Anonymous Life of Aesop

ToposText · Anonymous · 145 sections

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§ 98 The Samians saw that the story was told for their benefit and decided to keep Aesop. But Aesop wouldn't stay and went away to Croesus with the ambassador. When the king saw Aesop, he was angry and said, “Look who prevented my subjugating a city and wouldn't let me collect taxes. It wouldn't be so bad if he were a man instead of this riddle, this monstrosity among men.” And Aesop said, “Sire, I was not brought to you by force but came of my own accord to your feet. You're like a man who has been suddenly wounded; he cries out on the spur of the moment at the suddenness of what has happened. Wounds are the business of physicians, but what I have to say will cure your temper. If I die at your feet, I will disgrace your regime, for you will always have your friends giving advice against your interest. When they figure out that those who give you good counsel die, they will certainly speak contrary to the interest of your regime.”
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§ 99 The king was astonished at him and smiled and said, “Can you do me another favor and tell me stories of the ways of fortune with men?” Aesop said, “When animals talked the same language as men, a poor fellow who was hard up for food used to catch insects that are called hummers. He would put them up in brine and sell them at a fixed price. One insect he got between his fingers and was about to kill, but it saw what was going to happen and said to him:'Don't just idly kill me. I don't hurt the grain or the fruit or the flowers, and I don't harm the branches, but by moving my wings and feet together in harmony, I make a pleasant sound. I am a solace to the wayfarer.' The man was moved by what she said and let her go back to her native haunts. Just so I fall at your knees. Have pity on me, for I have no power to injure an army, nor am I so handsome that I might give false evidence against someone and get away with it. Poor as my body is, I utter words of commonsense and thereby benefit the life of mortals.”
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§ 100 The king liked his story and said, “I grant you your life. Ask for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” Aesop said, “Make peace with the Samians.” The king said, “I make peace.” Aesop fell at his feet and thanked him. Then he wrote down the stories and fables that go by his name even now and deposited them in the library. When he had gotten from the king a letter wherein he agreed to make peace with the Samians for the sake of Aesop, he sailed for Samos, taking many gifts with him. He called an assembly and read the king's letter. The Samians, recognizing that Croesus had made peace with them for the sake of Aesop, voted honors for him and named the place where he had been turned over the Aesopeum. As for Aesop, he sacrificed to the Muses and then built a shrine to them, erecting in their midst a statue of Mnemosyne and not of Apollo. Thereupon, Apollo became angry with him as he had once been with Marsyas.
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§ 101 After spending many years in Samos and being recognized with many honors, Aesop decided to tour the world. He lectured to audiences for a fee and, after traveling all around, came to Babylon, where Lycurgus was king. After giving an exposition of his philosophy, he was acclaimed as a great man by the Babylonians. Even the king became a great admirer of his character and wit and appointed him chamberlain.
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§ 102 In those days it was customary for kings to collect tribute from one another by means of contests in wit. They did not face one another in wars and battles but sent philosophical conundrums by letter, and the one who couldn't find the answer paid tribute to the sender. By answering the conundrums sent to Lycurgus Aesop won reputation for the king. He also provided the problems for Lycurgus to send the other kings, and they, being unable to discover answers, paid tribute. In this way the kingdom of the Babylonians expanded until it not only included barbarian nations but even most of the lands up to Greece itself were subjugated.
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§ 103 Aesop made the acquaintance of a young man of good family at Babylon, and since he was childless, adopted him, and presented him to the king as the heir to his own wisdom. He lavished every care on his education, but the young man began to get a big head, became involved with the king's concubine, and was enjoying the sport. Aesop saw this and was so angered that he repeatedly threatened him, saying that anyone who touched the king's woman was bringing on his own death.
