THE Egyptians muffel'd up their Knowledge of Things in the Clouds of Hieroglyphicks, and other mysterious Signatures: The Grae­cians folded up theirs in Symbolls, and other Emblematical Allusions: But Aesop having uncloth'd it from that dark Vesture in which it lay con­ceal'd, beheld Truth in its naked and callow Principles, like those ancient Poets that saw her through all those Veils and gloomy contextures they themselves had originally wrapp'd her up in. The Life of this Sagacious Person in its whole conduct and Decursion, until it was wound up in its Fatal and Calamitous Catastrophe (as its Scheme is drawn from Planudes, and other Monuments of Antiquity) is here in a Compendious Prospect represented to the Publique.

He was born at Ammonius in Phrygia the Greater, a Town obscure in it self, but made Signal and Illustrious by being the Cradle of Aesop, and might by a successful Corrival­ship have enter'd into competition with those Cities that with a noble Emulation contended for the Birth of Homer.

As to the Features and Dimensions of his Face and Body, they were so shuffel'd and hudled up, that Nature in his Production, did seem to insinuate that she oftentimes does set the most refulgent Gems in the most uneven and ragged Collets: for he was of a sharp Head, flat Nos'd, his Back roll'd up in a Bunch or Excrescence, his Lips tu­merous and pendant, his Complexion black, from which dark Tincture he contracted his Name ( Aesopus being the same with Aethiops) Large Belly, Crooked Bow-Legs; Thersites in Homer was but an imperfect Transcript of so stupendous a Deformity.

[Page 2]But above all his Misfortunes, this was the most emi­nent, That his Speech was slow, inarticulate and very obscure; such was his Body: But Nature by a more even Retribution had endow'd him with a most accom­plish'd Mind, capable of the most sublime and elevated Speculations.

And as the Dower conferr'd upon him externally by Nature was of cheap and vulgar Estimate, so the Patri­mony he was entituled to by Fortune, was no less despi­cable and ruinous; for the first part of his Life was expos'd to Poverty, and the latter part of it grated upon by Slavery and a violent Death.

His first Master (under whose Dominion he then groan'd) finding him uncapable of any Domestick Busi­ness, employ'd him in the Field, there by Digging to cultivate the Earth, where not long after his Misfortunes oblig'd him to give the first Testimony of his Ingenuity. At a certain Time, as his Master was walking in the Fields, a Labourer presented him with excellent Figs, which he transmitted to be preserv'd by the Care and Trust of Agathopodus (for so was the Servant styled) till his Return from the Bath. But he (enamour'd with their Delicacy) combin'd in an injurious Confederacy with his Fellow-servant to sate themselves with them, and then to fasten the Guilt of the designed Crime on Aesop. This being determin'd, they eat up the Figs, and when their Master return'd from the Bath, with much Noise and Importunity accus'd Aesop to have devour'd them; who, enra'gd at this Action, summon'd him to appear, and then ask'd him, What Impudence had egg'd him on to destroy those Figs which were reserv'd for himself? Who making his Defence with some Slowness and Haesitation, was even ready to be offer'd up to Stripes and Punishment; when prostrating himself at his Masters feet, he implored him [Page 3]for some little space to suspend his Punishment: in which Interval he ran and fetch'd some warm Water, and swal­lowing it down, by the Force of his Finger vomited up the Water, for as yet that Day he was Fasting; and after requested his Master his Accusers might drink the same warm Infusion, whereby it might appear who had eaten the Figs: His Master approving the ingenuous Artifice of Aesop, condemn'd them to the same Draught, which by its Warmth and Moisture, making the Mem­branes of the Stomach Limber and Ductile, engag'd them to disgorge the Water and Figs together: by which act the Innocence of Aesop was assoil'd, and his Enemies given up to the deserved Animadversion of Whips and Scourges.

Upon the day following his Master returned to the City, and he being remanded to his Labour, Accosted two Priests of Diana, who by Error stragled from their de­signed way, who Adjur'd Aesop by Jove to direct them into the most regular Track; which he not only perfor­med, but refresh'd them with Viands, and for his Gui­dance and Hospitality had the wishes of their Hearts, and Prayers of their Tongues. Aesop returning to his Task, oppress'd with his Load of Care and Labour, sunk into an easie Sleep, and in a Dream conjectured he saw Fortune standing by him, gratifying him with Volubility of Language, and the Elegancy of wrapping up his No­tions under the contexture of Apologues. Immediately starting up, O wonderful (sayes he) in what a charming Transe have I been engag'd! for behold I speak fluently, and by the favour of the Gods I can register each Creature by its name; this propitious Successe is the reward of my benigne Complyance with Strangers. And overjoy'd with this extrasie, returns to his designed Labour, where having committed some Error, Zenas (Overseer of the Field) rewarded him [Page 4]with a Blow; on which Aesop cryed out, You are alwayes punishing him that offends you not; my Master sure, upon due Information, will revenge these Injurious Stripes. Zenas possest with Animositie, and hearing him speak whom he esteemed before so slow and unactive, by way of preven­tion, lest he should be discharg'd of an unjust Steward­ship, resolved to accuse him to his Master, whom not long after when he had accosted, he desired the Gods to protect: whereon his Master inquired, What was it that dis­compos'd him? Zenas replyed, The Intervention of a Pro­digious Accident in the Field had effected it. His Master in­quired, What Prodigie in Nature had provok'd that Admi­ration? He replyed, Aesop that was esteemed Dumb, now had found Ʋtterance and Elocution. His Master answered, This will be ruinous to thee, in whose Estimate he was reputed a Monster. Zenas rejoyn'd, What he hath contumeliously spoken against me, I should have entomb'd in Silence, but against You, and the Gods, he hath disgorg'd intollerable Ma­ledictions. Which injurious Accusation of his so incens'd his Master, that he commanded him to be expos'd to Sale, as the Recompense of his Ingrateful Impiety.

When Aesop was thus put under the Dominion of Ze­nas, he inform'd him how he was to dispose of him. Do your pleasure (says Aesop.) Not long after a Merchant designing to buy some Cattle, encounter'd Zenas, who inform'd him, that though he had no Beasts, he had a Man­slave who was ready to be offered up to Sale. When the Merchant heard of a Servant, he desired to behold him, and upon the interview broke into an incessant laughter, saying, Had I not been convinc'd by his Voyce, I should have esteem'd him a blown Bladder: why did you divert me from my intended design, to Assault my Eyes with such a Prodigie? Having thus said, he was about to depart, when he was stopp'd by Aesop, who desired his Stay. The Merchant [Page 5]looking back, said, Be gone thou filthy Cur. Aesop reque­sted him, that he would discover the Cause that engag'd his Coming thither. He replyed, To buy something of Value or Esti­mate, and not any such unprofitable worthless thing as Himself. Aesop urg'd, he would buy him, since he was able to recom­pense the Price by his Service. The Merchant required him to inform him, wherein such a loathsome Beast could Bal­lance it? Have you at home any testy Children (said Aesop) I shall supply the place of a Bugbear to terrifie them into Repose and Silence. On which the Merchant smiling, ask'd Zenas what he would demand for that uncouth vessel? Three Half­pence, said he. The Merchant discharg'd the price, inti­mating that with Nothing he had bought Nothing. After their Journey, as they made a near approach to the Habi­tation of the Merchant, two of his Children when they view'd Aesop, by Crying testified their Fear of Him. Now Sir, said he, you see the Effect of my Promise. At which the Merchant smiling, they enter'd his House, where he commanded Aesop to accost his Fellow-Servants with a Salute. Who when they beheld this collected mass of Deformity, cry'd out, What Misfortune hath engag'd our Master to bring this Witch or Prodigie into his Fa­mily!

Not long after the Merchant design'd a Journey into Asia, and commanded all things to be prepared that had an aspect on this Affair: And when every Servant had his proportion of Burden assign'd, Aesop desir'd, because it was his first effort or essay, he might sustain the lightest; which being granted, he took up a Basket of Bread; at which the other Slaves were fill'd at once both with laugh­ter and amazement, considering the Burden he went to support was in its weight proportionate to the strength of two. When Dinner approach'd, Aesop (that had with much agony and reluctancy sustain'd his Carriage, was [Page 6]commanded to set down his Load, and by an equal distri­bution to dispense a Dole of Bread to the other Slaves; so that the moiety of his Basket being emptied, he (after Dinner was expir'd) with much facility undertook the residue of the Journey: And when Supper was near, Aesop was enjoyn'd to disengage himself of his burden, and with the moiety of the remaining Loaves, to appease the appetite of the travelling Slaves; so that next morning, his Load being wholly exhausted, he advanced with an empty Basket in the Van of his Fellow servants; and by this dextrous artifice oblig'd those with applause to admire his Ingenuity, who before with cheapness and contempt did despise his Folly.

The Merchant being now arriv'd at Ephesus, and ha­ving there to good advantage vended divers of his Slaves, he was perswaded (to improve his Market) to sail to Samos, whither he transported the residue of his Servants, whose now-remaining Inventory was very narrow, being onely three; namely, Cantor a Native of Cappadocia, and Grammaticus born in Lidia, two persons of a large dimen­sion; and Aesop, whose Character was pensil'd out before: Where when he was arriv'd, that he might the better vend the two former, he new attir'd them; but Aesop, because no Art or Improvement would adorn so deformed Linea­ments, was Invested with sack-cloth, which made him to be expos'd as well to general derision as to sale. Amougst those that accosted the Merchant, was Xanthus, an eminent Philosopher of Samos, accompany'd with a retinue of his Scholars; and having view'd these three persons designed for sale, he beheld Aesop plac'd in the midst; whereby he conjectur'd, that the worst was fixed there that the two other might appear the Fairer. The first that the Philoso­pher address'd himself to was Cantor; of whom he deman­ded what he could perform? All things, says he. Xanthus [Page 7]demanded of the Merchant what price or value he set upon that Servant? He replyed, A thousand Half-pence. Xanthus disgusting a price so vast, went from this, and applyed himself to the other, and ask'd him likewise what be could doe? He replyed, All things. The Philosopher demanded again of the Merchant at what rate he held Grammaticus? Three thousand Half-pence, said he. But Xanthus not well resenting a rate of that bulk and importance, did declare both to the Merchant and the Scholars that accompanyed him, that he would buy no Servants that were rated at so Extraordinary a value: whereupon the Scholars suggested to Xanthus to buy Aesop, since that uncouth person might perform his work, and they would absolve the price. 'Tis not fit (said Xanthus) that I should buy him and you make good the payment: Moreover, my Wife would very ill resent that so mishapen and discompos'd a person should ever be subser­vient or ministerial to her affairs. The Scholars reply'd, We are not always oblig'd to comply with the desires of a Wo­man; therefore let us examine what Ingenuity is resident in this deformed Lump. Wherefore addressing themselves to Aesop, Xanthus bid him be comforted. Was I ever sad? reply'd Aesop. Of what place are you a Native? said the Philosopher. I am a Negro, said Aesop. I do not ask you this, urg'd he, but where you were born? Aesop answered, Of my Mothers belly. I demand not this of you, said Xanthus, but what place you were born in? My Mother never informed me, answered Aesop, whether it was above or below. What canst thou perform? said the Philosopher. Nothing, reply'd Aesop; the two former whom already you have applyed your self to can doe all things, wherefore nothing remains for me to doe. Said Xanthus, Are you willing I should buy you? You ought (answered Aesop) to reflect upon your owne Bargain, must you needs have my advice? If you are willing, pay down the price, and wind up your business. If I buy thee (said [Page 8] Xanthus, thou wilt attempt to make an escape. If I do (said Aesop) I will not come to you, as you now to me, for counsel. But thou art Deformed, urg'd Xanthus. A Philosopher (reply'd, he) should not only view the Body, but likewise reflect upon the Mind. The Scholars oblig'd by his Ingenious Replyes, requested Xanthus to Buy him: Whereupon Xanthus ad­dress'd himself to the Merchant, and demanded what value he fixt upon him? The Merchant answer'd, Thy designe is sure to embase the value of my Commodities; thou hast declin'd the Fairest to take the most Mishapen. But Xanthus desirous of Aesop, demanded again seriously his price of the Merchant. Which being discover'd, the Scholars disburs'd it, and Xan­thus took him into possession. Whereupon the Publicans came and inquired who had Sold? But they were all asham'd to reply, the Bargain was so cheap and despicable. On which Aesop cryed out, That is the Seller, and this the Buyer; If they will not assert their own Contract, I am Free. At which the Publicans smil'd, and the others de­parted.

