The Frogs and Jupiter

2.01. De ranis et Jove
Caxton: Of the frogges and of Iupyter
No thyng is so good as to lyue Iustly and at lyberte For fredome and lyberte is better than ony gold or syluer / wherof Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable / There were frogges whiche were in dyches and pondes at theyre lyberte / they alle to gyder of one assente & of one wylle maade a request to Iupiter that he wold gyue them a kynge / And Iupyter beganne therof to merueylle / And for theyre kyng he casted to them a grete pyece of wood / whiche maade a grete sowne and noyse in the water / wherof alle the frogges had grete drede and fered moche / And after they approched to theyr kynge for to make obeyssaunce vnto hym / And whanne they perceyued that hit was but a pyece of wood / they torned ageyne to Iupiter prayenge hym swetely that he wold gyue to them another kynge / And Iupiter gaf to them the Heron for to be theyr kynge / And thenne the Heron beganne to entre in to the water / and ete them one after other / And whanne the frogges sawe that theyr kyng destroyed / and ete them thus / they beganne tendyrly to wepe / sayeng in this manere to the god Iupiter / Ryght hyghe and ryght myghty god Iupiter please the to delyuere vs fro the throte of this dragon and fals tyraunt whiche eteth vs the one after another / And he sayd to them / the kynge whiche ye haue demaunded shalle be your mayster /
For whan men haue that / which men oughte to haue / they ought to be ioyeful and glad And he that hath lyberte ought to kepe hit wel / For nothyng is better than lyberte / For lyberte shold not be wel sold for alle the gold and syluer of all the world
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The Frogs Asking for a King

116. THE FROGS ASKING FOR A KING. In the days of old, when the Frogs were all at liberty in the lakes, and had grown quite weary of following every one his own devices, they assembled one day together, and with no little clamour petitioned Jupiter to let them have a King to keep them in better order, and make them lead honester lives. Jupiter knowing the vanity of their hearts, smiled at their request, and threw down a Log into the Lake, which by the splash and commotion it made, sent the whole commonwealth into the greatest terror and amazement. They rushed under the water and into the mud, and dared not come within ten leaps’ length of the spot where it lay.
At length one Frog bolder than the rest ventured to pop his head above the water, and take a survey of their new King at a respectful distance. Presently, when they perceived the Log lie stock-still, others began to swim up to it and around it till by degrees, growing bolder and bolder, they at last leaped upon it, and treated it with the greatest contempt.
Dissatisfied with so tame a ruler, they forthwith petitioned Jupiter a second time for another and more active King. Upon which he sent them a Stork, who no sooner arrived among them than he began laying hold of them and devouring them one by one as fast as he could, and it was in vain that they endeavoured to escape him.
Then they sent Mercury with a private message to Jupiter, beseeching him that he would take pity on them once more; but Jupiter replied, that they were only suffering the punishment due to their folly, and that another time they would learn to let well alone, and not be dissatisfied with their natural condition. [more info]

