Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)
530. PROMETHEUS AND TRUTH
Perry 535 (Phaedrus
App. 5)
Prometheus, that potter who gave shape to our new generation, decided
one day to sculpt a statue of Truth, using all his skill so that she would
be able to regulate people's behaviour. As he was working, an unexpected
summons from mighty Jupiter called him away. Prometheus left cunning Trickery
in charge of his workshop (Trickery had recently become one of the god's
apprentices). Fired by ambition, Trickery used the time at his disposal
to fashion with his sly fingers a figure of the same size and appearance
as Truth with identical features. When he had almost completed the piece,
which was truly remarkable, he ran out of clay to use for her feet. The
master returned, so Trickery quickly sat down in his seat, quaking with
fear. Prometheus was amazed at the similarity of the two statues and wanted
it to seem as if all the credit were due to his own skill. Therefore,
he put both statues in the kiln and when they had been thoroughly baked,
he infused them both with life: sacred Truth walked with measured steps,
while her unfinished twin stood stuck in her tracks. That forgery, that
product of subterfuge, thus acquired the name of Falsehood, and I readily
agree with people who say that she has no feet: every once in a while
something that is false can start off successfully, but with time the
Truth is sure to prevail.
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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