As Aesop accompanyed Xanthus home, a necessity of Nature caused Xanthus to raise up his Gown, and urine; which Aesop perceiving, caught him by the Gown, and desired him to Sell him, otherways he should Escape. Why so? replyed Xanthus. Because (says he) I shall never be able to Serve such an indulgent Master who will not contribute some time to Ease nature, but vents his Ʋrine as he goes: If such an accident should happen to me, your Servant, when I am en­gag'd in business, my necessity would oblige me to vent my Ordure as I fly. Does this so much discompose you? said Xanthus; To decline three Evils I vent my Ʋrine as I pass; for had I stood still, the Sun had scorched my Head, the parched Earth had burnt my Feet, and the odour of my Ʋrine had offended my Nostrils. Aesop replyed, Advance Sir, I am satisfied.

[Page 9]When they were approached near Xanthus his house, the Philosopher commanded Aesop to stay in the Porch, lest so deformed an object should discompose his Wife, who had a nice and curious Eye; Xanthus entered and thus accosted his Wife; Mistriss, You shall have no cause for the future whereon to establish any discontent, for there is now a Servant in the Porch, in whose person there doth concur so many amiable features as ever Eye shed a beam upon. The Maids charm'd into a belief of the truth of it, enter [...]d into contention which of them should first oblige him. The Wife of Xanthus commanded one of them to sum­mon him to appear. As soon as Aesop heard her call, he prepared himself to enter: But the Maid, amaz'd at so prodigious a Deformity, cry'd out, Art thou He? Yes sure, said Aesop. Enter not into the house, reply'd she, unless thou intendest a frighted Family should all dislodge. Aesop came in and appear'd before his Mistress; whom when she beheld, she applyed her self to Xanthus, saying, What Prodigie has here accompanied you? Disband him in­stantly; urging farther, that in this action of his he had so disoblig'd her, that she desired him that he would return that down with which before she had inrich'd him, and she would abandon that unhappy Mansion. On this Xanthus rebuk'd Aesop, who had discovered so much Ingenuity before, and was so silent now. Throw her into Hell, said Aesop. Away with you Villain, replyed he, my Love and my Life is so incorporated into hers, as if one Heart did only manage two Bodies. At which Aesop stamping, cry'd out, that Xanthus was subjected to the dominion of his Wife: and turning to his Mistress, said he, Would you have had Xanthus offered up to your service a Servant young, vigorous and comely, which might have beheld you naked when you entered into the Bath, and engaged in a nearer dalliance with you, to the obloquy and disgrace of severer Philosophy? O [Page 10]Euripides! how well hast thou asserted? Great is the Effort of the Sea when its waves swell into Sedition, and Obey no Law; and the flame or impression of Devouring fire: Poverty is a ruinous condition, and there are many things intollerable, but nothing to ballance an Impetuous woman. You being the Wife of a Philosopher, should not be attended by such persons as should contract a disrepute upon Philosophy it self. She being not able to contradict or oppose what he had asserted, ask'd Xanthus where he had purchased this Beauty? The hand­somness of his Ingenuity doth recompense the deformity of his person; my dislike of him is extinguished. Your Mistress (said Xanthus to Aesop) is now at peace with you. Aesop irroni­cally replyed, 'Tis a difficult matter sure to appease a woman. For the future (urg'd Xanthus) be silent; I bought you to Obey, not to Contradict.

The Day following Xanthus going to the Garden to buy Herbs, commanded Aesop to accompany him; which when the Gardener had gather'd, he entrusted them to Aesop: and when Xanthus had defray'd their price, the Gardener demanded of Xanthus, what was the natural Reason that the Herbs which he planted did not improve with that quick and active Growth, as those which were of her voluntary production? Xanthus not able to extricate this Question, thus replyed, that it thus hapned from that order and series of Providence that threaded together inferiour Causes and their Effects. At which Aesop (being present) smil'd. Do you deride me? said Xanthus. I laugh at you, answer [...]d he, and not you onely, but him that taught you. Let me unwinde this Question. On which Xanthus addressing himself to the Gardener, said, It is not fit for me who have disputed in learned Auditories, to unravel Questions in a Garden, my Servant here present will dissolve the Difficulty of your Question propounded. Is there any knowledge treasur'd up in this sordid vessel? urg'd the Gardener. At which [Page 11] Aesop incens'd, demanded of the Gardener this Question; When a Widow is engag'd in second Nuptials, she is Mother to the Issue of her first Mariage, but Step-mother to the Pro­geny of her second Husband: Those Children to whom by the proper Obligations of Nature her Affections are entituled, she affects and values much more, then those to whom she is a Mo­ther only by accidental relation: So is it here, the Earth is a Step­mother to those Plants which are incorporated into her wombe by Art, but a Mother to those which are of her own free production. The Gardener much satisfied with this Reply, enjoyn'd him, when his occasions guided him to his Gar­den, without any retribution, freely to collect those Herbs he wanted, as the recompense of his dextrous Solution of the Question.

After some days were expir'd, Xanthus being gone to Bathe, where he mingled with some Friends, commanded Aesop to repair to his House, and instantly boil some Len­tills; he went (as he was enjoyn'd) and only boil'd one: when Xanthus had done Bathing, he engaged his Friends to accompany him to Dinner, where he inform'd them that they should find his provision was wrapp'd up in a slender Bill of Fare, namely Lentills; but he was confident they would proportion their entertainment by his affection, not his viands. They all entring his House, Xanthus com­manded Aesop to refresh them with some Beverage, now coming from the Bath. Aesop instantly taking up Water from the Stream of the Bath, presented it to Xanthus; who with disgust and passion resented the ill relish of it, and demanded of him whence he had collected it? From the Bath, said he. Xanthus (because he would not discom­pose his Friends) at present conceal'd his Resentment, and call'd for a Bason; which Aesop having brought, stood over against him. Xanthus ask'd him, Do you not wash? He replyed, It's fit for you to Command, me to Obey: But [Page 12]the putting of water into the Bason was no Ingredient in his Injunction. Upon which Xanthus demanded of his Friends, whether or not he had bought a Servant? They replyed, in their vogue and estimate he had rather purchas'd a Master. When as now they were preparing for Dinner, Xanthus demanded of Aesop whether the Lentills were boil'd? On which he lodges one Lentill in a Cockle-shell, and presents it to his Master: Who making an essay to try if it were sufficiently boil'd, and judging it enough, enjoyn'd Aesop to serve up the residue: who immediately put all the de­cocted water into Saucers, and offer'd it up to Xanthus; who question'd again, where the Lentills were? You have had it already, replyed Aesop. Did you boil but one? ask'd Xanthus. No more Sir, replyed he, since your command that I conducted my Obedience by, did extend only to the Singu­lar, not Plural number. At which Xanthus incens'd, cry'd out, The irregular Follies of this person would disorder one into a Phrensie! That I may not defraud my Friends by any pretended imposture or delusion of their designed Entertainment, instantly go and buy four Hogs-feet, and boil them. Which In­junction of his being cheerfully perform'd by Aesop, as they were boyling, Xanthus desirous to attaque some occasion which might engage him to chastise Aesop, when he was em­bark'd in some other imployment, stole one of the Feet out of the Pot, and conceal'd it. Not long after Aesop came and discover'd but three Feet in the Pot, and (suspecting some clandestine artifice) applyed himself to an adjacent Hog­stie, and there lopped off one of the Legs of a fatted Hog; and having sindg'd off the hair, with it made up the dimi­nish'd number in the Pot. Xanthus conjecturing that Aesop missing the purloin'd Foot, might by Flight attempt to evade his destin'd punishment, again added it to the former. Aesop discovering Five, when he was to serve them up, Xanthus enquir'd what auspicious accident had improv'd them [Page 13]to that number? Aesop replyed, How many Feet have two Hogs? Xanthus answered, Eight. Here then are Five present, said Aesop, and the fatted Hog by the absence of one hath but Three. Whereupon Xanthus (being chaf'd into passion) cryed out to his Friends, Did I not inform you, this Fellow will engage me in a Lunacie? But tracing out no just cause to correct him, the tempest of his anger was mollified into a calm.

The day subsequent to this, one of the Scholars with a liberal Treatment caress'd Xanthus and his Fellow Stu­dents: Whilest they were engag'd at this Banquet, Xan­thus transmitted a choyce Dish to Aesop, and enjoyn'd him to present it to Her that Affected Him best. Whilest Aesop was going to perform his message, he consider'd that now an opportunity was offer'd to recompense that Regret and Contempt with which his Mistriss entertain'd him at his first Arrival. And approaching the House, he sate down in the Porch, and then call'd his Mistriss, discovering to her the Dish he was intrusted with, and thus address'd himself to her; Mistris (said he) my Master hath devoted this present to her who loves him best; not to you. Then calling his Masters Bitch Lycaena, cast it to Her, and bid Her eat that which Xanthus had presented to Her. Then returning to his Master, Xanthus ask'd him, whether he had offered up the present to her who lov'd him best. All of it, said he; and she swallow'd it in my presence. Xanthus enquir'd what She said? Nothing to me, reply'd he; but to you, She refunds the tribute of her Thanks. Xanthus his Wife entertain'd this cheap Neglect with that Resentment, that she vow'd to abandon his House. In the mean space, whilest the Scholar and his Philosophical Guests were warm with wine, one demanded, which should be the time of the greatest Disorder amongst Mortals? Aesop (standing behind) re­ply'd, When the Dead arise, and attempt to trace out their [Page 14]ancient possessions. The Scholars smiling at his ingenuous Solution; another demanded, why Sheep die so calmly, and Swine with that offensive noyse and clamour? The Sheep (answer'd he) are usually milk'd and shorne, and so are silent; and when they view the Knife, expect by Instinct nothing but what was customary: But Swine, who have not been habi­tuated to these exercises, when they suffer the impression of the Knife, die with an harsh and ingrateful outcry. The Scho­lars charmed with these Answers, were melted into Mirth and Laughter. After Supper was expir'd, Xanthus re­turn'd to his House, and (according to former usage) address'd himself with much complacence to his Wife: But she accosted his application with passion and con­tempt, urging that he should return her, her Dower, and not court her with any of his Approaches, since he had consecrated his Dainties to his Bitch. Xanthus astonish'd with a damp and amazement of spirit, ask'd if she had not received his intended present? But she attested the Powers above it was not sent to her, but his Bitch. Xanthus (calling Aesop) demanded to whom he had offer'd the above-mentioned Mess? He replyed, To your Beloved. Whereupon cal­ling the Bitch, This is she (said he) that most constantly entitles her Affections to you; for though you load her with stripes, and discard her your house, yet still she returns both to fawn upon you, and accompany you. Your Instructions ought to have directed your present to your Wife, not your Be­loved. You are now convinc'd, Mistriss, said Xanthus, that it was not my Crime, but his, that your Present miscarri'd: Sustain with patience this Misfortune, and I shall trace out some opportunity to make Aesop 's Punishment as signal as his Neglect. But this not charm'd his Wife, who (enraged at this affront) departed to her Father: which caus'd Aesop to triumph, saying, Now Sir, you discover more evident symptoms of Affection in your Bitch towards you, than in my Mistriss.

[Page 15] Aesop seeing his Master engag'd in a gloomy Melancholy, contracted from the departure of his Mistriss; and secondly her Refusal (though much importun'd) to return, ad­dress'd himself to Xanthus, and told him he would weave some Artifice by which next day he would retrive her; and therefore desir'd he would dispell that sullen Cloud that dwelt about him: Then taking Money he went into the Market, where having loaded himself with Hens and Geese, as though they were to furnish out some Nuptial Feast, with this Feather'd stock he passed by that House which had receiv'd his Mistriss, pretending an Ignorance that it was the Mansion of her Father; and accosting one of the Servants, he demanded of him, whether there was any thing there to sell that might improve the magnificence of a Wedding Banquet? The Servant enquired whose Mariage it was designed for? Aesop reply'd, Xanthus the Philoso­pher to morrow celebrates his second Nuptials. The Servant immediately gave Intelligence of this whole affair to Xan­thus his Wife. As soon as she had receiv'd this disastrous report, born on the wings of Anger and Jealousie, she flew to Xanthus his House, and there with a shrill accla­mation did assure him, that no second Espousals of his should be built up, or establish'd, but upon her Urn. Thus Aesop who was the occasion of her angry Departure, was the cause of her hasty and eager Return.

Not long after Xanthus by a new Invitation summon'd his Scholars to a Dinner, and enjoyn'd Aesop to furnish his Table with the best and choycest Viands. VVhilest he was going about to perform his Masters Injunction, he was likewise designing by what Artifice he might intimate his Masters folly: Therefore when he had disburs'd his money in Hogs-Tongues, he serv'd them up, improved with a poynant Sauce, to Dinner. The Scholars much commen­ded the Dish, which had furnish'd out an occasion for [Page 16]Discourse; but the Ingredients which compos'd the second and third Course, were still Tongues. At which the Guests being astonish'd, their Amazement engag'd Xan­thus to enquire of Aesop, if there was nothing to re-enforce this Entertainment, but Tongues? Aesop replyed, Nothing else. Thou Lump of Deformitie, urg'd Xanthus, my Com­mands did engage you to prepare the most obliging Dainties. Sir, (said Aesop) your Reproof before Philosophers does exact my Retribution of Thanks. What does out-paralel the Tongue? This is the great Chanel by which the most refined Learning, and polish'd Philosophy is conducted down to us: By this noble engine or organ, Addresses, Commerce, Contracts, Caresses, Eulogies and Mariages, are completely establish'd; on this moves Life it self, therefore Nothing to be thrown into ballance with the Tongue. The Scholars (departing) asserted, that the Philosophy of Aesop had outvied that of Xanthus.