The Frogs Seeking a King

THE FROGS SEEKING A KING. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

The Frogs who Asked for a King

008. THE FROGS WHO ASKED FOR A KING. There were once some Frogs who lived together in perfect security in a beautiful lake. They were a large company, and were very comfortable, but they came to think that they might be still happier if they had a King to rule over them. So they sent to Jupiter, their god, to ask him to give them a King.
Jupiter laughed at their folly, for he knew that they were better off as they were; but he said to them, "Well, here is a King for you," and into the water he threw a big Log. It fell with such a splash that the Frogs were terrified and hid themselves in the deep mud under the water.
By and by, one braver than the rest peeped out to look at the King, and saw the Log, as it lay quietly on the tip of the water. Soon, one after another they all came out of their hiding places and ventured to look at their great King. As the Log did not move, they swam round it, keeping a safe distance away, and at last one by one hopped upon it.
"This is not a King," said a wise old Frog; "it is nothing but a stupid Log. If we had a King, Jupiter would pay more attention to us."
Again they sent to Jupiter, and begged him to give them a King who could rule over them. Jupiter did not like to be disturbed again by the silly Frogs, and this time he sent them a Stork, saying, "You will have some one to rule over you now."
As they saw the Stork solemnly walking down to the lake, they were delighted.
"Ah!" they said, "see how grand he looks! How he strides along! How he throws back his head! This is a King indeed. He shall rule over us," and they went joyfully to meet him.
As their new King came nearer, he paused, stretched out his long neck, picked up the head Frog, and swallowed him at one mouthful. And then the next—and the next!
"What is this?" cried the Frogs, and they began to draw back in terror. But the Stork with his long legs easily followed them to the water, and kept on eating them as fast as he could.
"Oh! If we had only been—" said the oldest Frog. He was going to add "content," but was eaten up before he could finish the sentence.
The remaining Frogs cried to Jupiter to help them, but he would not listen. And the Stork King ate them for breakfast, dinner, and supper, every day, till in a short time there was not a Frog left in the lake.
Poor, foolish Frogs, not to have known when they were well off. [more info]

Perry 44: The Frogs Asking for a King

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

The Frogs Desiring a King

003. THE FROGS DESIRING A KING. The frogs, living an easy, free life, everywhere among the lakes and ponds, assembled together one day in a very tumultuous manner, and petitioned Jupiter to let them have a king, who might inspect their morals, and make them live a little honester.
Jupiter being at that time in pretty good humour, was pleased to laugh heartily at their ridiculous request, and throwing a little log down into the pool, cried, “There is a king for you.” The sudden splash which this made by its fall into the water, at first terrified them so exceedingly, that they were afraid to come near it. But, in a little time, seeing it lay still without moving, they ventured, by degrees, to approach it: and at last, finding there was no danger, they leaped upon it, and, in short, treated it as familiarly as they pleased.
But not contented with so insipid a king as this was, they sent their deputies to petition again for another sort of one, for this they neither did nor could like. Upon that he sent them a stork, who, without any ceremony, fell devouring and eating them up, one after another, as fast as he could.
They then applied themselves privately to Mercury, and got him to speak to Jupiter in their behalf; that he would be so good as bless them again with another king, or restore them again to their former state.
No, says he; since it was their own choice, let the obstinate wretches suffer the punishment due to their folly. [more info]

The Frogs Asking for a King

1.02. THE FROGS ASKING FOR A KING. When Athens was flourishing under just laws, liberty grown wanton embroiled the city, and license relaxed the reins of ancient discipline. Upon this, the partisans of factions conspiring, Pisistratus the Tyrant seized the citadel. When the Athenians were lamenting their sad servitude (not that he was cruel, but because every burden is grievous to those who are unused to it), and began to complain, Aesop related a Fable to the following effect:
“The Frogs, roaming at large in their marshy fens, with loud clamour demanded of Jupiter a king, who, by his authority, might check their dissolute manners. The Father of the Gods smiled, and gave them a little Log, which, on being thrown among them startled the timorous race by the noise and sudden commotion in the bog. When it had lain for some time immersed in the mud, one of them by chance silently lifted his head above the water, and having taken a peep at the king, called up all the rest. Having got the better of their fears, vying with each other, they swim towards him, and the insolent mob leap upon the Log. After defiling it with every kind of insult, they sent to Jupiter, requesting another king, because the one that had been given them was useless. Upon this, he sent them a Water Snake, who with his sharp teeth began to gobble them up one after another. Helpless they strive in vain to escape death; terror deprives them of voice. By stealth, therefore, they send through Mercury a request to Jupiter, to succour them in their distress. Then said the God in reply: ‘Since you would not be content with your good fortune, continue to endure your bad fortune.’”
“Do you also, O fellow-citizens,” said Æsop, “submit to the present evil, lest a greater one befall you.” [more info]

