Lamb, “I was not born then.”
“By Hercules,” said the Wolf, “then ’twas your father slandered me;” and so, snatching him up, he tore him to pieces, killing him unjustly.
This Fable is applicable to those men who, under false pretences, oppress the innocent. [more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

1.01. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. By thirst incited; to the brook
The Wolf and Lamb themselves betook.
The Wolf high up the current drank,
The Lamb far lower down the bank.
Then, bent his rav’nous maw to cram,
The Wolf took umbrage at the Lamb.
“How dare you trouble all the flood,
And mingle my good drink with mud?”
“Sir,” says the Lambkin, sore afraid,
“How should I act, as you upbraid?
The thing you mention cannot be,
The stream descends from you to me.”
Abash’d by facts, says he, “I know
’Tis now exact six months ago
You strove my honest fame to blot”—
“Six months ago, sir, I was not.”
“Then ’twas th’ old ram thy sire,” he cried,
And so he tore him, till he died.
To those this fable I address
Who are determined to oppress,
And trump up any false pretence,
But they will injure innocence. [more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

38. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. A wolf, who was drinking at the head of a running stream, saw a lamb paddling in the water lower down. He at once made up his mind that he would have her for supper, but he tried first to find a good reason for seizing her. "Villain," he cried, running up to the poor little lamb, "how dare you make the water muddy when I am drinking it?"
"Indeed," said the lamb meekly, "I do not see how I can have disturbed you, for the stream runs down from you to me!"
"Well," answered the wolf, "that may be so, but at any rate you called me bad names a year ago."
"Oh, sir," cried the trembling lamb, "you are quite mistaken, for I was not born a year ago."
"If it was not you, then it must have been your father," cried the wolf, "and it is all the same." So making any excuse serve his wicked purpose, he seized the lamb and tore her to pieces. [more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

002. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. One hot sultry day, a wolf and a lamb happened to come just at the same time to quench their thirst in the stream of a clear silver brook, that ran tumbling down the side of a rocky mountain. The wolf stood upon the higher ground; and the lamb at some distance from him down the current. However, the wolf having a mind to pick a quarrel with him, asked him what he meant by disturbing the water and making it so muddy that he could not drink, and at the same time, demanded satisfaction.
The lamb, frightened at this threatening charge, told him, in a tone as mild as possible, that with humble submission he could not conceive how that could be: since the water that he drank ran down from the wolf to him, and therefore could not be disturbed so far up the stream.
“Be that as it will,” replies the wolf, “you are a rascal; and I have been told that you treated me with ill language behind my back, about half a year ago.”
“Upon my word,” says the lamb, “the time you mention was before I was born.”
The wolf, finding it to no purpose to argue any longer against the truth, fell into a great passion, snarling and foaming at the mouth, as if he had been mad; and drawing nearer to the lamb, “Sirrah,” says he, “If it was not you, it was your father, and that's all one.” So he seized the poor innocent, helpless thing, tore it to pieces, and made a meal of it. [more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

11. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. As a Wolf was lapping at the head of a running brook, he spied a stray Lamb paddling, at some distance down the stream. Having made up his mind to make his dinner off her, he bethought himself how he might begin the quarrel.
"Wretch," said he to her, "how dare you muddle the water that I am drinking ?"
"Indeed," said the Lamb humbly, "I do not see how I can disturb the water, since it runs from you to me, not from me to you."
"Be that as it may," replied the Wolf, "it was but a year ago that you called me many ill names."
"Oh, sir," said the Lamb trembling, "a year ago I was not born."
"No matter, it was your father then, or some of your relations," and immediately seizing the innocent Lamb, he tore her to pieces. [more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

003. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. A WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him. He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.” “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.” Then said the Wolf, “You feed in my pasture.” “No, good sir,” replied the Lamb, “I have not yet tasted grass.” Again said the Wolf, “You drink of my well.” “No,” exclaimed the Lamb, “I never yet drank water, for as yet my mother’s milk is both food and drink to me.” Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying, “Well! I won’t remain supperless, even though you refute every one of my imputations.” The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny. [more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

42. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB
Seeing a lamb at a stream drinking water,
"You're making it both muddier and hotter,"
Said a hungry old wolf to the poor little lamb,
Though he knew he was peaceful, quiet and calm.
"How dare you? How dare you? When I wish to drink!"
Then said the lamb meekly: "You're mistaken, I think,
For the stream, 'tis plain to see, runs the wrong way,
And I could not, were I to drink here all day."
"You did not," said the wolf, "you very well know
You censured me behind my back, a year ago."
"A year ago I was not born," the lamb said.
"Then it was your brother, I hope he is dead."
"Alas," said the lamb, "I ne'er had a brother."
"Then of your lot I know it was some other,"
So he seized the poor lamb and dragged him away,
And feasted on lamb for the rest of the day.
Be his foe wrong or be his foe right,
'Tis the same to him who is seeking a fight.
[more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

01.10: THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.
That innocence is not a shield,
A story teaches, not the longest.
The strongest reasons always yield
To reasons of the strongest.
A lamb her thirst was slaking,
Once, at a mountain rill.
A hungry wolf was taking
His hunt for sheep to kill,
When, spying on the streamlet's brink
This sheep of tender age,
He howl'd in tones of rage,
'How dare you roil my drink?
Your impudence I shall chastise!'
'Let not your majesty,' the lamb replies,
'Decide in haste or passion!
For sure 'tis difficult to think
In what respect or fashion
My drinking here could roil your drink,
Since on the stream your majesty now faces
I'm lower down, full twenty paces.'
'You roil it,' said the wolf; 'and, more, I know
You cursed and slander'd me a year ago.'
'O no! how could I such a thing have done!
A lamb that has not seen a year,
A suckling of its mother dear?'
'Your brother then.' 'But brother I have none.'
'Well, well, what's all the same,
'Twas some one of your name.
Sheep, men, and dogs of every nation,
Are wont to stab my reputation,
As I have truly heard.'
Without another word,
He made his vengeance good—
Bore off the lambkin to the wood,
And there, without a jury,
Judged, slew, and ate her in his fury.
[more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

1.29. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. They who do not feel the sentiments of humanity will seldom listen to the pleas of reason. When cruelty and injustice are armed with power, and determined on oppression, the strongest pleas of innocence are preferred in vain.
A Wolf and a Lamb were accidentally quenching their thirst together at the same rivulet. The Wolf stood towards the head of the stream, and the Lamb at some distance below. The injurious beast, resolved on a quarrel, fiercely demands—"How dare you disturb the water which I am drinking?"
The poor Lamb, all trembling, replies, "How, I beseech you, can that possibly be the case, since the current sets from you to me?"
Disconcerted by the force of truth, he changes the accusation. "Six months ago," says he, "you vilely slandered me."
"Impossible," returns the Lamb, "for I was not then born."
"No matter, it was your father, then, or some of your relations;" and immediately seizing the innocent Lamb, he tore him to pieces. [more info]

The Wolf and the Lamb

47. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.
A hungry Wolf in search of prey
Once chanced to meet a Lamb, astray,
And seeking, for appearance' sake,
A Plausible Excuse to take
Its life, addressed it thus, "I hear
You slandered me one day last year."
"I?" cried the Lamb, "indeed, sir, no!
I was not born a year ago!"
"Well," snapped the Wolf, "I understand
You eat the grass upon my land?
"You are mistaken, sir, I am
Too young for grass," replied the Lamb.
"No matter!" growled the Wolf, "one thing
I know, you drink from out my Spring."
Once more the Lamb the charge denied.
"Milk is my only food," he cried.
"Well, mine is Lamb! So now I'll sup!"
Shouted the Wolf - - and ate him up. [more info]