Not long after, the Scholars upbraiding Xanthus with his Disservice and Imposture, he replyed, It was not his Designe, but the Artifice of a Perverse and Refractory Ser­vant: But I now (says he) have wav'd my first Injunction, and as I then enjoyn'd Aesop to buy the best for Dinner, so I now command him to collect the worst of Meats for Supper. But Aesop (constant to his first purpose) furnish'd out the Treatment with no other Viands but Tongues again. Xanthus (observing the Discontent that was writ in visible characters on the Faces of his Guests, because they beheld both the second and third Course to be made up of nothing else but Tongues) being incens'd at Aesop, demanded of him how he had now obeyed his commands, which did direct him to furnish his Table with the worst of Meats? Aesop replyed, he had exactly pursued his Directions; for what was worse then the Tongue? Does not the Ruine of Empires and Cities, and the Destruction of private Interests entitle it self often to its [Page 17]Miscariages? Is it not the Forge of Calumnies and Perjuries? In brief, is not the whole contexture of Life disorder'd fre­quently by its exorbitancies? When the Scholars had heard Aesop's Reply, they affirm'd, that the Crookedness of his Body, was but the Transcript of his distorted and irregular Manners; and gave Xanthus a caution, that these Extra­vagancies of Aesop did not engage him in a Phrensie. To which Aesop answer'd, that they discover'd the Symptoms of Malice, in being Incendiaries between the Master and his Servant.

Xanthus (desirous by just Revenge to expiate these Affronts) sought to trace out some cause which might supply him with an opportunity to punish Aesop, and immediately commanded him (since he had accus'd them of too busie a curiosity) to seek out a man that regarded Nothing. The next day Aesop traversing the streets, dis­cover'd a man sitting in a negligent and regardless posture, without any consideration or reflection on the state of Things. Him Aesop accosted, and desir'd him he would accompany his Master at Dinner. The Clown (without demanding the name of the person who made the invita­tion) followed Aesop, and entring the House of Xanthus, approach'd his Table in his sordid Habit: Which engag'd him to demand of Aesop the condition of his new Guest? He replyed, it was a person Regardless. Xanthus intima­ted to his Wife, she should perform any thing which he required, that he might arrest an occasion to stablish his Revenge on Aesop: whereupon he enjoyn'd his Wife to wash the Strangers feet; for he beleev'd the bashful nicety of the Stranger would have refused it. On which she taking a Bason of water, and preparing to wash, the Clown (regardless of her condition) stretch'd out his feet, that she might perform that servile office; and after her Task was accomplish'd, applyed himself to Dinner. [Page 18] Xanthus enjoyn'd a Goblet of wine should be presented to the Stranger, which he (regardless of any priority in Drinking) soon quaff'd off. When his Mess was offer'd up to him, Xanthus complained it was not well season'd, and chastis'd the Cook for that Neglect. The Clown (without any Resentment of the Punishment of the Cook) said, the Dish was very well accommodated to the relish of his Palate. Xanthus (troubled that nothing could discompose the Rustick) commanded the the Cheese-cakes to be served up; which the Clown, with­out any reflection on the other Guests, demolish'd and de­vour'd. Xanthus reviled the Neglect of the Baker, that had not mingled Hony and Pepper in the composition of his Cheese-cakes. The Baker replyed, the Guilt of that Crime was to be lodg'd on his Mistris, not on him. Xanthus incens'd, said, that if the Neglect could be properly entitled to his Wife, she should expiate her offence, by being burned; and immediately assay'd to make his Wife an Oblation to a prepared Fire, beleeving the Clown would have attem­pted her Rescue from so calamitous a Fate. But he obser­ving no cause that might produce so prodigious a passion, desired Xanthus to respite his Wifes Tragedie, until he had brought his Wife likewise, who might be offered up a Sacrifice in the same Flames with Her. Xanthus obser­ving the negligence and regardless simplicity of the man, acknowledg'd that Aesop had punctually trac'd out his Injunctions, and in that atchiev'd a signal conquest, the subsequent Effects of which should be his sudden Free­dome.

The next day Xanthus enjoyn'd Aesop to go to the Bath, and inform him what company had prepossessed it: whilest he was going speedily to perform his commands, he acco­sted the City-Praetor; who knowing him to be Xanthus his Servant, demanded whether his Journey tended? Aesop [Page 19]answered, be knew not; beleeving the Praetor had not observ'd him. But the Praetor (incens'd at his peremptory Reply) commanded that a Prison should be the reward of his contempt. VVhilest he was hurrying away, Aesop cryed out, Oh Praetor! you see now the Integrity of my Answer, that I was going I knew not whether, since I am now destin'd to Fetters. The Praetor charm'd with his ingenuous Reply, dismissed him. Afterwards Aesop addressing him­self to the Bath, saw a great Stone to obstruct and inter­cept the passage; at which many stumbled, both entring in and coming out: only one person that was preparing to enter the Bath, laid it aside. Aesop returning, inform'd Xan­thus that he discovered only one person in the Bath. Xan­thus arriving, and beholding this One improved to a Mul­titude, demanded upon what grounds his false Information was built? Aesop replyed, A great Stone clogg'd the entrance into the Bath, whereat many stumbled, only one removed the obstacle; so that there was only one man appear'd, the residue being such cheap and despicable objects, that they stood for cyphers. Not long after Xanthus disburdening Nature by Seige, demanded of Aesop, why when men had evacua­ted their Excrements, they look'd back upon their Ordure? Aesop answered, In times foregoing a man of great effeminacy did so long engage himself in the House of Easement, that his Heart and Ordure were vented together: From that com­mencement of circumstances, men have curiously beheld their Excrements, fearing lest the Heart should be mingled with the evacuated Ordure. But Sir (said Aesop) you need not dread that this Misfortune should accrue to you, since you have no Heart at all.

Not long after a determinate day was design'd for pub­lique Festivity, by Xanthus and other Philosophers; and when they were suppled into an irregular Mirth, with excess of wine, some Questions were winnow'd, which [Page 20]chaf'd Xanthus into the disorder of a passion. Which Aesop observing, said, Master, Bacchus is the parent of three temperaments; the first of Voluptuousness, the second of Intemperance, the third of Calumny or Reproach; of which you being engag'd in Drink, should take a cautious view. Xanthus being now deeply ingulph'd in wine, one of the Scholars demanded of him, whether it were not feasible to Drink off the Sea? Very easie, replyed Xanthus, I will engage to perform it my self. On which the other enter'd a Wager with him, which was fortified by the reciprocal deposition of both their Rings, and so departed. The day following, when the fumes of wine were evaporated, Xanthus missing his Ring, desired Aesop to give him an account of its loss. I know not, said Aesop, but this I am confident of, you must dislodge from this House, since yesterday being infatuated with the vapours of wine, you engag'd your whole patrimony in a solemn covenant to Drink off the Ocean; and to secure the Wager, you depos'd your Ring. Xanthus replyed, What could I engage less? But can you discover any artifice by which I may either accomplish this Engagement, or else eva­cuate the Obligation of it. To perform it (said Aesop) is impossible; but how to untie it, I shall now demonstrate: When you meet again, assert the performance of your Engagement with as much confidence as you did when you first wag'd it. Com­mand a Table to be plac'd on the Shore, and persons prepar'd to lave the Ocean into Cups; and when the multitude assembles, demand before them what was the purport of the Wager? The Reply will be, that you should Drink up the Sea. Then ap­plying your self to them, thus declare: You Citizens of Samos, you are not ignorant that many Rivers disembogue themselves into the Sea; my Covenant was to Drink up the Ocean, and not those Streams which disgorge themselves into it: If you can so obstruct their course, that they may not discharge themselves into it, I am ready to quaffe it off. Xanthus [Page 21]receiv'd the Instructions of Aesop with complacence and resignation, and affirm'd, This was the only Expedient to unravel his Engagement. The People then assembling to behold the Performance of the Covenant, Xanthus acted and said as Aesop had instructed him; for which he was both admired and applauded: But the Scholar prostra­ting himself at the Feet of Xanthus, acknowledged him­self subdued, imploring him to dissolve the Wager; which Xanthus (softned by the united Desires of the Samians) did.

Upon the return of Xanthus to his Habitation, Aesop intimated to him how much be had merited his Freedome: but Xanthus appear'd warp'd with passion, that he should no more confide in his Promise; and immediately he com­manded him to stand at the Dore, and observe if he could view two Crowes, and then inform him, for it was an auspicious and successeful Omen; but if he beheld but one, it was as un­happy and disastrous. Aesop return'd, and inform'd him, he saw two perch'd on a Tree: But when Xanthus went out to discover the Truth of his Information, he could view but one, the other being dislodg'd; on which he accosted Aesop with the ingrateful character of uncouth Villain, be­cause he had asserted there were two; urging farther, that his whole Design was to make him the cheap object of contempt and derision; which repeated Affronts of his should be now expiated with a meritorious Scourge. As Aesop was groaning under the pressure of inflicted stripes, one enter'd who was summon'd by an invitation of Xanthus to Supper; to whom Aesop thus applyed himself, saying, in a sad Accent, You that beheld one Crowe are rewarded with a Supper, and I that discover'd two, as a Result of that portentous Omen, am re­compens'd with an undeserved Scourge. Which ingenuous Addresse of his so softned Xanthus, that he enjoyn'd his punishment should be superseded.

[Page 22] Xanthus desirous to obliege some Friends by an Enter­tainment, employ'd Aesop to buy in those Provisions which might improve the Grandeur of the Feast: which being by him exactly perform'd, and Dinner being prepar'd and serv'd in, Aesop discover'd his Mistriss engaged in Repose and Slumber on a Couch, whom he a waken'd, and requested to secure the Meat from the rapine of the Dogs; to which (being incens'd) she replyed, she had eyes behind that would shed their cautious Glances on the Provision. Aesop having fully marshall'd the Feast, endevoured to attaque an opportu­nity to retort; and instantly after viewing his Mistriss to be again wrapp'd up in a slumber, made a soft address to the Couch, and heaving up her Garment, disrob'd her un­comely Parts. Not long after Xanthus enter'd with a Retinue of Guests, and beholding his Wife situated in that undecent Posture, was discompos'd at once both with shame and regret.

Not many dayes after, Xanthus (designing to caresse many Philosophers and Orators) enjoyn'd Aesop to stand Centinel at the Gate, and give Admission to none but the graver and severer Sages, but to exclude all illiterate per­sons. Not long after several persons successively approch'd to the Gate, requesting Admittance: all whom, Aesop did severally obviate with this Question, What stirs the Dog? who all believing the contemptible character of Dog was fix'd upon them, departed with Resentment and Passion. At last one addressing himself to the Gate, was accosted with this Question, What stirs the Dog? To which he replyed, His Ears and Tail. Aesop judging his Answer to be acute and apposite, gave him Entrance, and accom­panied him to his Master, saying, There was only one Philosopher had desired Admittance. Xanthus resented it with Regret, that his Invitation should be thus frustrated and undervalued by the cheap neglect of his Friends. The [Page 23]Day following, when they assembled at the Schools, the designed Guests reproach'd Xanthus with that dis-esteem and contempt he had thrown upon them, in permitting that uncouth person Aesop, when they approach'd the Gate, to accost them with the despicable Attribute of Dogs? On which Xanthus demanded, if they were serious? They replyed, Ʋnless they were charm'd into a Sleep, that which they now declar'd was established upon a serious Truth. Aesop being summon'd to appear, was demanded by Xanthus, what had tempted him thus to traduce and reproach his friends? To which he replyed, Sir, Did you not enjoyn that no unlearned or vulgar Heads, but only Philosophers should have Admission to your Entertainment? And what are these, (said Xanthus) do they not merit that Character? No wayes, answered Aesop; For when they applied themselves to your Gate, and I de­manded of them, What stirs the Dog? Not one attempted to untie the Question with a Solution but departed; Therefore I admitted none but this Person, who dissolv'd my Question with a proportionate Answer. Upon this Reply of Aesop's, all present concenter'd in one Vote, that Aesop had exactly been subservient to the Injunctions of Xanthus.

