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Aesop's Fables: Townsend (1867)100. The Wild Ass and the Lion (Perry 339) A WILD ASS and a Lion entered into an alliance so that they might capture
the beasts of the forest with greater ease. The Lion agreed to assist
the Wild Ass with his strength, while the Wild Ass gave the Lion the benefit
of his greater speed. When they had taken as many beasts as their necessities
required, the Lion undertook to distribute the prey, and for this purpose
divided it into three shares. 'I will take the first share,' he said,
'because I am King: and the second share, as a partner with you in the
chase: and the third share (believe me) will be a source of great evil
to you, unless you willingly resign it to me, and set off as fast as you
can.' George Fyler Townsend's translation of the fables, first published in 1867, is in the public domain and can be found at many websites, including Project Gutenberg. Illustrations come from: Aesop's Fables, by George Fyler Townsend, with illustrations by Harrison Weir, 1867, at Google Books. |
