The Mountain in Labor

2.05. De monte parturiente
Caxton: Of the Montayn whiche shoke
Ryght so it happeth / that he that menaceth hath drede and is ferdfull / wherof Esope reherceth to vs suche a fable Of a hylle whiche beganne to tremble and shake by cause of the molle whiche delued hit / And whanne the folke sawe that the erthe beganne thus to shake / they were sore aferd and dredeful / and durst not wel come ne approche the hylle / But after whanne they were come nyghe to the Montayne / & knewe how the molle caused this hylle shakynge / theyr doubte and drede were conuerted vnto Ioye / and beganne alle to lawhe /
And therfore men ought not to doubte al folk whiche ben of grete wordes and menaces / For somme menacen that haue grete doubte
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The Earth that Gave Birth to a Mouse

THE EARTH THAT GAVE BIRTH TO A MOUSE. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

The Mountain in Labor

009. THE MOUNTAIN IN LABOUR In days of yore, a mighty rumbling was heard in a Mountain. It was said to be in labour, and multitudes flocked together, from far and near, to see what it would produce. After long expectation and many wise conjectures from the bystanders—out popped, a Mouse!
The story applies to those whose magnificent promises end in a paltry performance. [more info]

The Mountain in Labour

4.22. THE MOUNTAIN IN LABOUR. A Mountain was in labour, sending forth dreadful groans, and there was in the districts the highest expectation. After all, it brought forth a Mouse.
This is designed for you, who, when you have threatened great things, produce nothing. [more info]

The Mountains in Labor

026. THE MOUNTAINS IN LABOUR. The mountains were said to be in labour, and uttered most dreadful groans. People came together, far and near, to see what birth would be produced, and after they had waited a considerable time in expectation, out crept a mouse! [more info]

The Mountain in Labor

4.16. THE MOUNTAIN IN LABOR.
The Mountain labor’d, groaning loud,
On which a num’rous gaping crowd
Of noodles came to see the sight,
When, lo! a mouse was brought to light!
This tale’s for men of swagg’ring cast,
Whose threats, voluminous and vast,
With all their verse and all their prose,
Can make but little on’t, God knows. [more info]

The Mountains in Labor

073. THE MOUNTAINS IN LABOUR. The mountains were said to be in labour, and uttered most dreadful groans. People came together, far and near, to see what birth would be produced, and after they had waited a considerable time in expectation, out crept a mouse! [more info]

The Mountains in Labor

2.51. THE MOUNTAINS IN LABOR. The Mountains were said to be in labour, and uttered most dreadful groans. People came together, far and near, to see what birth would be produced; and after they had waited a considerable time in expectation, out crept a mouse.
Thus the vain Alchymist, in promise bold,
Beholds projection big with MINES of GOLD:
But now, his glasses burst, he thinks him rich
To save a little oil to cure the itch. [more info]

The Mountain in Labor

05.10: THE MOUNTAIN IN LABOUR.
A mountain was in travail pang;
The country with her clamour rang.
Out ran the people all, to see,
Supposing that the birth would be
A city, or at least a house.
It was a mouse!
In thinking of this fable,
Of story feign'd and false,
But meaning veritable,
My mind the image calls
Of one who writes, "The war I sing
Which Titans waged against the Thunder-king."
As on the sounding verses ring,
What will be brought to birth?
Why, dearth.
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The Mountains in Labour

14. THE MOUNTAINS IN LABOUR. One day the Countrymen noticed that the Mountains were in labour; smoke came out of their summits, the earth was quaking at their feet, trees were crashing, and huge rocks were tumbling. They felt sure that something horrible was going to happen. They all gathered together in one place to see what terrible thing this could be. They waited and they waited, but nothing came. At last there was a still more violent earthquake, and a huge gap appeared in the side of the Mountains. They all fell down upon their knees and waited. At last, and at last, a teeny, tiny mouse poked its little head and bristles out of the gap and came running down towards them, and ever after they used to say: "Much outcry, little outcome." [more info]

The Birth of the Mountains

073. THE BIRTH OF THE MOUNTAINS. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll down to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

The Mountain in Labor

07. THE MOUNTAIN IN LABOUR. When Mountains cry out, People may well be excus’d the Apprehension of some prodigious Birth. This was the Case here in the Fable. The Neighbourhood were all at their Wits end, to consider what would be the Issue of that Labour, and instead of the dreadful Monster that they expected, out comes at last a ridiculous Mouse.
Much Ado about Nothing [more info]