The Frogs Desiring a King

1.02. THE FROGS DESIRING A KING.
With equal laws when Athens throve,
The petulance of freedom drove
Their state to license, which o’erthrew
Those just restraints of old they knew.
Hence, as a factious discontent
Through every rank and order went,
Pisistratus the tyrant form’d
A party, and the fort he storm’d:
Which yoke, while all bemoan’d in grief,
(Not that he was a cruel chief,
But they unused to be controll’d)
Then Esop thus his fable told:
The Frogs, a freeborn people made,
From out their marsh with clamor pray’d
That Jove a monarch would assign
With power their manners to refine.
The sovereign smiled, and on their bog
Sent his petitioners a log,
Which, as it dash’d upon the place,
At first alarm’d the tim’rous race.
But ere it long had lain to cool,
One slily peep’d out of the pool,
And finding it a king in jest,
He boldly summon’d all the rest.
Now, void of fear, the tribe advanced,
And on the timber leap’d and danced,
And having let their fury loose,
In gross affronts and rank abuse,
Of Jove they sought another king,
For useless was this wooden thing.
Then he a water-snake empower’d,
Who one by one their race devour’d.
They try to make escape in vain,
Nor, dumb through fear, can they complain.
By stealth they Mercury depute,
That Jove would once more hear their suit,
And send their sinking state to save;
But he in wrath this answer gave:
“You scorn’d the good king that you had,
And therefore you shall bear the bad.”
Ye likewise, O Athenian friends,
Convinced to what impatience tends,
Though slavery be no common curse,
Be still, for fear of worse and worse. [more info]

The Frogs and the their King

05. THE FROGS AND THEIR KING. One day the frogs, having grown tired of their pleasant free life in the marshes, asked Jupiter to let them have a king. Jupiter, laughing heartily at their foolishness, threw down a little log into a pool, saying, "There is a king for you!" The log made a great splash in the water, and this frightened the frogs so much that they did not dare to go near.
After a time, however, seeing that it did not move, they grew bolder and leaped upon it. Soon, however, they grew discontented, and, despising their dull king, sent again to Jupiter to ask for another.
This time he gave them a stork, who at once set to work to eat them up, one after the other, as fast as he could.
In despair they prayed Jupiter either to give them another king or to let them live free as before.
"No," said Jupiter, "this serves you right. You were not content until I gave you a king, and now that you have one you must keep him." [more info]

The Frogs Desiring a King

036. THE FROGS DESIRING A KING. The frogs, living an easy, free life, everywhere among the lakes and ponds, assembled together one day in a very tumultuous manner, and petitioned Jupiter to let them have a king, who might inspect their morals, and make them live a little honester.
Jupiter being at that time in pretty good humour, was pleased to laugh heartily at their ridiculous request, and throwing a little log down into the pool, cried, “There is a king for you.” The sudden splash which this made by its fall into the water, at first terrified them so exceedingly, that they were afraid to come near it. But, in a little time, seeing it lay still without moving, they ventured, by degrees, to approach it: and at last, finding there was no danger, they leaped upon it, and, in short, treated it as familiarly as they pleased.
But not contented with so insipid a king as this was, they sent their deputies to petition again for another sort of one, for this they neither did nor could like. Upon that he sent them a stork, who, without any ceremony, fell devouring and eating them up, one after another, as fast as he could.
They then applied themselves privately to Mercury, and got him to speak to Jupiter in their behalf; that he would be so good as bless them again with another king, or restore them again to their former state.
No, says he; since it was their own choice, let the obstinate wretches suffer the punishment due to their folly. [more info]

The Frogs Asking for a King

09. THE FROGS ASKING FOR A KING. Long ago, when the Frogs were all at liberty in the lakes, and had grown quite weary of following everyone his own devices, they assembled one day together and with a great clamour petitioned Jupiter to let them have a king to keep them in better order and make them lead honester lives. Jupiter, knowing their foolishness, smiled at their request, and threw down a log into the lake, which by the huge splash and commotion it made, sent the whole nation of Frogs into the greatest terror and amazement. They rushed under the water and into the mud, and dared not come within a leap's-length of the spot where it lay.
At length one Frog bolder than the rest ventured to pop his head above the water, and take a look at their new king from a respectful distance. Presently when they saw the log lie stock-still, others began to swim up to it and around it, till by degrees growing bolder and bolder, they at last leaped upon it and treated it with the greatest contempt. Full of disgust for so tame a ruler, they carried a petition a second time to Jupiter for another and more active King.
Upon which he sent them a stork, who had no sooner come among them, than he began laying hold of them, and devouring them one by one as fast as he could, and it was in vain that they tried to escape him.
Then they sent Mercury with a private message to Jupiter, begging him to take pity on them once more; but Jupiter replied that they were only suffering the punishment due to their folly, and that another time they would learn to let well alone, and not be dissatisfied with their natural state. [more info]