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§ 104 The boy was put out at what Aesop said, and at the persuasion o£ his friends, made a false accusation against him to the king. He wrote a false letter in Aesop's name to the king's enemies saying that Aesop was ready to help them, and sealing it with Aesop's ring, he turned it over to the king with the words, “This is your faithful friend; just see how he is plotting again your rule.” The king was convinced by the seal and in a rage ordered a captain of the guard to kill Aesop for a traitor. But the captain didn't kill him, because he was his true friend. Since no one inquired into the matter, he kept him in the prison and reported to the king, “I have put Aesop to death.” Helios succeeded Aesop as chamberlain.
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§ 105 Some time later Nectanabo, king of Egypt, heard that Aesop was dead and sent an embassy to Lycurgus with a letter and a conundrum for him to resolve, knowing that with Aesop dead no one could be found among the Babylonians who could solve it. And this was the conundrum: “ Nectanabo, king of Egypt, to Lycurgus, the Babylonian, greeting. I want to build a tower high in the air, one that touches neither earth nor heaven. Send me men to build it and one to answer any question I ask, and collect three years' tribute on behalf of the royal city. But if you cannot do this, I will collect ten years' tribute on behalf of all the territory under your rule.”
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§ 106 When Lycurgus read the letter, he was very much distressed at this sudden turn of events. He summoned all his friends to appear, including Hermippus, and said to them, “Can you solve the question of the tower, or shall I chop off all your heads?” His friends said, “We don't know how a tower can be built that touches neither heaven nor earth.” Another said, “Sire, we wish to do whatever you command, but we have no ability nor experience at such things. We beg you, therefore, for forgiveness.” But the king was furious and ordered the guard to put them all out of the way. Then he began to beat his brow and tear his hair and mourn for Aesop. And as he moaned he said, “In my stupidity I have destroyed the pillar of my kingdom.” And he would take neither food nor drink.
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§ 107 When the captain of the guard saw the king's misery, he decided to disclose his misconduct immediately and said, “Sire, I know that today is my last day.” Lycurgus said to him, “What did you say?” He replied, “In disobeying the king's order I have laid up trouble for myself.” The king said, “What do you have on your conscience?” He said, “ Aesop is alive.” The king was overjoyed at this unexpected news and said to Hermippus, “I only wish I could make this last day you talk about an eternity for you if you're telling the truth about Aesop's being alive, for if you've kept him safe, you've been the guardian of my salvation. But I'll not let you go unrewarded; I'll proclaim you my savior.” And he ordered Aesop brought before him. When he appeared all filthy, unshaven, and pallid from his long imprisonment, the king turned away and wept. Then the king ordered him to be cared for and clothed and brought to receive his embrace.
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§ 108 When Aesop was himself again, he came and embraced the king. He explaining how his adopted son had laid a false accusation against him, and he took an oath to the truth of his account. The king wanted to kill Helios for having dealt treacherously with his father, but Aesop dissuaded him, arguing that if he were dead, he would have death as a cloak for the disgrace of his life, but so long as he lived, he would be a monument of his own guilt. The king consented to let him live but said to Aesop, “Take this letter from the king of the Egyptians and read it.” He read the requirement and said with a smile, “Answer him this way:'I will send you men to build your tower and answer your questions when the winter is over.'” The king wrote as he directed and sent the letter by his ambassadors to Egypt. He restored Aesop to his original position of responsibility and turned Helios over to him. He took the young man and lectured him. And this was what he said,
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§ 109 “ Helios, my son, listen to my words even though you were brought up on them and yet repaid me with a gratitude I did not deserve. But now keep these precepts as a trust. First, reverence God as is right. Honor your king, for his power deserves the same honor as that of God. Honor your professor as your parents, for you are naturally obliged to treat them well, but you should be doubly grateful to him whose affection is freely bestowed. Take good food for the day as well as you can so that you may be ready for the work of the next day and keep your health. At the king's court let whatever you hear perish within you so that you may not quickly perish yourself. Let your relations with your wife be worthy so that she may not wish to have experience of another man, for womankind is a vain thing and less likely to go astray when flattered. When in your cups do not discuss serious matters to show off your learning, for you will be tripped up in an off moment and get yourself laughed at. Keep ahead of your tongue. Do not envy those who are successful, but rejoice with them, and you will share in their good fortune, for he who is jealous unwittingly harms himself. Take care of your slaves, and share what you have with them so that they may not only obey you as their master but also honor you as their benefactor. Rule your passions. If you learn a thing later than you should, do not be ashamed, for it is better to be called a late learner than a dolt. Keep your councils from your wife, and reveal no secrets to her, for womankind is a rival in married life, and she will sit all day plotting and scheming how to get you under her control.