Not many Dayes after, Xanthus (accompanied with Aesop) went to visit the Monuments, and with much De­light read the several Inscriptions endors'd on the Tomb­stones. Aesop viewing these Letters, sc. α β δ ο ε θ χ regi­ster'd in Sculpture on one of them, shew'd them to Xanthus, and inquir'd of him what was their Intent or Pur­port? But he after a serious Inquisition, did acknowledge he was not able to unveil their latent sense. Master, (urg'd Aesop) if by the Conduct of these Characters I shall trace out a concealed Treasure, what Reward shall ballance so rich a Discovery? Be confident (replyed Xanthus) thy Free­dome, and the Moiety of the Purchase shall be thy Guer­don. Then Aesop ripping up the Earth a Distance of [Page 24]four Feet from the Sepulchral Stone, discover'd a Trea­sure, which he offer'd up to Xanthus, and then demanded that Recompense which was before secur'd to him by a signal promise. No sure (said Xanthus) not until I can unravel the cloudy sense of the Letters; the knowledge of which will by its value out-poise the discover'd Treasure. Aesop (to disperse all scruple) instructed him, that a prudent person had engraven those Letters, whose Sense did import thus much; α going β paces δ foure ο digging ε thou shalt find θ a Treasure χ of Gold. Xanthus replyed, Thy Sagacity will more improve my Interest than thy Freedome can thine, and therefore it shall be respited. Then (rejoyn'd Aesop) I will discover that the propriety of the Gold is entitled to the King of Bizantium; for it is treasur'd here up for Him. How discover you this? said Xanthus. The Inscription intimates thus much, replyed he: α restore β to the King δ Dionysius ο which ε thou hast found θ Treasure χ of Gold. When Xanthus understood the King was concern'd in the disco­ver'd purchase, he requested Aesop to divide with him the moiety of the Treasure, as the Reward of his Silence. Aesop replyed, This I receive not as the Effect of your Bounty, but rather of his who conceal'd the Gold; for this is the genuine and orthodox sense of the Letters, α taking β go your way δ divide ο which ε you have found θ the Treasure. Xanthus replyed, Come depart; the Moiety of the Gold, and your Freedome too, shall be your united Recompense. As they were upon their Retreat, Xanthus (dreading a Discovery from Aesop) enjoyn'd he should be dragg'd to Prison. Whilest they were hurrying him away to his designed Thraldome, Aesop cryed out, Do the solemn Promises of Philosophers, and the specious Intimations of Liberty, determine thus in Prisons and Fetters? On which importunate Clamour of his Xanthus order'd his Release, saying, he had urg'd the Truth, though he was confident when he had atchiev'd his Free­dome, [Page 25]he would amass those Designs together which might prejudice his Concernment. Aesop replyed, Maugre all your mischievous and malicious Artifices, I will obtain my En­franchisement.

On a Day, which the Citizens of Samos had devo­ted to Festivity, and other Improvements of a general Mirth, an Eagle in his Flight snatch'd up the Publique Ring, and dropp'd it into the Lap of a Slave. The Samians amaz'd at this ostentful Accident, consulted with Xanthus, he being both a learned Philosopher and an eminent Citizen, being inquisitive to understand what would be the effects of this remarkable Prodigy? But Xanthus (searching into the Time when it happened) was engaged in a dull and unactive Melancholy, because he could not untwist the Mysterie of it. Aesop beholding Xanthus so discom­posed, addressed himself to him, and enquir'd what was the cause of so gloomy a Pensivenesse? To Morrow (when you appear in publique) declare to the Samians, that you are not dextrous in untying the knotty sense of Mysteries, but that you have a Servant that can unwind the Intrigues of them; and when this shall be untwisted, the Honour shall redound to you: But if the Solution shall not be adaequate to this Portent, the Infamy and Obloquie shall be only thrown on me, as either the Author or Abettor of such a distorted Interpretation. To this Advice of Aesop, Xanthus assen­ted, and the next Day inform'd the Samians what Aesop had both suggested and prescrib'd. On which Aesop was produc'd: but when the Samians view'd the disobliging Features of his Face, and Lineaments of his Person, they with Derision and Contempt entertain'd him, and smiling, demanded, Whether a Person of so unconcern'd an Aspect, could untie so mysterious a Portent, by a just Solution? Aesop waving his Hand, enjoyn'd Silence, and replyed, You Citizens of Samos, you should not only [Page 26]view the Frontispiece of the House, but the Tenant likewise that is lodg'd within; for frequently, an even and compos'd Soul dwells in an uneven and disorder'd Body; for you know Men set not their value upon the exteriour Figure of the Cask, but upon the Wine concealed within. Hearing this candid and modest Discovery, they desired to receive his farther Application to the City. Then he confidently address'd Himself to the Publique, and made this Harangue or Pre­face to what he should unravel, saying; You Samians, since Fortune, that still engages us in reciprocal Contests, now propounds the glory of a Victory, either to the Master or Ser­vant: If the Servant shall not unveil those Mysteries that lye wrapp'd up in this signal Accident, let stripes be the Recompense of his confident Imposture; but if the Master be outvied by his Discovery, let his Freedome be the Re­ward of so solemn a Performance. Then the Suffrage of the People was, that Xanthus should give Aesop his Free­dome, and gratifie them in complyance. With this request ( Xanthus replying not) the City Praetor rejoyn'd; Xanthus, If you will not in this be subservient to the re­quests of the Samians, I shall this instant declare Aesop free, and then he will be corrival to thy self. Hereupon Xanthus (warp'd with so great an Authority) pronoun­ced Aesop free. On which the City Cryer proclaim'd, That Xanthus the Philosopher had given Aesop his En­franchisement. Aesop instantly retorted on Xanthus, saying, That now (despight of all his malicious Engins) he had at­cheived his Freedome. Aesop being now Enfranchised, thus accosted the People; You Citizens of Samos, The Eagle (you know) is Monarch of Birds, and whereas the Publique Ring was dropp'd into the Lap of a Servant, it seems to insinuate, that some of the adjacent Kings will attempt to supplant your established Laws, and entombe your Liberty in Slavery. The Samians hearing this, were [Page 27]astonish'd with Melancholy. Not long after Letters arriv'd from Croesus of Lydia, requiring the Samians to en­rich his Exchequer with an annual Tribute, or else prepare to suffer the calamities of a destructive War. On which they embark'd in a publique Consultation, how they might decline that Shipwrack of their Lawes and Li­berties, which was menac'd by Croesus; and endevour'd to strengthen it with the advice of Aesop, who thus dire­cted them. Our Fortune (said he) hath represented to us a double expedient; one of Liberty, which in the beginning is rough and difficult, but in the Issue smooth and easie; another of Thraldome, whose beginning is easie, but the conclusion fatal and ruinous. When the Samians heard this, they all affirm'd, That as at present they were free, so they and their Liberty would find one Tomb together, and with this generous Reply dismiss'd the Embassadors; which so soon as Croesus was advertised of, he determin'd to engage in a War with the Samians. On which his Embassadors instructed him, He could not subdue the Samians as long as they were supported by the Counsel of Aesop; rather (they advis'd him) first to send for Aesop, with a promise that the exacting of Tribute should be suspended, and then per­adventure he might reduce them. Croesus complyed with their Instructions, and sent to Samos for Aesop, baiting the Embassie with the former promise. The Samians charm'd with this soft Address, decreed to surrender him; who when he understood it, unbosom'd himself in this Declaration, saying, You Citizens of Samos, I am ready to prostrate my self at the feet of Croesus, but first I will rehearse one Apologue to you. In elder Times when Beasts had speech, the Wolves commenc'd a war against the Sheep, but the Sheep were secur'd by the generous protection of the Dogs; on which the Wolves employ'd an Embassie to the Sheep, the purport of which was, that if they desir'd [Page 28]the War should be wound up in an amicable Peace, they should resigne their Dogs; the timorous and unwary Sheep assented to this Demand, and gave up their Protectors: The Wolves immediately destroyed the Dogs, and then made the Sheep a cheap and easie Sacrifice. The Samians unveiling the sense of this Apologue, determin'd positively not to offer up Aesop: But he would not permit them to pursue this Reso­lution, but accompanyed the Embassadors to Croesus.

They arriving in Lydia, offer'd up Aesop to the view of the King; whom when Croesus beheld, he resented it with indignation, that so despicable a person, should by his counsel rescue Samos from his intended Conquest. Aesop (observing his Resentment) answer'd; Mighty Sir, Since neither Force nor Necessity, but only the conduct and propensity of my owne Will and Genius, hath engag'd my voluntary Surrender, I request this Apologue may be offer'd up to your Majesties Ear. ‘A certain man having gather'd up many Locusts, kill'd them; and having also surpris'd a Grass­hopper, whom he design'd to destroy; she thus bespoke him; Sir, Do not kill me, for I am no ways destructive or injurious to the Interest of Man, since in me you discover nothing but the accents of those Ayrs with which I charm into soft and easie slumber the wearied Traveller. He mollified with this Address, dismiss'd her.’ Thus I (Oh King!) prostrating my self before your feet, desire my Life may be the monument of your Mercy, since it cannot be prejudicial to any man; and in this rumpell'd Body, you shall find an even Soul. Croesus (warp'd at once both with Amazement and Pity) replyed; Aesop, Not only thy Life, but a Donation of a For­tune also, shall be the testimony of my Benificence: Demand therefore what you please, and it shall be crown'd with my Con­cession. May it then comply with thy pleasure (Oh King!) to wrap up your Animosities against the Samians in an amicable Reconciliation. The King replying, I am reconcil'd, he [Page 29]prostrated himself on the Earth, and with the Humility of his Body, offer'd up his most humble Thanks.

Aesop having received Letters from Croesus full of the soft Intimations of Peace, accompanyed with a Release of the menaced Tribute; he not long after arriv'd at Samos, where the Citizens (having their Heads adorn'd with Garlands) made their Addresses with Dancing to him. He opened the Letters, which specified that the King had made a free Concession both of Liberty and Tribute to them. On which Aesop (as a testimony of Reward for such a signal performance) was once more honour'd with a publick Indenization or Enfranchisement. Not long after he departed from Samos, and traversing the World, engag'd in Disputes with several Philoso­phers, till at last he arriv'd at Babylon; where having demon­strated solemn Evidences of his Learning, he had much entitled himself to a high repute in the opinion of King Lycerus; and in those Times (Kingdomes being knit to­gether in an amicable Peace) their delight was to transmit Philosophical Questions mutually to each other; which whosoever could unravel, receiv'd a Release of Tribute from him that sent them.

Aesop unveiling those Problems which were offer'd up to Lycerus, discover'd their latent Sense, and so improv'd the Reputation of the King. And Aesop (in the Name of Lycerus) transmitted Questions of the same complexion to the adjacent Kings; which being unresolved, obtain'd an Increase of Tribute from those who could not untie them. Now Aesop (being Childless) had adopted a Noble-man call'd Eunus as Heir of his Patrimony, and sought to endear him to the Favor of the King: But not long after (having deprehended him mingled in unlawful Embraces with his Concubine) he exauthoriz'd his first Adoption, and dis­carded him. He incens'd at his act, forg'd supposititious [Page 30]Letters from Aesop to those who mov'd the former Philoso­phical Questions to Lycerus; which Letters intimated his Alacrity to perform Services rather to them than the King; and these Eunus offer'd up to Lycerus, seal'd with the sub­borned signature of Aesop's Ring.

The King (resigning his Belief up to the Imposture of Eunus) incensed, enjoyn'd Hermippus, without any win­nowing of Circumstances, to deprive Aesop of Life. But he (being knit to Aesop in a private confederacy of friendship) declin'd the rigor of the Kings commands, and conceal'd Aesop in a Sepulchre, and there supported him with nou­rishment. Eunus also by the Kings permission was invested in Aesop's Patrimony.

Not long after, Nectenabo King of Egypt (informed that Aesop was dead) sent a Letter to Lycerus, requiring Artificers who could erect a Tower which should neither touch Earth or Heaven; and one that could resolve all that was demanded: Which if he perform'd, then he should offer up Tribute; but if he did not accomplish it, then he should exact it of him. Lycerus having view'd this Demand, was engag'd in Melancholy, since none could discover to him what the Question that related to the Tower could import. On which the King cryed out, Aesop the Pillar of my Kingdome is by death crush'd into ashes! Hermippus beholding the King with so much Resentment to deplore the loss of Aesop, applyed himself to Lycerus, and inform'd him Aesop had surviv'd his rigorous commands; adding, that even for his Concernment he had not destroy'd him; because he was confident his Death would by himself be entertain'd with Regret and Remorse.

The King rejoycing that Aesop was not offer'd up an obla­tion to his severer Injunctions, he was produc'd before him all bespatter'd with the dirt of the Sepulchre: whom when he beheld, with compassionate reflections, he commanded [Page 31]to be assoil'd from his contracted pollution. After Aesop having supplanted those Grounds on which his former Accusation was establish'd, the King enjoyn'd that Eunus (to expiate his ingrateful Forgeries) should fall a Sacri­fice to Justice. But the pardon of his Life was the effect of Aesop's Intercession.