The Frogs Asking a King

03.04: THE FROGS ASKING A KING.
A certain commonwealth aquatic,
Grown tired of order democratic,
By clamouring in the ears of Jove, effected
Its being to a monarch's power subjected.
Jove flung it down, at first, a king pacific.
Who nathless fell with such a splash terrific,
The marshy folks, a foolish race and timid,
Made breathless haste to get from him hid.
They dived into the mud beneath the water,
Or found among the reeds and rushes quarter.
And long it was they dared not see
The dreadful face of majesty,
Supposing that some monstrous frog
Had been sent down to rule the bog.
The king was really a log,
Whose gravity inspired with awe
The first that, from his hiding-place
Forth venturing, astonish'd, saw
The royal blockhead's face.
With trembling and with fear,
At last he drew quite near.
Another follow'd, and another yet,
Till quite a crowd at last were met;
Who, growing fast and strangely bolder,
Perch'd soon upon the royal shoulder.
His gracious majesty kept still,
And let his people work their will.
Clack, clack! what din beset the ears of Jove?
'We want a king,' the people said, 'to move!'
The god straight sent them down a crane,
Who caught and slew them without measure,
And gulp'd their carcasses at pleasure;
Whereat the frogs more wofully complain.
'What! what!' great Jupiter replied;
'By your desires must I be tied?
Think you such government is bad?
You should have kept what first you had;
Which having blindly fail'd to do,
It had been prudent still for you
To let that former king suffice,
More meek and mild, if not so wise.
With this now make yourselves content,
Lest for your sins a worse be sent.'
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The Frogs Asking for a King

045. THE FROGS ASKING FOR A KING. THE FROGS, grieved at having no established Ruler, sent ambassadors to Jupiter entreating for a King. Perceiving their simplicity, he cast down a huge log into the lake. The Frogs were terrified at the splash occasioned by its fall and hid themselves in the depths of the pool. But as soon as they realized that the huge log was motionless, they swam again to the top of the water, dismissed their fears, climbed up, and began squatting on it in contempt. After some time they began to think themselves ill-treated in the appointment of so inert a Ruler, and sent a second deputation to Jupiter to pray that he would set over them another sovereign. He then gave them an Eel to govern them. When the Frogs discovered his easy good nature, they sent yet a third time to Jupiter to beg him to choose for them still another King. Jupiter, displeased with all their complaints, sent a Heron, who preyed upon the Frogs day by day till there were none left to croak upon the lake. [more info]

The Frogs Desiring a King

43. THE FROGS DESIRING A KING
The frogs, living an easy, free sort of life,
Without any trouble, or turmoil, or strife,
Thought it would be fine, a most excellent thing,
If Jupiter only would send them a king.
Jove, being at that time in a merry mood,
Threw them a log, saying: "Now, don't treat him rude!"
Alarmed by the splash in the pond which it made,
The frogs of their king were at first much afraid.
His stillness inviting, one, more bold than the rest,
Jumped very squarely upon the king's breast.
All then, seeing that no harm came to that frog,
Soon sat all around on the top of the log.
Then, growing weary of so stupid a king,
Asked Jove for them a better monarch to bring.
This time he sent them a most ravenous stork,
As fine a fighter as ever came from Cork.
He gobbled them up and he tossed them about,
Till again to Jove they all set up a shout.
"In mercy, O Jove! We thee humbly implore;
Again our first happy state to us restore."
Jove answered: "Nay, you must keep what I have sent.
Learn from this, with well enough to be content."
Later in life, people must sometimes atone,
For simply not letting well enough alone.
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The Frogs Desiring a King

