Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)
308. THE FOX AND THE FROG
Perry 289 (Aphthonius
24)
A story about a frog, urging us not to trust someone's promises before
they are fulfilled.
There was a frog who claimed to be trained in the physician's art, acquainted
with all the medicinal plants of the earth, the only creature who could
cure the animals' ailments. The fox listened to the frog's announcement
and exposed his lies by the colour of his skin. 'How can it be,' said
the fox, 'that you are able to cure others of their illnesses, but the
signs of sickness can still be seen in your own face?'
Boastful claims end up exposing themselves.
Note: The Biblical proverb 'physician, heal thyself!' (Luke
4.23) is found in the epimythium to this fable in Caxton
(7.5): 'For the leche whiche wylle hele somme other / ought fyrste
to hele hym self.'
 Source:
Aesop's Fables. A new translation by Laura
Gibbs.
Oxford University Press (World's Classics): Oxford, 2002.
NOTE: New
cover, with new ISBN, published in 2008; contents of book unchanged.
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