Perry's Index to the Aesopica
Fables exist in many versions; here is one version in English:
THE HUNTER AND THE LION
A not very brave hunter was following the tracks of a lion in the deep dark
woods of the mountain. When he came across a woodcutter near a large pine tree
he said, 'In the name of the nymphs, have you noticed the tracks of a lion lurking
in these parts?' The woodcutter replied, 'The gods must be with you! You have
come in the nick of time: I can show you the lion himself at this very moment.'
The hunter turned pale and his teeth began to chatter. 'It is very kind of you
to do so much more than I asked,' said the hunter. 'Let's talk about the tracks,
but please, don't show me the lion!' |
 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.
Perry 326: Gibbs (Oxford) 230 [English]
Perry 326: Townsend 129 [English]
Perry 326: Babrius 92 [Greek]
Perry 326: Chambry 93 [Greek]
You can find a compilation of Perry's index to the Aesopica in the gigantic appendix to his
edition of Babrius and Phaedrus for the Loeb Classical Library
(Harvard University Press: Cambridge, 1965). This book is an absolute must for anyone interested
in the Aesopic fable tradition. Invaluable.
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