13. THE FROGS DESIRING A KING. The Frogs were living as happy as could be in a marshy swamp that just suited them; they went splashing about caring for nobody and nobody troubling with them. But some of them thought that this was not right, that they should have a king and a proper constitution, so they determined to send up a petition to Jove to give them what they wanted. "Mighty Jove," they cried, "send unto us a king that will rule over us and keep us in order."
Jove laughed at their croaking, and threw down into the swamp a huge Log, which came down - kerplash! - into the swamp. The Frogs were frightened out of their lives by the commotion made in their midst, and all rushed to the bank to look at the horrible monster; but after a time, seeing that it did not move, one or two of the boldest of them ventured out towards the Log, and even dared to touch it; still it did not move. Then the greatest hero of the Frogs jumped upon the Log and commenced dancing up and down upon it, thereupon all the Frogs came and did the same; and for some time the Frogs went about their business every day without taking the slightest notice of their new King Log lying in their midst.
But this did not suit them, so they sent another petition to Jove, and said to him, "We want a real king; one that will really rule over us." Now this made Jove angry, so he sent among them a big Stork that soon set to work gobbling them all up. Then the Frogs repented when too late.
Better no rule than cruel rule. [more info]

The Frogs Ask for a King

44. THE FROGS ASK FOR A KING. In old times, the Frogs lived in a free and easy way, each one as he pleased. But the elders among them did not like this, and begged Jove to send them a king.
Jove thought them very foolish, and tossed a log into the middle of the pond. The Frogs were scared out of their wits, and plunged at once into the deepest hole. By and by, they peeped out and saw that King Log was stock-still.
They began to grow bolder; soon they laughed at King Log. Then they jumped up and sat on the log. That was not a king, they said, and off they went to Jove, and asked him to give them a new king.
This time Jove gave them an Eel. But the Eel was stupid and the Frogs liked him no better. They sent a third time to Jove.
At this Jove was angry, and sent them a king of another sort. He sent them King Stork, and King Stork caught the Frogs, one by one, and ate them, till there was not one left. [more info]

The Frogs Asking for a King

076. THE FROGS ASKING FOR A KING. Time was when the Frogs were discontented because they had no one to rule over them: so they sent a deputation to Jupiter to ask him to give them a King. Jupiter, despising the folly of their request, cast a log into the pool where they lived, and said that that should be their King. The Frogs were terrified at first by the splash, and scuttled away into the deepest parts of the pool; but by and by, when they saw that the log remained motionless, one by one they ventured to the surface again, and before long, growing bolder, they began to feel such contempt for it that they even took to sitting upon it. Thinking that a King of that sort was an insult to their dignity, they sent to Jupiter a second time, and begged him to take away the sluggish King he had given them, and to give them another and a better one. Jupiter, annoyed at being pestered in this way, sent a Stork to rule over them, who no sooner arrived among them than he began to catch and eat the Frogs as fast as he could. [more info]

Jupiter and the Frogs

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

The Frogs Desiring a King

06. THE FROGS DESIRING A KING. THE FROGS were grieved at their own lawless condition, so they sent a deputation to Zeus, begging him to provide them with a King. Zeus, perceiving their simplicity, dropped a Log of wood into the pool. At first the Frogs were terrified by the splash and dived to the bottom, but after a while, seeing the Log remain motionless, they came up again and got to despise it so much that they climbed up and sat on it. Dissatisfied with a King like that, they came again to Zeus and entreated him to change their ruler for them, the first being altogether too torpid. Then Zeus was exasperated with them and sent them a Stork by whom they were seized and eaten up. [more info]

King Log and King Stork

05. KING LOG AND KING STORK.
The Frogs prayed to Jove for a king:
"Not a log, but a livelier thing."
Jove sent them a Stork,
Who did royal work,
For he gobbled them up, did their king.
DON'T HAVE KINGS
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