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§ 110 Strive to put away something for tomorrow from what you get today, for it is better to leave something behind for your enemies than to go begging of your friends while you live. Be affable and courteous to those you meet, knowing that a dog's tail gets him food and his mouth, beatings. Be proud of your character and not of your wealth, for chance may rob you of the latter, but the former cannot be taken away. If you prosper, bear no grudge toward your enemies; rather treat them well so that they may have a change of heart when they realize what kind of a man they have wronged. If you are able to be charitable, do not hesitate, but give with a will, knowing that fortune does not tarry. If you find a man to be a gossip and a slanderer, cast him out in time even though he be your brother, for he does not behave so out of good will but rather in order to reveal to others what you say and do. Rejoice not at great wealth, and grieve not at small.” When he had said these things to the young man, he left him. But Helios, grieving at the wrong he had done him and at being tongue-lashed by him, ended his life by refusing food. And Aesop mourned him and gave him a splendid funeral.
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§ 111 After the funeral he called some fowlers and ordered them to catch four eagles. When the eagles were caught, he pulled out the last row of wing feathers, with which they are supposed to fly, and gave orders for them to be brought up and taught to carry boys. When they were full-grown, they would carry the boys, and with this burden they would fly up into the air with cords attached to them so that they were under the boys' control and would go wherever the boys wished. When summer came, he said goodbye to the king and set sail with his boys and his eagles, accompanied by many servants and much equipment calculated to impress the Egyptians.
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§ 112 When he came to Memphis, it was announced to king Nectanabo that Aesop had arrived. Displeased at this news, he summoned his friends and said, “Men, I have been trapped by the news of Aesop's death. I have challenged Lycurgus by letter.” So saying, he gave orders for Aesop to debark. The next day Aesop came and presented his respects to the king. Nectanabo ordered his generals and governors to put on white robes, he himself put on a pure white linen robe and horns on his head. As he sat thus on his throne, he ordered Aesop to enter.
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§ 113 As he entered and saw this regalia, he made obeisance. Nectanabo said to him, “What likeness do you see in me and my attendants?” Aesop said, “I would liken you to the moon in its fullness and those about you to the stars, for as the moon surpasses the other stars so you too have the appearance of the moon in this horned guise and your officials that of the stars about it.” When Nectanabo heard this, he was amazed and gave him gifts.
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§ 114 The next day Nectanabo dressed in shining purple, took his place, carrying many flowers, amid his courtiers and ordered Aesop to enter. When he came in, the king questioned him, saying, “What likeness do you see in me and my attendants?” Aesop said, "I would liken you to the sun in springtime and those about you to the fruits of the earth, for like a king you delight the eye with your purple splendor, and you gather to yourself the flowering fruits. Again the king was amazed at his intellect and gave him gifts.]
