Aesop's Fables: Townsend (1867)
180. The Fox and the Hedgehog (Perry
427)
A FOX swimming across a rapid river was carried by the force of the current
into a very deep ravine, where he lay for a long time very much bruised,
sick, and unable to move. A swarm of hungry blood-sucking flies settled
upon him. A Hedgehog, passing by, saw his anguish and inquired if he should
drive away the flies that were tormenting him. 'By no means,' replied
the Fox; 'pray do not molest them.' 'How is this?' said the Hedgehog;
'do you not want to be rid of them?' 'No,' returned the Fox, 'for these
flies which you see are full of blood, and sting me but little, and if
you rid me of these which are already satiated, others more hungry will
come in their place, and will drink up all the blood I have left.'
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. |