Not long after a Letter arriv'd from Egypt, which Lycerus gave up to Aesop's perusal; who knowing how to untwist the propounded Questions, desir'd that this Re­ply might be dispatch'd away; That after Winter was ex­pir'd, one should be employ'd, who should not only erect the Tower above-mentioned; but also should cleave in sunder all Demands with a just Solution. The King thereupon dis­miss'd the Egyptian Embassadors, restoring both to Aesop and Eunus their former Demeasnes. The last of which being again united to Aesop's Affection by a second Ado­ption, was accosted by him with these or the like Admo­nitions: My Son, Worship God, and honour the King: make thy Self considerable to thine Enemies, and useful to thy Friends, that by Intercourse and other reciprocal Offices, their Friendship may likewise be enlarged towards thee. Invoke the Powers above, that thine Enemies be Indigent, that they may not offend thee; and thy Friends as opulent, that by the happy supplies of their wealth they may support thee. Be constant to thy Consort, lest thy wandrings cause her to straggle likewise. Be not swift to Speak, but to Hear. Envy not those who do well, since the Malignity of that vice will be most injurious to thy self. So manage thy Domestick affairs, that thou mayst be look'd upon not as a Master, but ador'd as a Benefactor. Be not ashamed to learn better Things. Deposite not thy Secrets in the breast of a Woman, for it will but improve her Insolence. Let every days Stock be the pledge of to morrows Store; for it is better to delegate somewhat to thine Enemies when thou diest, than want for thy Friends when thou livest. Treat [Page 32]those with gentle Salutations who accost thee. Repent not that thou hast been Honest. Discard Parasites and Whisperers. Still act that for which thou mayst have no cause to Repent. These Instructions of Aesop's made so vigorous an Im­pression on Eunus, that being distorted with Compunction and Remorse for his former detested Ingratitnde, it dis­united that vital Ligature which tied his Soul and Body together, and he expir'd in an early Dissolution.

Aesop not long after this employ'd some Fowlers to attaque foure young Eagles; which being surpriz'd, he (by an artificial discipline) taught to waft along young Children in Baskets, and observe them in what they should command. The Winter now expir'd, and Spring approaching, Aesop having made provision for his Jour­ney, transported the Eagles and Children into Egypt; which oblig'd the Admiration of the People of the Coun­trey. Nectenabo being instructed that Aesop was arriv'd; I am surpriz'd, said he, for I was informed that Aesop was dead. The King commanded the day following, that all his Officers should assemble invested in White Robes, and he himself glitter'd with his Royal Attire, and Impe­rial Diadem. When he was plac'd upon his Throne, he commanded Aesop to be produc'd. To what do you assimi­late me, said Nectenabo, and those who surround my Throne? Aesop replyed, You resemble a Vernal Sun, and your Atten­dants a fruitful Harvest. The King showr'd many Favours upon him, as the Reward of his accepted Answer. The day following the King appear'd invested with White, but enjoyned his Retinue to be attir'd with Purple. When Aesop enter'd he demanded the same Question, Aesop replyed, You are an Emblem of the Sun; and those that encircle your Throne, a Type of his effused Beams. Nectenabo enquir'd, What was his opinion in relation to his Kingdome? and whether it was not to be prefer'd beyond that [Page 33]of Lycerus? Do not flatter your self, replyed Aesop; Your Kingdome though it may dart forth a Lustre like the Rayes of the Sun, yet thrown into a competition with his, its splendor would soon languish away into a gloomy Darkness. Ne­ctenabo applauding his Answer, enquir'd, where they were that should erect the Tower? They are ready (said he) if you have design'd the place. The King departing from the City, discovered to him a capacious Plain. Aesop at­tending him, produced the Eagles with the Children lodg'd in Baskets hanging about them, and then furnishing the Children with working Instruments, enjoyn'd them to flye: they being elevated into the Air, demanded Stones, Mortar, and Timber, as the fit Ingredients for Buil­ding. Nectenabo beholding the Children thus transpor­ted by their winged Ministers, said to Aesop, I am deficient in Men that can flye. Aesop replyed, Lycerus is stor'd with such, will you being a Man engage in a Contest with a King corrival with the Gods? Nectenabo acknow­ledg'd himself subdued, but streight assaulted Aesop with another Question, of which he demanded a Solution; saying, I have here Mares, who when they hear the Neighing of the Horses of Babylon, immediately Conceive: If you can dissolve this (said he) accomplish it instantly. Aesop replyed, To Morrow I will untwine your Question. When he was arriv'd at his Lodging, he engag'd some Boyes to Surprize a Cat, and drag her about the City. The Egyptians (that consecrated divine Honours to this Animal) incensed at this irregular Action of his, repor­ted it to the King. Nectenabo summoning Aesop to ap­pear, demanded, If he did not know that the Cat was in the Register of the Egyptian Deities. It was very injurious to King Lycerus, reply'd Aesop; for the last Night it destroy'd that Cock that by shrill Alarums gave him Intelligence how the Night did ebb away. Art thou not asham'd of this False­hood? [Page 34]said the King. How could the Cat in so small an In­terval of time as one Night, transport her self from Egypt to Babylon? Aesop replyed with a smile, And how oh King can the Mares of Egypt, that are divorc'd by so remote a Distance, Conceive upon the Neighing of the Horses of Ba­bylon? The King admir'd his Sagacity, and extoll'd his successeful Genius. Not long after he summoned several Sages from Heliopolis to Skirmish with Aesop in variety of Questions; and when their Disputations were wound up, he refresh'd all with a Banquet. When they were marshall'd at their prepared Feast, one of the Heliopolitans said to Aesop, I am employed by one of our Deities to encounter you with this Demand. You discover too much your Ignorance (said Aesop) by retrenching the Knowledge of one of your Gods, since the Omniscience of the Powers above, cannot be improv'd by our narrow and contracted Notions. A second urg'd this, and desired Aesop would extricate the Sense folded up in it; There is a vast Temple, and a Column supporting twelve magni­ficent Cities, each of which are sustain'd with thirty Raf­ters, which two Women constantly circulate. To this Aesop replyed; The Temple is this World, the Cities the Moneths, the Rafters the Dayes of the Moneth, the Day and Night are the two Women by interchangeable Vicissitudes successe­fully attending each other. The Day following, Nectenabo summoned his Friends to assemble, and said, The Tri­bute to be exacted of us by Lycerus, does entitle it self to the Ingenuity of Aesop. One of them replyed, We will assault him with Questions, which we know not, nor ever heard of. To morrow (said Aesop) I shall unmuffle those also with a Solution; departing therefore he prepared a Schedule, wherein this was engross'd, Nectenabo con­fesses he is indebted a thousand Talents to Lycerus. In the morning he produced this Instrument before the King: [Page 35]But before it was opened, the Friends of Nectenabo did all assert both their Knowledge and Hearing of it before. This candid acknowledgement of yours (said Aesop) does exact the Retribution of my Thanks: Did you ever know or hear that the King of Egypt was indebted to Lycerus a thousand Talents? Nectenabo concluded, saying, Lycerus is for­tunate to have his Kingdome supported by so sagacious a person. And thereupon transmitted the Tribute thus dexterously evicted, dismissing Aesop with much compla­cence and valediction.

Aesop returning to Babylon, digested into a just Narra­tive the whole contexture of those Affairs which had been transacted in Egypt, and with the acknowledg'd Tribute, offer'd it up to King Lycerus; which so endear'd him, that his Commands did enjoyn, that an eminent Statue should be Consecrated to the Glory and Memory of Aesop.

Not long after he determin'd to sail into Greece, and with License obtain'd from the King departed, solemnly attesting that he would again return to Babylon, and there find his Sepulchre.

After he had survey'd all the Provinces of Greece, and by his prudent managery of Affairs, had atchiev'd to himself an eminent Character of Reputation and publique Fame, his desires engag'd him to visit Delphos, the Trea­sury of those Oraculous and Mysterious Dictates, which were entitled to Apollo.

When he was arriv'd at Delphos abovesaid, many re­sign'd up their Ears to his Eloquence, but entertain'd it with slender respect. He therefore beholding them, said, You Citizens of Delphos, you justly resemble the Wood that floats on the surface of the Sea; viewing it afar off, we esteem it of some important concernment; but when it approa­ches, we contemn it: So I, when I was divided by a far [Page 36]distance from your City, did admire you; but my mistake does engage me now to fix upon you the Character of the most useless amongst men. When they heard this, their fears suggested to them, that when he was departed he might cast some disesteem upon them; and therefore they by some artificial snares designed to destroy him: hereupon, ta­king a golden Cup out of Apollo's Temple, they con­ceal'd it amongst Aesop's Baggage; he not resenting their destructive Arts, departed to Phocide; the Delphians pursued him, and there impeach'd him as guilty of the deformed crime of Sacriledge; he disavow'd the Fact; but they untied his Baggage, and there tracing out the Cup, with much Emotion of Spirit discovered it to the City. Aesop unwinding their malicious Stratagems, de­sired, That neither his Life or Liberty might be made an Oblation to their Fury. But they were so far from com­plying with his Request, that they first condemn'd him to a Prison, and then (by an unjust Sentence) to a vio­lent Death. Aesop not able to extricate himself out of these Difficulties in which he was now entangled, de­plored his calamitous Fate amidst his Fetters; whilest he was thus condoling his Misfortune, one (in the Re­gister of his choicest Friends) named Demas, applied himself to him, and implor'd him to discover the cause of so eminent a sorrow. Aesop replyed, A Woman ha­ving newly Enterr'd her Husband, moistned his Ʋrne with her daily Tears; one Plowing not far off, being warm'd into an Affection towards her, abandon'd his Oxen, and addressing himself to the Grave, engaged with her in mu­tual Weeping. She demanded the Occasion of his Tears? Because (replyed he) I have lately entomb'd a Wife sig­nally good, and I find some abatement of Affliction, by opening the Sluces of Sorrow. The same Fate hath atten­ded me, said the Woman. Since we are wrap'd up in [Page 37]the same Calamity (said he) why should not our Bodies be joyn'd in Mariage, aswell as our Misfortunes? since I affect you as a Wife, and thou lovest me as a Husband. Whilest they were engaged in this amorous conference, a Felon (with injurious violence) ravished away his Oxen; repairing home, he determin'd to deplore their Loss with Excess of Tears. The Woman again ac­costing him, said, Do you weep still? Now (replied he) there is a just cause administred that summons forth these showres of Sorrow. So I, that have declin'd many dangers, have now an unhappy occasion for my tears, since I can discover no Art by which I may disentangle my self of this. After this the Delphians approach'd, and drew him from his Confinement towards the verge of a steep and craggy pre­cipice, on which he thus Address'd himself to them; When Beasts did parley, the Mouse being an intimate Fami­liar of the Frog, by an Invitation caress'd her with a Supper in the Store-house of a rich man, where there was variety of Viands, and desir'd that there she would sate her self. After this Entertainment was concluded, the Frog conducted the Mouse to Supper; and that he might not be tir'd or faint with swimming, she with a slender thread link'd his leg to hers: this being performed, they endevour'd to ferry over the stream; but before they were half wafted over, the Mouse was ingulph'd in the Current; who dying, declared, that his Ruine was justly entitled to the Frog; but only some more powerful than themselves, would vindicate his calamitous Tragedy. The Eagle beholding the Mouse dead, and floating on the water, snatching at him, surprizes the Frog likewise, who was united with a string to his leg, and so both became a Dole to his Rapine. Thus I that am ready to fall an untimely Victime to your Injustice, shall not want an Expiation; for all Greece, and Babylon, will concenter in a just Vindi­cation of this my undeserved Tragedy.

[Page 38]But all this had no Influence, and made no Impression upon the barbarous and unrelenting Delphians; and though Aesop shelter'd himself in Apollo's Temple, they dragg'd him thence, without any reverence to that Sanctuary, and conducted him to a ragged Precipice; whither approaching, he thus bespoke them; You Citizens of Delphos, The Hare being pursued by the Eagle, retreated into the Nest of a Hornet: The Hornet implores the Eagle to compassionate the Hare: the Eagle with his wing repulses the Hornet, and destroys the Hare. The Hornet tracing out the Eagles Nest, invaded it, and demolish'd her Eggs. The Eagle (to decline the like Mis­fortune the second time) erects her Nest in an higher Airie. The Hornet pursues her with the same destructive Onsets. The Eagle (ignorant by what Artifice he might evade these injurious Assaults) soars up to Jupiter (whose Bird she is styl'd) and deposites her Eggs the third time, between the knees of the Deity, invoking his preservation and protection of them. The Hornet composing a Ball of Dirt, dropp'd it into the Lap of Jupiter; who not remembring the protected Eggs, shook off them and the Dirt together, destroying those which were intrusted to his patronage and tuition. But when he was informed from the Hornet that this was the Expiation of a former Injury, desirous that the Eagles progeny by these repeated Injuries might not languish into decay, endevour'd that their mutual Feud might be entomb'd in a pacification. But the Hornet being refractory, Jupiter respited the Hatching of the Eagles, till that season the Hornets sally out. And you Citizens of Delphos, contemn not this Deity from whom I have implor'd a Refuge, though his Temple be narrow in its Dimensions.

