Following is the Preface from the James Northcote 1828 book of 100 selected fables. An engraving of Northcote and the end engraving are placed on this page for reference. Also, the Northcote fables are sometimes exact copies of translations found in other sources posted on FablesOfAesop. If that’s the case, only the extra comments made by Northcote and the illustrations are posted here. Finally, the illustrations at the end of many of the fables have nothing to do with the fables they are attached to or to the next fable in order. They are posted here in the order they appear in the book with no attempt to find the right fable they go with.
[Read more…] about James Northcote PrefaceE-Book Links
Some ask where the original files for the books used to create this collection are located. This post contains links to those files. The request usually comes in the form of a question about using the text and/or illustrations on this site in some other collection.
[Read more…] about E-Book LinksAesop’s Fables Home Page
Throughout history fables have been a popular method of giving instruction. Fables contain a short narrative that seeks to illustrate a hidden message. Generally, fables use animals or objects as part of the narrative yet the message is designed to apply to humans. By doing this, the fabulist is not perceived as the teacher and this reduces any bias the listeners might have against the person. The most famous fabulist would be Aesop who most date around 620 B.C. Many fables are attributed to Aesop, but it’s unclear how many he actually wrote; indeed, his historical existence as a person is under question. I’ve collected many of them here for your enjoyment. A number of translations were found and the fables collected. Several different translations and interpretations of the same fable may be found on many of the pages here; including, now and again, a simplified version I wrote.
[Read more…] about Aesop’s Fables Home PageThe Snail and The Drone
[Read more…] about The Snail and The DroneA Drone asked a Snail how it had the patience to journey so slowly. The Snail answered that the Drone leaves no mark of its passing.
While alive, live well.
The Philosopher and The Parrot
[Read more…] about The Philosopher and The ParrotA Philosopher spent all on a talkative Parrot so that the Parrot could teach him things he had never heard from others.
Having a free tongue may be more of a hindrance than help.
The Snail and The Butterfly
[Read more…] about The Snail and The ButterflyA Butterfly was seen by a Snail who berated it for its color. Butterfly responded he was colored by nature as are others. The Snail was a foil to this.
Don’t reject the ornamental when given by nature.