A Wolf asking a passing Sheep for water. The Sheep demurred saying that if he brought water he would become supper. Smart Sheep.
Judge charity requests by actions, not words.
A wounded Wolf lay recovering in his lair. Needing food, he called to a passing Sheep: “Please get me some water so I can find the means to obtain some meat.”
“I don’t think so,” said the Sheep, “if I bring you water it is clear I will become the meat.”
Aesop For Children
A Wolf had been hurt in a fight with a Bear. He was unable to move and could not satisfy his hunger and thirst. A Sheep passed by near his hiding place, and the Wolf called to him.
“Please fetch me a drink of water,” he begged, “that might give me strength enough so I can get me some solid food.”
“Solid food!” said the Sheep. “That means me, I suppose. If I should bring you a drink, it would only serve to wash me down your throat. Don’t talk to me about a drink!”
Moral
A knave’s hypocrisy is easily seen through.
Townsend version
A Wolf, sorely wounded and bitten by dogs, lay sick and maimed in his lair. Being in want of food, he called to a Sheep who was passing, and asked him to fetch some water from a stream flowing close beside him. “For,” he said, “if you will bring me drink, I will find means to provide myself with meat.” “Yes,” said the Sheep, “if I should bring you the draught, you would doubtless make me provide the meat also.”
Moral
Hypocritical speeches are easily seen through.
JBR Collection
A Wolf that had been sorely worried, and left for dead, by the Dogs, lay not far from a running stream. Parched with thirst, the babble of the brook sounded most temptingly in his cars, and he felt that one cool, delicious draught might yet restore to him some hope of life. Just then a Sheep passed near. “Pray, sister, bring me some water from yon stream,” said he. “Water is all I want; I do not ask for meat.” “Yes,” replied the Sheep, “I know very well that when I have brought you water, my body will serve for meat.”
L’Estrange version
A wolfe that lay licking of his wounds, and extremely faint, and ill, upon the biting of a dog, call’d out to a sheep that was passing by, Heark ye friend (says he) if thou wouldst but help me to a soup of water out of that same brook there, I could make a shift to get my self somewhat to eat. Yes, says the sheep, I make no doubt on’t. But when I bring ye drink, my carcase shall serve ye for meat to’t.
Moral
It is a charitable and a Christian office to relieve the poor and the distressed; but this duty does not extend to sturdy beggars, that while they are receiving alms with one hand, are ready to beat out a man’s brains with the other.
Gherardo Image from 1480
Ovis et Lupus Saucius
Iacebat humi lupus, male tractatus a canibus et cibi indigus ac appetens. Visam eminus ovem vocat; rogat ut de vicino fonte sibi aquam afferat. “Quid aqua esurienti?” inquit illa; “quaere tibi prius cibum.” “Sufficit,” inquit lupus, “si potum praestes; de cibo mihi providebo.” Illa, verba et finem lupi subodorans, “Capio te, amice lupe,” ait, “si tibi aquam dedero, dedero etiam cibum; de me te cibaturus es. Vale; alio vocor, longe a tuis dentibus et ventre.”
Perry #160