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§ 115 The next day Nectanabo dressed in white, clothed his friends in scarlet robes, and mounted his throne. When Aesop came, he asked him, “What do I resemble?” Aesop said, “You are like the sun and those about you like its rays, for as the sun is bright and undefiled, so you too present yourself pure to men who wish to behold you and are brilliant as the sun, and these are flaming red like the rays of the sun.” The king was amazed and said to him, “So long as my kingdom continues thus, it follows that Lycurgus is nothing.” Aesop smiled and said, “Don't take his name recklessly in vain, for Lycurgus is as far above you as Zeus is above things of the earth. Zeus makes the sun and the moon to shine and to keep the seasons in order. If it pleases him to be angered, he makes his own shrine to tremble, causing terrifying thunder and dread lightning and setting earthquakes in motion. Just so, Lycurgus by the brilliance of his kingdom makes your brilliance dim and obscure, for he humbles everyone with his preeminence.”
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§ 116 Nectanabo, observing his sagacity and the readiness of his tongue, said to him, “Have you brought me men to build my tower?” Aesop said, “They are ready when you point out the place.” The king in wonderment went outside the city with Aesop and gave the measurements for the building. Aesop stationed the eagles at the comers of the assigned space and ordered the boys to mount and fly up into the air. When they got aloft, they shouted, “Give us the mud and bricks and wood and whatever is required for the building.” Nectanabo: “Where did you trump up these winged men?” Aesop said, “Oh, Lycurgus has winged men. And do you, who are only a man, want to match yourself against a king who is on a footing with the gods?” Nectanabo said, “ Aesop, I have lost. But answer me one question.” Aesop said, “Speak up; whatever you like.”
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§ 117 Nectanabo said, “I imported brood mares from Greece, and when they hear the horses in Babylon neighing, they miscarry.” Aesop said, “I'll give you my answer on this tomorrow.” Then Aesop went to his quarters and ordered his men to catch a cat alive. [They caught him a great big one and began to whip it in public.] When the Egyptians saw this, they ran to Aesop's house and raised a shout against him. Aesop then ordered the cat released. But the Egyptians went to the king with their outcry against Aesop. The king summoned Aesop when he arrived, said to him, “You've done a bad thing. The animal is a symbol of the sacred goddess of Bubastis, and the Egyptians show it reverence.”
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§ 118 Aesop said, “Yes, but Lycurgus was wronged by it this night. He had a young rooster, a fighting cock — what's more, it told him the time — and the cat killed it tonight.” Nectanabo said to Aesop, “Aren't you ashamed of such a barefaced lie? How could a cat get from Egypt to Babylon in one night?” Aesop said, “How can your mares here hear the horses at home and miscarry?” The king, seeing his wit, began to be afraid that he would be bested and have to pay tribute to King Lycurgus.
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§ 119 He immediately summoned prophets from Heliopolis who had knowledge of the questions of natural philosophy. When they had discussed Aesop with him, he invited them to dinner along with Aesop. They arrived at the appointed hour and took their places for dinner. One of the Heliopolitans said to Aesop, “We are sent by god to propose to you certain statements for your interpretation.” Aesop said, “You give the lie to yourselves and your god, for if he is a god he ought to know the thought of each and every man. But say on as you like.”
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§ 120 They said, “There is a temple and in it one column, and atop the column are twelve cities, and each of these is roofed with thirty beams, and about each of them run two women.” Aesop said, “Among us, children solve this conundrum. The temple is the universe, for it embraces all things; the column is the year, for it stands firm; the cities upon it are the twelve months, for they are continuously populated; the thirty beams are the thirty days of the month which embrace the year; and the two women moving around are night and day, for one follows the other.” With this they arose from the dinner.
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§ 121 The next day King Nectanabo held a council with his close associates and said, “As I can see, because of this ill-favored and accursed fellow. I am going to have to send tribute to King Lycurgus.” But one of his friends said, “Let's pose him a problem in these words:'What is there which we have neither seen nor heard?' and no matter what clever answer he gives, we'll tell him we've heard it and seen it. He'll be stopped by this and admit defeat.” When the king heard this, he was overjoyed, thinking he had found a way to win. When Aesop presented himself, King Nectanabo said to him, “Answer us this one more question, and I will pay the tribute to Lycurgus. Tell us something we have never either seen or heard.” Aesop said, “Give me three days, and I will give you your answer.” He left the king and reasoned with himself, “They will say they have seen whatever I mention.”