The Delphians inexpugnable to these Instructions, hur­ried him away to undergoe the fatal Execution of the Sentence. Which when Aesop discover'd, and that no soft complyance could charm them, he made this rough [Page 39]Address unto them; You cruel and obdurate Men; ‘A certain Husband-man growing aged, that had never beheld the City, enjoyn'd his Servants to transport him thither, that before his Decease he might take a prospect of it: whilest he was engag'd in this Expedition, he suffer'd under the anger of an impetuous Storm, which was improv'd by a gloomy darkness, so that the Asses (which conducted the Wagon wherein he was plac'd) erring in their way, guided him to a Precipice; where being upon the verge of an approaching Ruine, he cryed out, Oh Jove! What Injury of mine hath incens'd thee to throw this Misfortune upon me? especially since my Death is entitled not to generous Horses, or active Mules, but to dull and inconsiderable Asses.’ And that's my instant calamity that I am design'd to fall not by persons of worth or estimate, but by the cheapest and ignoblest Dregs of Men.

He now upon the margin of the Precipice, wrapp'd up his last Application in this Apologue: ‘A certain man warp'd with an unnatural Affection towards his Daughter, employed his Wife into the Countrey, and in that Intervall, by an incestuous violence assaults her Virgin-chastity: She cryed out, Father, I could have chose this uncouth crime had been acted by any, rather than by your self, though my perpetual Infamy had been the Result of such illegal Imbraces.’ This I also urge against you, you unjust Delphians: I had rather my Fate had thrown me upon Scylla or Charybdis, or the Syrtes of Africa, than to have offer'd me up to those hands that are now ready to deprive me of Life, by so extrajudicial a violence. I attest the Gods, I die a Martyr to my Innocence, and I doubt not but those celestial Powers will by a just Revenge retaliate this barbarous Assassi­nation.

This said, the Delphians threw him from the Precipice, and he perish'd.

[Page 40]Not long after a destructive Pestilence having made a publique Ravage amongst them, they were inform'd by the Oracle that it was the Expiation of Aesop's unjust Tragedy; wherefore they (to assoil their Guilt) erected over his shatter'd Reliques, a pompous Monument. But the Principals of Greece, and the most prudent Sages, when they were inform'd of this deplorable Ruine, by a serious Discussion review'd this Sanguinary Fact of the Delphians, and by a severe Revenge recompens'd the innocent Effusion of Aesop's Blood.

PLusieurs hommes ont diligiment imployè leur temps a nous Mettre par escrit la nature de choses humaines, et laisser aux Successeurs; Mais Esope, comme ainsi soit qu'il eust la cognoissance des enseignemens moraux, non, sans inspiration divine, semble auoir surpassè pleusieurs d'iceux; car il gaigne les caeurs des auditeurs en les en­seignant entierement par Fables, et ne determinant en rien, ne concluant par raison, n' y alleguant rien des histoires, qué ceux qui sont bien garnis de sens, et raison, rougissoient de penser, ou faire ce que les oyseaux, et Renards ne voudroient faire, ne penser, et d'aduantage de ne s' employer es actions es equelles il feint plusieurs bestes brutales s' estre imployes fort sagement en leur temps, entre lesquelles les vnes ont eschappe plusi­eurs dangers prochains, les autres sont venues a leur attentes, et en ont receu tres grand profit en temps, et lieu. Doncques cestuy cy qui se proposa dans l'esprit l'image de Republique Philosophale, et qui ne mit pas tant la Philosophie dans les paroles, que dans les oeuures, fut natif d'vne Ville Phrygie nommèe Ammorion, et surnommé le Grand, mais il fut de condition servile, ce qui me fait croire ce qui dict Platon en Gorgias estre tres veritable, Plusieurs fois (dit il) la Nature, et la loy sont con­traires entre elles, car Nature auoit donnè l'esprit libre a Esope, mais la loy des hommes auoit mis son corps en servitude, toutesfois elle n' a peu corrompre la liberte de son esprit, mais combien que elle luy transportast le corps en plusieurs lieux, et affaires, elle n' a peu faire remuer l'esprit de son assiette; Or Esope ne fut pas seulement serf, mais le plus laid de tous les hommes de son temps, car il auoit la teste pointuè, le nez plat, le col court, les leuures grosses, il estoit noir, dont il eut le nom d' Esope, car Esope vaut autant á dire, qu' Ethiopien, Auec cela, il estoit ventru, bossu, ayant les pieds torts, parauanture surmontant en deformite le corps de Thersites en Homere, mais le pis du tout qui estoit en luy, c' estoit la parole lente, la voix casse, et auec ce parloit indistinctement, toutes lesquelles causes semblent auoir este cause de sa servitude, car on se fust esbahy, si estant ainsi laid, et deforme, il eut peu euiter la condition seruile, mais jacoit qu' il eust le corps ainsi desfigure, cela ne empeschoit qu'il n' eust naturellement ingenieux, caut, et prompt a toutes sortes des inuentions.

[Page 2] Son Seigneur, pource qu' il le pensoit inutile a tout besongne Domestique, l'envoya a labourer aux champs, ou Esope estant arriue, besongnoit dilige­ment; son Seigneur advisa vn jour d'aller en la metayre pour voir l'oeuure de son nouueau Serviteur; sur ses entrefaits, vn laboureur luy fit vn present de belles et grosses Figues: Le Seigneur, prennant grand plaisir en la beaute de ce fruit, les donna a garder a l'vn de ses valets nommé Agathopus, jusques a tant qu' il retourneroit des estuues. Or comme ainsi fut qu' Esope fut entre en la maison pour quelque necessite, Agathopus, ayant trouue son opportunite, donna tel conseil a l'vn de ses compagnons, Saoulons nous de ces Figues, et si nostre Seigneur les demande, nous tesmoignerons nous deux contre l' Esope qu' il est entre en la maison, nous controuuerons beaucoup des mensonges, car vn seul ne pourra rien contre deux, veu mesmement qu' il n'osera mur­murer par ce qu' il n' a point de probation. Quand ils eurent ainsi conlu, ils commencerent a manger les Figues, et en les mangeant disoient a chacun morceau, Malheur sur toy miserable Esope? Or, nuit approchant, le Maistre estant retourne des estuues, le premier chose qu' il demanda estoit qu' on luy apportast les Figues, et qu' on luy eust dit, qu' Esope les auoit mangees, il commenca a se courroucer, et commanda qu' on luy fist venir Esope, auquel dit, Vienca Malheureux homme, as tu fait si peu de compte de moy, que d'oser entrer en mon sellier, & manger mes Figues, lesquelles j'auoie fait garder pour moy; Lors le pouure escoutoit, et entendoit, mais a cause qu' il ne pouuoit pas parler a son aise, il ne respondit nullement. Quand ses Accusateurs pressoient et sollicitoient leur Maistre, et qu' iceluy estoit pres d'estre battu, il se jetta oux pieds de son Maistre, et le pria qu' il eut vn peu de patience, Or apres qu' il fut accouru, et qu' il apporta de l'eau tiede, il la beut, et mettant les doigts en sa bouche il vomit seulement l'au, car il n' auoit point mange de ce jour; Il prioit donc que ses, Accusateurs fissent semblablement, afin qu' on cognut celuy qui auoit mange les Figues, Cette proposition pleut fort a son Maistre qui estoit tout esbaby du sens, et intendement du noueau Seruiteur, et commanda que les deux autres beussent de ceste eau tiede, ce qu' en effect les valets auoient bien resolu de faire, mais non pas de mettre les doigts en leurs bouches, ainsi les tourner deça, et delà, a l'entour des machoüettes, or a grand peine eurent ils beut, que ceste eau tiede leur causa vn vomissement, et leur fit rendre gorge et les Figues sans autre contrainte, le Maistre donc, voyant deuant ses yeux la malicieuse calumnie de ses valets, commanda qu' ils fussent despouillez tout nuds, et tresbien foüettes, lors ils cogneurent la verite de ceste sentence, Qui machine tromperie contre autruy luy mesme se forge le mal. Le jour ensuyuant, apres que son Maistre fut retourne en la Ville, Esope ayant trauaille selon qu' il luy estoit commanda, les Sacrificateurs de Diane, ou d'autres Voyageurs estant furuoyes de leur Chemin, ayants l'encontre, luy demanderent, et prierent par Jupiter hospitalier qu' il [Page 3]leur monstrast le chemin pour aller en la Ville; Lors il les fit seoir a l'ombre d'vn Arbre, et puis apresta vn petit banquet, et les ayant festoyez en ceste sorte, il leur seruit de guide, et monstrast le chemin qu' ils demandoient; Iceux donc se sentant grandiment obligez a Esope tant pour son hospitalite, que pour sa conduite, leuerent les mains au ciel, et auec prieres remercierent leur Benefacteur: Mais Esope, apres son retour, commenca a dormir a cause du travail continuel, et de la chaleur, et en dormant luy sembloit, que Fortune luy assistoit, et qu' elle luy deslyoit la langue, et donnoit cours a sa parole, et la habile grace de bien parler, et la science des Fables, et incontinent qu' il fut esueille, il dit; Voy, que j' ay dormi doucement, et aussi j' ay songe vn gatieux songe, Voicy je parle aysement, et tout ce que je veux nommer, je nomme facilement, et j' appelle puis incontinent par leur noms, vn baeuf, vn asne, vn rasteau, vrayement j' entens d'ou m' est venu ce bien, pour ce que j' ay este debonaire envers les estrangers, quelque bon Dieu m' a este propice, Vn bien fait est plein de bonne esperance. Ainsi donc Esope tout esiouy de ceste belle adventure commenca derechef a travailler. Celuy, qui auoit la charge de la Metaire, fut apelle Zenas qui vint pour voir comme les laboureurs se portoyen [...] en leur besongne et entre, autres, il en advisa vn qui ne traval­loit pas assez diligement a son gre, pource il commenca a le frapper, Esope voyant cela, luy dit, Maistre, Pourquoy frappez tu sans cause c'est homme icy, qui ne t' a point fait de tort? et pour neant nous chargez de coups tous les jours, je raportera tout cecy a nostreSeigneur? Zenas oyant Esope dire cecy s' estonna grandemment, et dit a part soy; si Esope commence a parler le premier, ce ne me sera point de profit, par quoy je le preuiendra, et l'accusera enuers mon Seigneur auant que luy mesme m' accuse, et auant quil me mette hors de sa recepte; Incon­tinent il se transporta en la ville vers son Seigneur, ou demeurant, estant tout troublé, Dieu te guarde (dit il) mon Maistre; l'autre luy dit, Pourquoy es tu tant trouble? Lors Zenas dit, Il est advenu vne merueilleuse chose en ta maison aux champs. Comment (dit le Seig­neur) quelque Arbre a il porte son fruit auant son temps? Ou y' a quelque Beste qui ait conceu contra Nature? Zenas luy dit, Non pas, Mais Esope qui estoit parauant muet, maintenaut commence a parler: Ainsi te puisse il aduenir (dit le Seigneur) qui as estime ceste chose monstreuse? A quo Zenas respondit, Je suis bien content, et veux taire tres-volonteirs les injures qu' il m' a dites, mais c' est vne chose intolerable des outrages qu' il dit contre toy, et les Dieux. Lors le Seigneur tout courroucé dit, Zenas je mets Esopi en ta puissance, vend le, donne le, fay tout ce que tu voudras de luy. Or quand Zenas eut Esope en sa puissance, et qu' il luy eut rapporte le Droit qu' il auoit sur luy Esope luy dit, Fay tout ce qu' il te plaira? Sur ces entrefaits, passa [Page 4]par la vn Merchand qui vouloit acheter du Bestail, et pour ceste cause tournoit il par la village, et demandoit a Zenas s' il auoit quelque Bestea vendre. Je n' ay point de charge ( dit Zenas) de vendre aucune Beste. Jay bien vn esclaue masle, le voicy, reguardez si tu le veux achepter. Le Merchand pria qu' on luy monstrast, pourquoy Zenas fit venir Esope, que quand le Merchand l'eust advise, il commenca a rire demesurement, Ou a tu prins (dit il) ce pot? Est ce vn tronc d'arbre, ou vn homme? S' il ne parloit, je le prendrois proprement pour vne cruche enfleé, pour quoy m' as tu deturbé pour voir ce bel oiseau? Cecy dit, il poursuiuoit son chemin, Mais Esope le suiuoit, disant, Demeurez Seigneur A ce mot le Merchand tourna visage, et luy dit, Va t' en d'ici, chien contrefait? Lors Esope repliqua, Dy moy pour quoy tu es ici venu? A quoy dit le Merchand, Pour quoy molo­tru? Je suis venu d'achepter quelque chose du bon, mais je n' ay que faire de toy, pour autant, que tu es vn chose du tout inutile et gasteé. Esope luy dit, Achete moy? que si tu veux me croire, Je te peux aider grandement; En quelle sorte me pourras tu seruir? dit le Mer­chand, veu que tu es odieux a tout le monde? Esope dit, N' as tu point en ta maison des infans rioteux, ou pleurans; Fay que [...]e soye leur Pedagogue, et il' s auront peur de moy, comme d'vn faux visage; le Merchand donc se sousriant dit a Zenas, Combien me veux tu vendre ceste malheureux. Zenas respondit, Donnez m' en trois oboles, et l'emmene auecque toy. Le Merchand estoit content, et les luy donnant je n' ay (dit il) rien despendu, et je n' ay rien achepte aussi; Or quand ils eurent longuement cheminé, et furent venus en sa maison, deux petit enfans, lesquells tettoyent encore, furent tous estonnez, et troubles, et commencerent a cryer; Lors Esope dit au Merchand, Tu as l'accomplissement de ma promesse: Le Merchand en riant entra en sa maison, et luy dit, Salüe tes Compagnons. Apres qu' il fut entré, et qu' il eut donné le bon jour a ses Compagnons, les autres le reguardans disoient entr' eux, Quel malheur est aduenu a nostre Maistre qu' il ait achepte vn seruiteur tant laid, et deformé? Mais il semble, propre­ment aduis, qu' il achete pour seruir de mal-encontre dans sa mai­son.

