The Old Man and Death

04. THE OLD MAN AND DEATH.
An Old Man, with a load oppressed,
Sunk down o'erburdened and distressed,
And in his trouble called on Death
To end his woes and stop his breath.
The King of Terrors heard the cry,
And, to his horror, soon drew nigh,
Demanding, with a visage grim,
The reason why he called on him.
Said he, "I let my bundle fall,
Which made me for assistance call.
l humbly crave your worship's pardon,
And beg you'll help to lift my burden."
Better it is to bear the ills we have than fly to others that we know not of. [more info]

The Old Man and Death

122. THE OLD MAN AND DEATH. An Old Man that had travelled a long way with a huge bundle of sticks, found himself so weary that he cast it down, and called upon Death to deliver him from his most miserable existence. Death came straightway at his call, and asked him what he wanted. “Pray, good sir,” says he, “do me but the favour to help me up with my burden again.”
It is one thing to call for Death, and another to see him coming. [more info]

The Old Man and Death

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

The Old Man and Death

05. THE OLD MAN AND DEATH. An old man, employed in carrying fagots to a city for sale, being wearied with his long journey, sat down by the wayside and besought Death to come. Death at once answered the old man’s summons. and asked him why he had thus called him. “That, lifting up the load, you may help place it on my shoulders again.” was the old man's reply. MORAL. Every man clings to life, however poor or unhappy he may be. [more info]

The Old Man and Death

066. THE OLD MAN AND DEATH. A poor feeble old man, who had crawled out into a neighbouring wood to gather a few sticks, had made up his bundle, and laying it over his shoulders, was trudging homeward with it: but, what with age, and the length of the way, and the weight of his burden, he grew so faint and weary that he sunk under it; and as he sat on the ground, he called upon death to come, once for all, and ease him of his troubles.
Death no sooner heard him, but he came and demanded of him what he wanted. The poor old creature, who little thought Death had been so near, and frightened almost out of his senses, with his terrible aspect, answered him trembling, that having by chance let his bundle of sticks fall, and being too infirm to get it up himself, he had made bold to call upon him to help him; that indeed this was all that he wanted at present; and that he hoped his worship was not offended with him for the liberty he had taken in so doing. [more info]

The Old Man and Death

101. THE OLD MAN AND DEATH. A poor feeble old man, who had crawled out into a neighbouring wood to gather a few sticks, had made up his bundle, and laying it over his shoulders, was trudging homeward with it: but, what with age, and the length of the way, and the weight of his burden, he grew so faint and weary that he sunk under it; and as he sat on the ground, he called upon death to come, once for all, and ease him of his troubles.
Death no sooner heard him, but he came and demanded of him what he wanted. The poor old creature, who little thought Death had been so near, and frightened almost out of his senses, with his terrible aspect, answered him trembling, that having by chance let his bundle of sticks fall, and being too infirm to get it up himself, he had made bold to call upon him to help him; that indeed this was all that he wanted at present; and that he hoped his worship was not offended with him for the liberty he had taken in so doing. [more info]

The Old Man and Death

2.47. THE OLD MAN AND DEATH. A poor feeble old man, who had crawled out into a neighbouring wood to gather a few sticks, had made up his bundle, and, laying it over his shoulders, was trudging homeward with it; but, what with age, and the length of the way, and the weight of his burden, he grew so faint and weak that he sunk under it; and, as he sat on the ground, called upon Death to come, once for all, and ease him of his troubles. Death no sooner heard him, but he came and demanded of him what he wanted.
The poor old creature, who little thought Death had been so near, and frightened almost out of his senses with his terrible aspect, answered him trembling: That having by chance let his bundle of sticks fall, and being too infirm to get it up himself, he had made bold to call upon him to help him; that, indeed, this was all he wanted at present; and that he hoped his Worship was not offended with him for the liberty he had taken in so doing.
MORAL. Men under calamity may seem to wish for death; but they seldom bid him welcome when he stares them in the face. [more info]

The Old Man and Death

101. THE OLD MAN AND DEATH. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll down to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

Death and the Woodman

01.16: DEATH AND THE WOODMAN.
A poor wood-chopper, with his fagot load,
Whom weight of years, as well as load, oppress'd,
Sore groaning in his smoky hut to rest,
Trudged wearily along his homeward road.
At last his wood upon the ground he throws,
And sits him down to think o'er all his woes.
To joy a stranger, since his hapless birth,
What poorer wretch upon this rolling earth?
No bread sometimes, and ne'er a moment's rest;
Wife, children, soldiers, landlords, public tax,
All wait the swinging of his old, worn axe,
And paint the veriest picture of a man unblest.
On Death he calls. Forthwith that monarch grim
Appears, and asks what he should do for him.
'Not much, indeed; a little help I lack—
To put these fagots on my back.'
Death ready stands all ills to cure;
But let us not his cure invite.
Than die, 'tis better to endure,—
Is both a manly maxim and a right.
[more info]

Death and the Unfortunate

01.15: DEATH AND THE UNFORTUNATE.
A poor unfortunate, from day to day,
Call'd Death to take him from this world away.
'O Death' he said, 'to me how fair thy form!
Come quick, and end for me life's cruel storm.'
Death heard, and with a ghastly grin,
Knock'd at his door, and enter'd in
'Take out this object from my sight!'
The poor man loudly cried.
'Its dreadful looks I can't abide;
O stay him, stay him' let him come no nigher;
O Death! O Death! I pray thee to retire!'
A gentleman of note
In Rome, Maecenas, somewhere wrote:—
"Make me the poorest wretch that begs,
Sore, hungry, crippled, clothed in rags,
In hopeless impotence of arms and legs;
Provided, after all, you give
The one sweet liberty to live:
I'll ask of Death no greater favour
Than just to stay away for ever."
[more info]

The Old Man and Death

69. THE OLD MAN AND DEATH. An old labourer, bent double with age and toil, was gathering sticks in a forest. At last he grew so tired and hopeless that he threw down the bundle of sticks, and cried out: "I cannot bear this life any longer. Ah, I wish Death would only come and take me!"
As he spoke, Death, a grisly skeleton, appeared and said to him: "What wouldst thou, Mortal? I heard thee call me."
"Please, sir," replied the woodcutter, "would you kindly help me to lift this faggot of sticks on to my shoulder?"
We would often be sorry if our wishes were gratified. [more info]

Death and the Woodman

028. DEATH AND THE WOODMAN.
A poor wood-chopper, with his fagot load,
Whom weight of years, as well as load, oppress'd,
Sore groaning in his smoky hut to rest,
Trudged wearily along his homeward road.
At last his wood upon the ground he throws,
And sits him down to think o'er all his woes.
To joy a stranger, since his hapless birth,
What poorer wretch upon this rolling earth?
No bread sometimes, and ne'er a moment's rest;
Wife, children, soldiers, landlords, public tax,
All wait the swinging of his old, worn axe,
And paint the veriest picture of a man unblest.
On Death he calls. Forthwith that monarch grim
Appears, and asks what he should do for him.
'Not much, indeed; a little help I lack—
To put these fagots on my back.'
Death ready stands all ills to cure;
But let us not his cure invite.
Than die, 'tis better to endure,—
Is both a manly maxim and a right.
[more info]