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§ 122 But Aesop, ever resourceful in such affairs, sat down and drafted himself a note of a loan in this form: “Lent to Nectanabo by Lycurgus, a thousand talents of gold.” And he inserted an indication of the time that had passed since the loan. Then, after three days, Aesop went to Nectanabo and found him with his friends, expecting him to be at a loss. But Aesop brought out the note and said, “Read this agreement.” King Nectanabo's friends lied and said, “We've seen this and heard of it many times.” Aesop said, “I'm glad you authenticate it. Let him pay the money on the spot, for the due date is past.” King Nectanabo said, “How can you be witnesses to a debt I don't owe?” They said, “We've never seen or heard of it.” Aesop said, “If that's your answer, the problem is solved.”
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§ 123 Nectanabo said, “ Lycurgus is truly fortunate to have such wisdom in his kingdom.” He gave Aesop the tribute for three years and sent him back with a peaceful letter. When Aesop arrived in Babylon, he told Lycurgus all that had happened in Egypt and gave him the money. Lycurgus then ordered the erection of a golden statue of Aesop with the Muses, and he held a great celebration in honor of Aesop's wisdom.
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§ 124 But Aesop wished to go to Delphi, and so he said goodbye to the king, swearing to return and spend the rest of his life in Babylon. He went to other cities and gave demonstrations of his wisdom and learning. And when he came to Delphi, he undertook to give an exhibition there, too, and the people enjoyed hearing him at first but gave him nothing. Seeing that the men were as pale as potherbs, Aesop said to them, “Even as the leaves of the trees such is the race of men.”
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§ 125 Still jibing at them he said, “Men of Delphi, you are like a piece of driftwood floating on the sea; when we see it at a great distance, tossing on the waves, we think it is something worthwhile, but then when we approach and come to it, we find that it is a very insignificant thing of no value. So it has been with me; when I was far away from your city, I was impressed with you as men of wealth and generosity, but now that I see you are inferior to other men in your breeding and in your city, I recognize that I was mistaken. I shall carry away a bad impression of you, for I see that you act in no way unworthy of your ancestors.”
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§ 126 When the Delphians heard this, they said to him, “And who are our ancestors?” Aesop said, “Slaves, and if you don't know this, let me tell you about it. Long ago it was the custom among the Greeks when they captured a city to send a tenth of the spoils to Apollo. For example, out of a hundred oxen they would send ten, and the same with goats and everything else — with money, with men, with women. You, being born of them as slaves, are like men in bondage, for by your birth you are marked as slaves of all the Greeks.” So saying, he made preparation for his departure.
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§ 127 But the officials, seeing how abusive he was, reasoned to themselves, “If we let him go away, he'll go around to other cities and damage our reputation.” So they plotted to kill him by a trick. With the connivance of Apollo, who was angry with Aesop because of the insult on Samos in not setting him up along with the Muses, the Delphians, not waiting for a reasonable pretext, devised a villainous scheme so that the other visitors could not help him. They kept a watch on the slave at his door, and when they caught him asleep, they did their work. They brought a golden cup from the sanctuary and hid it in his baggage. Unaware of what had been done, Aesop set off for Phocis.
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§ 128 Some Delphians overtook him, tied him up, and dragged him back to the city. When he demanded in a loud voice, “Why are you taking me prisoner?” they replied, “You have stolen treasure from the sanctuary.” Aesop, whose conscience was clear, said with tears in his eyes, “I am ready to die if I am found guilty of such a thing.” The Delphians ransacked his baggage and found the cup. They showed it off to the city and loudly and violently made a spectacle of him. Aesop reasoned that it must have been hidden there as part of a plot and asked the Delphians about it, but they wouldn't listen to him. He said, “Mortals that you are, be not wiser than the gods.” But they locked him up in the prison to hold him for punishment. Finding no means of saving himself, Aesop said, “Now how can I, a mortal man, escape what is to be?”