Quelque temps aprez que le Merchand fut retour en sa maison, il com­manda a ses seruiteurs de mettre en ordre plusieurs marchandizes, et qu' ils s' apprestassent pour aller dehors, disant, qu' il vouloit partir le lendemain pour aller en Asie, Iceux donc distribuoient a vn chacun son fardeau: Et Esope prioyt qu' on luy donnast le plus leger, comme a celui qui estoit nouellement achepte, en non encore bien duit, et exercité en tels seruices; les autres remirent a sa Discretion qu' il portast quelque chose, ou non. Esope toutes fois ne vouloit estre seul inutile, et n' estimoit point d'estre chose raisonable que les autres trauaillassent, et [Page 5]luy seul fut sans faire seruice a son Maistre; Lors ses compagnons per­mirent qu' il portast telle charge qu' il voudroit; Apres qu' il eut reguarde cà et là, et qu' il eut amasse plusieurs choses, comme, vases, sacs, balots, et paniers, il vouloit en fin d'estre charge d'vne corbeille plein du pain que deux personnes deuoient porter, ses Compagnons commencerent a se moquer de luy, disant qu' il n' auoit rien plus sot, que ce malotru, lequel, jasoit qu' il eut requis la charge la plus legere, neantmoins il eut choisi la plus pesante. Toutes fois pour luy complaire, ils luy mettent le panier sur les espaules. Esope ayant le dos bien chargé s'ebranloit deçà, et delà. Le Merchand en reguardant s' ebahist, et dit, Esope a desia gaigne son argent, puis qu' il est si prompt au trauail, car il a porte la charge d'vn cheual, Or apres qu' ils furent arriuez au logis pour disner, et qu' on eut commandè a Esope de distribuer a vn chacun sa portion du pain, et que plusieurs en eurent beaucoup mangè, son panier demeura a demy vuide, parquoy estant aucunement dischargè de son sardeau, il marchoit apres disner plus gaye­ment. Semblablement, au lieu ou ils souperent il distribua des pains aux autres, par ainsi son panier demeura du tout vuide, lequel il portoit aisement sur ses espaules, et par ce moyen il alloit le premier deuant tous, en sorte que ses compagnons qui auoient apperceu qu' il marchoit deuant, met­toient en doubte, si celuy quil's voyoient deuant eux, estoit ce vilain Esope, on bien quelque autre, que luy, Et apres qu' ils eurent cognu que c' estoit luy mesme, ils s' emerveilloyent, comment vn homme de si petite valeur auoit plus sagement fait qu' eux tous, pour ce qu' il vouloit porter les pains, d'autant qu' il scauoit, que facilement, et auant toutes choses, ils seroyent dependues, cependant les autres portoient les balles, et de semblable attirail, dont ils n' estoint pas possible de se defaire si aisement que des prouisions de la bouche. Le Marchand estant arriuè en la ville d' Ephese, il y vendit plusieurs autres seruiteurs auec grand profit, or il ne luy en demeura plus que trois, a scavoir le Grammairin, le Musitien, et Esope; Apres que l'vn de ses amis luy eut conseille de nauiger jusque au Samos, il se laissa vaincre a ses persuasions, car il scauoit que là il vendroit mieux ses esclaues. Estant arriue en Samos il fit habiller le Grammarien, et le Musitien de neuf, et en cette sorte il les meit en la foire. Mais pour autant qu' en nulle facon il ne pouuoit accoutrer Esope, pource qu' il estoit contrefait en tout son corps, il luy fit vne robbe d'vn sac, et l'ayant ainsi reparè, le mit au milieu de ses compagnons, afin que ceux qui le verroyent s' estonassent, disants. Dou vient cette abhomination laquelle ainsi obscurit les autres? Or combien qu' Esope fut mocquè de plusieurs il les reguardoit toutesfois, hardiment, et assurement. En ce temps là Xanthus le Philosophe habitoit en Samos lequel sur ces entrefaits suruint au marchè, et voyant ces deux jeunes esclaues bien habillez, et Esope estant au milieu d'eux s' esmerueilla de l'invention du Marchand, car il auoit mis le laid au milieu d'eux, afin que par demonstrance de celuy qui estoit deformè [Page 6]ses deux autres ieunes esclaues semblassent plus beaux qu' ils n' estoient, Et s' approchant de plus pres demanda au Musitien, de quel pais il estoit, lequel luy respondit qu' il estoit Cappadocien, Lors Xanthus dit, Que scais tu donc faire? Le Musitien respondit Toutes choses. A quoy commenca a rire Esope; Or les disciples qui estoient auec Xanthus quand ils le veirent rire, et monstrer ses dents, ils penserent incontinent que ce fut vn monstre, et l'vn d'entr' eux dit, Certes il est rompu, il a des dents, l'autre demandoit pourquoy il rioit, l'autre disoit, qu' il n' auoit point ry, l'vn s' approchant dit a l' Esope. Pour quelle cause as tu ry? Esope respondit, Reculez toy d'icy Brebis de Mer, L' autre tout confus pour ceste parole se retira vistement. Puis Xanthus demanda au Marchand, De quel pris estoit le Musitien, et ayant entendu qu' il luy couteroit mille oboles, éstonné de si grand pris, s' en alla a l'autre; Mais aussi apres que ce Philosophe l'eut interroguè, de quel pais, il'estoit, et il eut entendu qu' il estoit de Lydie, il luy encor demandoit Que çais tu donc faire? et l'autre semblable a precedent, respondit, Toutes choses, Esope derechef se print a rire, parquoy l'vn des escoliers vouloit scauoir parquoy il rioit ainsi a tous propos, Au quel vn autre de ses compagnons disoit, Si tu veux estre appellè, Bouc marin va t' en l'interroguer.

Or Xanthus demanda derechef au Marchand de quel pris estoit le Grammarien. Il te coutera trois mille oboles dit le Marchand, le Philosophe se rebutta d'vn si haut pris, parquoy laissant là le Marchand, il s'en alloit, neantmoins il fut retenu par ses escoliers, qui luy demanderent, si ces esclaues ne luy estoient pas agreeables. Ouy bien (dit il) mais ie n'ay pas deliberè d'acheter seruiteurs de si grand pris; l'vn d'entr' eux luy dit, Puis qu' ainsi est, Il n' y a nulle loy qui te deffende d'ache­ter le plus deforme de tous, car auec ce, qu' il ne vous seruira pas moins bien que les autres, nous serons contens de payer ce qu' il coustera, Auquels respondit Xanthus. Ce seroit vne mocquerie, que vous päissiez le pris, et que j' acheptasse la Marchandise, D' auantage, ma femme qui desire d'estre propre, et nette, ne prendroit a grè le service d'vn serviteur si laid, et mal propre, Et les escoliers luy dirent, la Sen­tence est toute manifeste, et euidente, laquelle dit, Qu' on ne doit obeir a femme. Bien donc repliqua Xanthus, faisons marche de cet Esclaue deforme, mais auant que passer outre, voions s' il scait quelque chose, afin que mon argent ne soit du tout perdu. S' approchant donc a Esope, Bien te soit, dit il, ésiouy toy? Pourquoy, respondit Esope, Estois je maintenant si triste? je te salüe, adjouta Xanthus; Et moy, je te salüe aussi, dit Esope. Xanthus n' estant pas moins estonnè que ses escoliers d'vne si soudaine response, luy demanda Qui es tu? Esope respondit, je suis noir, Xanthus repliqua, Ce n' est pas ce qui je desire scauoir de toy, je veux seulement que tu me dises ton pais, ou, le lieu d'ou tu es sorty. Esope respondit je suis sorty du ventre de ma Mere, Ce n' est pas encore [Page 7]cela, dit Xanthius, C' est le lieu de ta naissance que je demande a toy? Je ne me souuiens ( repliqua Esope) que ma mere m' ait iamais declare, si le lieu, ou me conceut, estoit haut, ou bas. Le Philosophe luy demanda, Que scais donc tu faire? Rien, dit Esope; Comment, dit Xanthus? Par ce que mes compagnons, dit Esope, ont dit quil's scauoyent tout, et ils ne m' ont rien laisse de reste, Les escoliers pren­nant grand plaisir en cette Response. Par la Providence des Dieux dirent ils, il a tres-bien respondu, car il n' est point d' homme qui scache toutes choses, et pour cette cause il a ry. Derechef Xanthus luy demanda, Veux tu que ie t' achete? Et Esope luy dit, Tu n' as que faire de mon conseil en cecy, fay lequel te semblera le meilleur, ou de m' achepter, ou non? Nul ne fait rien par force, Ceci gist en ta Volonte, que si tu veux ouurir la porte de ta bourse, compte l'argent, si non, ne brocarde plus? Adonc les escoliers dirent entre eux, par les Dieux il a vaincu nostre Maistre, Alors Xanthus s' addressant a luy dere­chef; Vienca, luy dit il, quand ie t' auray achepte, ne t' enfuyras tu point? Esope riant respondit, si ie veux faire, ie ne t' en demanderois ton conseil, comme tantost tu n' auois que faire du mien. Et Xanthus dit, Tu dis bien, mais ie suis fasche que tu es si laid; A quoy immedi­atement respondit Esope, O Philosophe Il faut considerer l'esprit, et non la face, Lors Xanthus vint a Marchand, et luy dit, Combien vends tu cestuy cy? Le Marchand respond, Tu n' es icy, que pour mespriser ma Merchandise, car tu as laisse ces deux Garsons, qui convenoyent bien a vn tel homme que tu es, pour choisir ce bossu, et contrefait; Achete l'vn de ceux cy, et tu auras cestuy cy par dessus; Xanthus dit, Je ne veux point d'autre que cestuy cy, Le Marchand donc dit, Pren le pour soixante oboles? Alors les Escoliers incontinent deliurent les Deniers, et Xanthus demeura Ma [...]stre d' Esope. Les peagers, apres auoir sceu ceste vente, estoient tous courroucez, demandans qui estoit le vendeur, et qui estoit le Achepteur, Mais pour autant qu' vn chacun auoit honte de se declarer pour la petitesse du pris, Esope, estant au milieu, s' escria, C' est moy qui ay este vendu, cestuy ci est l'achepteur, et cettui là, est se vendeur, que si tous deux se taisent ie demeureray affranchi, Les Peagers furent bien aises, et donnerent la peage a Xanthus) puis s' en allerent.

Esope donc suiuoit Xanthus allant en sa maison, Or aduint, qu' en la grande chaleur du iour, Xanthus, apres auoir retire sa robe, pissoit en marchant, ce que voyant Esope, luy prennant sa robe par la derriere, le tira, et luy dit, Vends moy tout incontinent pour ce que ie m' en fuiray, Et Xanthus demanda, Pourquoy? Pour ce, dit il, que ie ne pourroye seruir a vn tel Maistre, car si toy qui es mon Maistre, et qui ne crains personne, ne donnes point relasche a ta Nature, ains pisses en allant, s' il aduient que moy, qui suis ton seruiteur, sois enuoye a [Page 8]quelque affaire, et qu' en cheminant, Nature me contreigne a choses semblables, je seray contraint de discharger ma Nature en volant, Adonc Xanthus dit, Cecy te trouble il? Pour euiter trois maux je pisie en allant, Quels maux? dit Esope. Xanthus repliqua, Si je fusse arreste, le Soleil m' eust brusle la teste, puis apres, la terre eschauffeè m' eust brusle les pieds; auec cela, le vehemente senteur de l'vrine m' eust blessé le cerueau, Et Esope luy dit, Je suis content de ta Responce.

