Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)
481. HERACLES AND THE DRIVER
Perry 291 (Babrius
20)
An ox-driver was bringing his wagon from town and it fell into a steep
ditch. The man should have pitched in and helped, but instead he stood
there and did nothing, praying to Heracles, who was the only one of the
gods whom he really honoured and revered. The god appeared to the man
and said, 'Grab hold of the wheels and goad the oxen: pray to the gods
only when you're making some effort on your own behalf; otherwise, your
prayers are wasted!'
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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