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§ 129 A friend of his came and with the permission of the guards went in to him. With tears in his eyes the friend said, “What have we come to?” And Aesop told him a fable. “A woman who had buried her husband was sitting beside his tomb and weeping uncontrollably. A man who was plowing saw her and conceived a desire for her. He left his oxen standing with the plow and went over to her, pretending to weep himself. She paused and asked him:'Why are you weeping?' The plowman said:'I have buried a good and wise wife, and when I weep I find it lightens my grief.' She said:'I, too, have lost a good husband, and when I do as you do, I lighten the burden of my grief.' He said to her:'Well now, since we have both suffered the same fate and fortune, why don't we get to know one another? I'll love you as I did her, and you shall love me as you did your husband.' With this he persuaded the woman. But while he took his pleasure of her, someone drove off his oxen. When the plowman returned and didn't find his oxen, he began to weep and shout in earnest. The woman said:'What are you wailing about?' The plowman said:'Woman, now I've got something to mourn.' And you ask me why I'm grieving when you can see the pass fortune has brought me to?”
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§ 130 The friend sorrowfully said to him, “Why in the world did you have to insult them in their own land and city, and do it when you were at their mercy? Where was your training? Where was your learning? You have given advice to cities and peoples, but you have turned out witless in your own cause.” But Aesop offered him another fable.
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§ 131 "A woman had a simple-minded daughter. She prayed to all the gods to give her daughter some sense, and the daughter often heard her praying. Then once they went out to the country. The girl left her mother and went outside the farmyard, where she saw a man coupling with a mule She said to the man:'What are you doing?' He said:'I'm putting some sense in her.' “The simple girl remembered her mother's prayer and said:'Put some in me.' ”In his state he refused, saying:'Nothing is more thankless than a woman.' But she said:'Oh, don't worry, sir, my mother will thank you and will pay you whatever you want. She prays for me to get some sense.' And so the man deflowered her. She was overjoyed and ran home to her mother and said:'Mother, I have some sense.' And the mother said:'How did you get sense, child?' The simple girl told her mother the story.'A man put it in me with a long, sinewy, red thing that ran in and out.' “When the mother heard her daughter tell this, she said:'My child, you've lost what sense you had.' It's turned out the same way for me, my friend, for I've lost what sense I had in coming to Delphi.” After many tears, the friend left him.
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§ 132 The Delphians came in to Aesop and said, “You are to be thrown from the cliff today, for this is the way they voted to put you to death as a temple thief and a blasphemer who does not deserve the dignity of burial. Prepare yourself.” Seeing that they were threatening him, Aesop said, “Let me tell you a story.” And they gave him leave to speak. Aesop said,
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§ 133 “Once when the animals all spoke the same language, a mouse made friends with a frog and invited him to dinner. He took him into a very well-stocked storeroom where there was bread, meat, cheese, olives, figs. And he said:'Eat.' When he had helped himself generously, the frog said:'You must come to my house for dinner, too, and let me give you a good reception.' He took the mouse to his pool and said:'Dive in.' ”But the mouse said:'I don't know how to dive.' The frog said:'I'll teach you.' And he tied the mouse's foot to his own with a string and jumped into the pool, pulling the mouse with him. As the mouse drowned he said:'Even though I'm dead, I'll pay you off.' Just as he said this the frog dove under and drowned him. As the mouse lay floating on the water a water bird carried him off with the frog tied to him, and when he had finished eating the mouse, he got his claws into the frog. This is the way the mouse punished the frog. Just so, gentlemen, if I die, I will be your doom. The Lydians, the Babylonians, and practically the whole of Greece will reap the harvest of my death."
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§ 134 When he had said this and the Delphians still paid him no heed but were taking him off to the cliff, Aesop took refuge in the shrine of the Muses. Even so they showed him no mercy, but as he was being dragged off against his will, he said, “Men of Delphi, do not scorn this shrine.
