I was going to post about Elizabeth Taylor’s novel Angel, which I recently finished reading, but was diverted by an entry in an old notebook of mine about this fable of the wolf and the lamb. It resonates even more today, given recent events in the world.
![Three fables of Aesop in the Bayeux tapestry By Joseph Jacobs [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://tredynasdays.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Aesop_in_Bayeux-253x300.jpg)
Three fables of Aesop in the Bayeux tapestry By Joseph Jacobs [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. The wolf and the lamb is the last one
THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.
Driven by thirst, a Wolf and a Lamb had come to the same stream; the Wolf stood above, and the Lamb at a distance below. Then, the villain (thief or brigand, lit.), prompted by hunger (or ‘wicked throat’), trumped up a pretext for a quarrel. “Why,” said he, “have you made the water muddy for me while I am drinking?” The wool-bearer, trembling, answered: “Please, Wolf, how can I do what you complain of? The water is flowing downwards from you to where I am drinking.” The other, disconcerted by the force of truth, exclaimed: “Six months ago, you slandered me.” “Indeed,” answered the Lamb, “I was not born then.” “By Hercules,” said the Wolf, “then ’twas your father slandered me;” and so, snatching him up, he tore him to pieces, killing him unjustly.
This Fable is applicable to those men who, under false pretences, oppress the innocent.
More pertinent is the alternative version by Christopher Smart (1722-71), which ends :
Abash’d by facts, says he, “I know
’Tis now exact six months ago
You strove my honest fame to blot”—
“Six months ago, sir, I was not.”
“Then ’twas th’ old ram thy sire,” he cried,
And so he tore him, till he died.
To those this fable I address
Who are determined to oppress,
And trump up any false pretence,
But they will injure innocence
The fable was adapted many times subsequently; La Fontaine (published 1668-94) of course, but also by the Scots makar, Robert Henryson (fl. 1460-1500). Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about his version (adapted slightly):
It’s about widespread social breakdown. The Lamb appeals to natural law, to Scripture, and to statutory law, and is answered by the Wolf with perversions of all these. Then Henryson in his own person comments that there are three kinds of contemporary wolves who oppress the poor: dishonest lawyers; real estate tycoons intent on extending their estates; and landowners who exploit their tenants.
To this could be added, in our day, the power-crazed in all walks of life, including politics.
I shall be going on holiday soon, so may not post much for a while; meantime I hope to post the Angel piece before I go.
Interesting little tale, which resonates into days world where the truth often appears to be ignored. I like the line ‘ and trump up any false pretences’ has a certain contemporary ring to it.
Thanks, G. We live in an age of wolves
When I was a teacher-librarian, I used to teach Aesop’s Fables to my Prep classes, and admired their clever responses to fables like this one, but I never knew that some of them were derived from Buddhist sources. I wish I had… many of my students were Asian and they would have loved to know this.
I’m sure there is a fable somewhere about not letting the powerful have moral leadership by default… that is what we in The Rest of The World have permitted for so long and now live to rue.
Or was that Marcus Aurelius?
PS Bon voyage!
Lisa: Thanks. Yes, there’s a Buddhist analogue to the Wolf & Lamb, featuring a panther & goat, but the moral is the same: the unjust will not listen to the reasoning of the innocent. There’s another about a hawk & partridge…How do the innocent deal with barefaced rapacity?
Heh, too bad it’s so obvious who the wolf is in this story. Sad, bad days…..
Paula: really? I couldn’t possibly comment…But yes, sad days these are. Some terrible events here in England these last few weeks, as in the US. Where will it all end…