Reading Diary A - Aesop's Fables (Jacobs)

Aesop's Fables (Jacobs)

First thoughts while reading these classical stories were - 1) how curious I was to find out the difference between English (my first 'Reading Diary' Aesop author) and Jacobs (this 'Reading Diary' Aesop author). They are actually quite similar, and I love these little stories just as much. 2) These are easier to read than English haha. 3) They share similar stories, some only slightly manipulated, but it is a good surprise when you find the slight differences. The story I most notably remember from both English and Jacobs was the lion and the three bullock (English) and the four oxen and the lion (Jacobs). You can see the difference in the titles and catch on from there. Still a great story.


The Wolf and the Kid
A Kid was perched up on the top of a house, and looking down saw a Wolf passing under him. Immediately he began to revile and attack his enemy. "Murderer and thief," he cried, "what do you here near honest folks' houses? How dare you make an appearance where your vile deeds are known?"

"Curse away, my young friend," said the Wolf: "It is easy to be brave from a safe distance."

Thoughts

This story made me go towards the wolfs side, as I usually would if a wolf or lion are involved. The kid was all show and no go. We get a lot of those in rugby. My story would have the kid slip off of the roof and have to face the wolf mano a mano haha. We know how that ends. Gulp!

The Lion in Love
A Lion once fell in love with a beautiful maiden and proposed marriage to her parents. The old people did not know what to say. They did not like to give their daughter to the Lion, yet they did not wish to enrage the King of Beasts.

At last the father said: "We feel highly honoured by your Majesty's proposal, but you see our daughter is a tender young thing, and we fear that in the vehemence of your affection you might possibly do her some injury. Might I venture to suggest that your Majesty should have your claws removed, and your teeth extracted, then we would gladly consider your proposal again."

The Lion was so much in love that he had his claws trimmed and his big teeth taken out. But when he came again to the parents of the young girl they simply laughed in his face, and bade him do his worst.

Love can tame the wildest

The Lion in Love (poem)
Though the Lion in love let them draw
All his teeth, and pare down every claw,
He'd no bride for his pains,
For they beat out his brains
Ere he set on his maiden a paw.

Our very means may defeat our ends

Thoughts

A love story with a lion in it. Melted my heart haha. Also kinda made me agree with the Weekends new album and basically say no to love. It's deadly. I really like how there are two versions of the one story, the short story version, and the small poem version. I prefer the "Our means may defeat our ends" moral however. Its just more epic. Love cannot tame the wild. Wild is an instinct. That's why even men are sometimes dogs in the sense of love lust and passion.

Final Thoughts
Wolves and lions are what I most relate to still. They are usually the aggressors, but come with some nobility, honor when honor is deserved, and relentless when survival is at hand. My favorite quote, possibly a note from my wonderful professor Gibbs, is:

"The wolf has no sense of injustice, yet the point of these stories is not so much that the wolf is unjust but rather that it is foolish to expect otherwise from a wolf."

What I have to comment about this amazing quote is - The men who strive for glory many times are perceived as the villain. But they do not mind. They relish this instance. But are they really the villain, or are you too weak to recognize the hunger to succeed. Thank you.

Wolf