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§ 135 It was just so that the rabbit, who was being chased by the eagle, took refuge with the dung beetle and begged the bug to save him. The dung beetle pleaded with the eagle not to disregard his request, adjuring him by Zeus not to despise his smallness. But the eagle brushed the dung beetle aside with his wing, carried off the rabbit, tore him to bits, and ate him.
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§ 136 ”The dung beetle was infuriated and flew off after the eagle. It spied out the nest where the eagle had its clutch of eggs and came back and smashed them. When the eagle returned, he was very much wrought up and started to find out who was responsible for this to tear him limb from limb. When the season came around, the eagle laid an egg in a higher place. The dung beetle came back, repeated his performance, and was gone. The eagle mourned its children, saying that this was the wrath of Zeus, sent to make the race of eagles even rarer.
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§ 137 “When the time came around again, the eagle was so unhappy it didn't keep its eggs in its nest any more but went up to Olympus and deposited its eggs on the lap of Zeus and said:'Twice my eggs have disappeared; the third time I'm leaving them with you to have you protect them.' ”But the dung beetle found this out, loaded himself up with manure, and went up to Zeus. He flew past Zeus' face, and Zeus was so startled to see the filthy thing that he jumped up. Forgetting that he had the eggs in his lap, he smashed them.
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§ 138 “After this Zeus learned that the dung beetle had been wronged, and when the eagle returned, he said:'You deserved to lose your children for the wrong you did the dung beetle.' The dung beetle said:'He not only wronged me, but he was very impious toward you, for although I adjured him in your name, he had no fear but killed my suppliant. I shall never stop until I have punished him to the fullest extent.'
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§ 139 ”Since Zeus did not want the breed of eagles to die out, he tried to persuade the dung beetle to be reconciled. When the dung beetle would not hear of this, he changed the nesting season for the eagle to a time when the dung beetle is not to be seen on earth. So, do not, men of Delphi, dishonor this shrine where I have taken refuge, even though the temple is small, but remember the dung beetle and reverence Zeus, the god of strangers and Olympus."
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§ 140 The Delphians were not deterred but took him off and stood him on the cliff. When he saw the fate that was prepared for him, he said, “Since I've used all kinds of argument without persuading you, let me tell you this story. A farmer who had grown old in the country and had never seen the city begged his children to let him go and see the city before he died. They hitched the donkeys to the wagon themselves and told him:'Just drive them, and they'll take you to the city.' On the way a storm came up, it got dark, the donkeys lost their way and came to a place surrounded by cliffs. Seeing the danger he was in, he said:'Oh Zeus, what wrong have I done that I should die this way, without even horses, but only these miserable donkeys, to blame it on?' So it is that I am annoyed to die not at the hands of reputable men but of miserable slaves.”
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§ 141 As he was on the point of being thrown over the cliff, he told still another fable. ["A man fell in love with his own daughter, and suffering from this wound, he sent his wife off to the country and forced himself upon his daughter. She said:'Father, this is an unholy thing you are doing. I would rather have submitted to a hundred men than to you.' This is the way I feel toward you, men of Delphi. I would rather drag my way through Syria, Phoenicia, and Judaea than die at your hands here, where one would least expect it." But they did not change their minds.
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§ 142 Aesop cursed them, called on the Leader of the Muses to witness that his death was unjust, and threw himself over the cliff. And so he ended his life. When the Delphians were afflicted with a famine, they received an oracle from Zeus that they should expiate the death of Aesop. Later, when word reached them, the peoples of Greece, Babylon, and Samos avenged Aesop's death.

Via ToposText (topostext.org), a project of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation created by Brady Kiesling. Translated by Lloyd William Daly (1910-1989). Composed ca. 100 CE. Licence: Copyright 1961, permission requested. Source.