Ils s' entretennoient ensemble de tels discours, et apres qu' ils furent arriuez en la maison, Xanthus commanda a Esope qu' il demeurast deuant la porte, pource qu' il scauoit que sa Femme estoit, mignonné, et propré, et pourtant ne falloit il pas, que tout incontinent il presentast ce monstre a sa femme, sans l'auoir prevennüe par quelque bon mot, Il entra donc en sa maison et luy dit ainsi, Dame, tu ne me reprocheras plus le seruice que te rendent tes seruantes, car je t' ay achete vn valet, en qui tu verras vne beautè excellente, et telle que jamais tu ne veis, lequel est icy deuant la porte; Les Seruantes pensans estre vray ce que leur Maistre auoit dit, elles debattoient entre elles grandement qui auroit pour mari ce beau noueau seruiteur. Ce-pendant la femme du Xanthus commandoit qu' on appellast ce noueau valet, et qu' on fit entrer dedans, il y eut vn qui courut a la porte plus promptement que les autres, estimant par telle charge, desià tenir arres de son marriage, et appella le noueau seruiteur, qu' auec vne countenance asseureè ayant dit au luy, me voicy, c' est moy! la seruante toute estonneè luy demanda, Es tu celuy que j' appelle pour entrer? Esope dit luy, Certes, ce suis Je. La Chambriere luy dit, Tout beau, mon amy, n' entre point en la maison, si tu me crois, autrement ils s' enfuyront tous; Vne autre, toutes-fois, sortit apres, et le reguardant, dit, Que ton visage premierement soit decouppè, et puis tu entreras, mais n' approche point de moy?

Apres qu' il fust entre il s' arresta deuant sa maistresse, que, quand elle le veit, detourna sa face arriere de luy, disant a son mary, D' ou m' as tu amené ce monstre? Ostez le devant moy; Et Xanthus dit, Contente toy Dame, ne te moque point de mon noueau seruiteur; Elle luy dit, Il semble que tu m' as en desdain, et que tu veux auoir vne autre femme, et parauanture, pource que tu as honte de me dire que je sorte de ta mai­son, tu m' as apporte ceste belle teste du Chien, afin que je me fasche de son seruice, et que ie m' en aille; Pource, donne moy mon doüaire, et l'argent de mon marriage, et lors je m' en iray. Adonc Xanthus reprenoit Esope de ce qu' en chemin il luy auoit tant facetieusement parle de son vrine, et maintenant il ne respondoit rien a sa femme; A quoy Esope respondit, Jette la dedans vn gouffre? Xanthus dit, Tay toy meschant? Ne scais tu mesme que je l'aime comme moy mesme? Esope dit, Aimez tu ta femme? Et l'autre dit, Pourquoy non, meschant, banny? Je l'ayme, [Page 9]voirement, et je l'ayme bien, Lors Esope, frappant du pied, cria haute­ment, O Dieux. Xanthus le Philosophe se laisse governer par sa femme; Et se tournant deuers sa Maistresse, luy dit, Dame, voudrois tu que ton Philosophe t' eut achepte vn jeune seruiteur, de bonne countenance, de bon vigueur, et de bonne grace pour te contempler toute nué en ton bain, et pour se jouer auec toy, au deshonneur de ton mari? O Euripides je voudrois auoir ta bouche d'or, pour dire auec toy, Grande est l'impetuosité des vagues d'Ocean, grande est celle des fleuues; Mer­veilleuse est l'ardeur du feu chaud; C' est vne chose dure a supporter la pouurete, Il y a d'autres choses infinies lesquelles sont difficiles, Toutes fois il n' y a rien si fascheux que la femme mauuaise, Mais toy ma Dame qui es femme d'vn Philosophe, ne desire point le seruice des mignons, et plaisans, de peur que tu ne face tort aucunement a ton mary? A ces mots la femme du Xanthus ne sachant que respondre, Mon mary, dit elle, Ou a tu pris ceste belle beaute? Ce babilliard, ce malotru, et contrefaict semble estre plaisant, et fecetieux, Je feray donc mon appointement auec luy; Lors Xanthus dit, Esope ta Mai­stresse veut estre remise en grace auec toy, Esope parlant par feintise respondit. Cest grande chose que d'appaiser vne femme, Tay toy, luy dit Xanthus, car je t'ay achepte pour me seruir, et non pour me contredire.

Le jour ensuiuant Le Philosophe commanda a L' Esope de le suiure, et le mena en vn jardin pour acheter des herbes, or apres que le Jardinier eut amassè vn faisseau des herbes, Esope le print, et quand Xanthus voulut payer le Jardinier, Seigneur, dit le Jardinier, Je veux que tu me donnes la solution d'vne question? Quelle question? dit Xanthus; Pour­quoy est, dit autre, que les herbes lesquelles j'ay plantes combien que je les cultiue soigneusement, toutesfois elles ne prennent point leur accroissement, si non que bien tard? et celles que terre produit de bon gré, jacoit qu' on n' y mette nulle peine, neant moins sont plustost auanceés, Adonc Xanthus (combien que ce fut vne question de Philosophe) ne peut dire autre chose, sinon, Ceci entr' autres choses est governé par la providence des Dieux, ce qu' oyant Esope qui estoit là present se print a rire, et son Maistre luy dit, Ris tu? ou tu me moques? Esope respondit, Je me moque voirement, mais non pas de toy, ains de celuy qui t' a enseigne, Car ce que tu dis, que toutes choses sont gouerneés par la prouidence diuine est la solution vulgaire des sages gens. Mets moy donc auant, et je resouderay sa question, parquoy Xanthus tournant se, vers le Jardinier, dit, Mon amy, Je trouue qu' il ne seroit pas bien seant que moy qui ay disputé en tant de fameuses assembleés, m' amusasse maintenant a resoudre des difficultes en vn jardin, mais, je m' assure, si tu proposes a cetuy mon garson qui scait tresbien les consequences de plusieurs choses, te fera la resolution de ta de­mande? Lors le Jardinier dit; ce Turlupin cognoit il les Lettres? [Page 10]O le grand malheur que c' est? Sus donc bon homme, a-tu pas bien autant d'esprit qu' il en faut, pour satisfaire a ma question? Alors Esope prennant la parole, dit, Quand la femme est remarrieé en secondes nopces ayant désia enfans de son premier Mary, elle est bien mere des enfans qu' elles a amenez, mais marastre a ceux lesquells elle a trouuez au sein de son noueau Mary, elle demonstre donc vne grand difference és vns, et aux autres, car elle ayme et perseuere soigneusement en la noúrriture de ceux lesquells elle a engendrez, mais elle hait la portee d'autruy, et vsant d'en­vie elle diminüe de leur nouriture pour la donner a ses propres enfans, car elle ayme les naturels, comme siens, et hayt ceux de son mary, comme estrangers, De telle sorte est la terre, elle est mere de ce qu' elle a engendre, mais elle est marastre de ce que tu plantes, pour ceste cause elle ayme mieux, elle nourrit mieux, elle entretient mieux ce qui est sien comme chose legi­time, mais elle ne donne point tant de nourriture aux herbes que tu plantes, comme si c' estoient herbes bastardes. Le Jardi­nier estant tout recreé de cecy, Croy moy, dit il, que tu m' as re­leué en vn grand souci, & dubitation? Va t' en, et emporte ces herbes pour neant? et toutes fois, et quantes fois que tu en au­ras affaire, entre en ce jardin, comme en ta propre heritage, et y' pren des herbes tant que tu voudras?

Quelque temps apres, Xanthus s' en alla aux estuues, et ayant lá trouué aucuns de ses amis, il commanda a Esope d'aller en sa mai­son et qu' il feit cuire vne grain de Lentille, Esope estant arriué en la maison mit cuire dedans vn pot vn seul grain de Lentille. Apres donc, que Xanthus se fut tresbien nettoyé et essuyè, auec ses amis, il les invita au disner, protestant toutes fois que le banquet seroit bien petit, a scauoir des lentilles, disant aussi, qu' il ne falloit point ju­ger vn amy par la diuersite des viandes, mais plustost loüer sa bonne volontè. Or apres qu' ils furent sortis des estuues, et entrez en la maison, Xanthus dit a Esope, Apporte nous a boire du bain, Esope courust aussi tost prendre de l'eau du bain, et leur en donna; Xanthus rempli de ceste puanteur, Que est cecy, dit il, Esope? Esope luy respondit, C' est du bain, comme tu m' as commande; Xanthus retenant vn peu sa cholere a cause de amis qui là estoient presens, commanda a Esope qu' il apporta le bassin, et tout incontinent se tenoit debout, deuant la compagnie ayant le bassin en ses mains. Lors Xanthus dit, Ne donnes tu point a lauer? A quoy respondit Esope? Il faut que je face ce que tu me commandes, Tu ne m' as point dit, mets de l'eau dans le bassin, laué mes pieds, apporte mes pantoufles, tu ne m' as rien dit de tout cela, Lors Xanthus dit a ses amis, Je n' ay pas achepte vn Seruiteur, mais vn Maistre, [Page 11] Apres qu' ils furent assis á la table, et Xanthus eut demandè si la Lentille estoit cuite, Esope print la cuilleir, et tira le grain de Len­tille du pot, et leur ministra, Xanthus prennant ce grain, et pensant qu' il luy presentast pour faire essay s' il estoit cuit, ou non, le froissant des doigts, disoit, elle est assez cuite, apporte lá? Lors Esope ne vuidoit rien dedans les escuelles, que l'eau toute pure, et en distri­buoit à vn chacun, Quoy? Xanthus luy dit, N' as tu cuit qu' vn grain seul? Non certes, dit Esope, car tu m' as dit en singulier, que je fisse cuire vne Lentille, et non pas des Lentilles en plu­riel. Xanthus donc tout desolè, Mes amis, dit il, cet homme cy me fera enrager; Puis tournant se vers Esope luy dit, Afin que mes hostes ne se plaignent de moy, seruiteur inutile, va t' en, et m' achepte quatre pieds de pourceau, et les fay diligemment cuire, et les nous apporte? Esope s' y en alla tout aussi tost, et fit tresbien ce qui luy estoit commandé, et cependant que les pieds cui­soyent, Xanthus voulant trouuer vne juste occasion, pour battre Esope, a l' heur qu' il estoit empesché a quelque autre affaire, deroba secret­tement l'vn des pieds, et le cacha. Vn peu apres, Esope retourna de son affaire, et en fouillant dans le pot, il ne trouua que trois pieds, et par ce il cogneut qu' on luy auoit fait vne fourberie, et couraut a l'estable il couppa l'vn des pieds a vn pourceau, qu' on y engraissoit, et le mit dedans le pot, auec les autres, pour le faire cuire; Or Xan­thus craignant qu' Esope s' enfuit, apres qu' il auroit apperceu le lar­cin de l'vn des pieds, le remit derechef au pot, Et quand Esope vuydoit les pieds au plat, Xanthus en veit cinque, et dit, Qu' est ceci Esope? Comment il y en a cinque? Esope luy dit, Combien de pieds ont deux pourceaux? Huit respondit Xanthus, Et Esope dit, Il y en a donc cinque, et le porceau, qu' on engraisse là bas, n' en a que trois, Xanthus bien mary dit a ses amis, Ne vous auoy je pas vn peu de­uant predit que ce malheureux homme me feroit enrager? Lors Esope dit, Seigneur ne scais tu pas, qu' on ne peut inferer, qu' il y ait erreur en vne somme en adjoustant, ou diminuant, selon la somme de la quantite; Xanthus donc ne trouuant nulle honeste occasion pour battre Esope s' appaisa.

Le lendemain l'vn des escoliers appresta vn banquet sumptueux, auquel il invita Xanthus, et les autres Disciples; En disnant Xanthus choisit des viandes les plus exquises et delicates, et les donna a Esope qui estoit apres de luy. Va t' en, dit il, et porte cecy a ma bien aymee. Or Esope s'en allant pensoit en soy mesme; J' ay maintenant trouué l'opportunitè pour me vanger de ma maitresse, pource que quand je vins nouellement, elle me brocardoit, On verra donc si elle aime mon maistre; Pourtaut, apres il fut entreè en la maison, il appella sa Maitresse, et meit deuant elle les viandes qu' il apportoit; et dist; [Page 12]Dame, Mon Maistre envoyé tout cecy non pas a toy mais a sa bien aymeé Lá dessus, ayant appellè a soy vne petite chienne qu' on nour­rissoit dans le logis, Tien mignonne, dit il, voila ce que mon Maistre a commande que j' t' apportasse, et ce disant, il luy donna toute cette viande, morceau par morceau; Cela faict il retourna vers son Maistre sequel luy demanda, s' il auoit tout donnés a sa bien aimeé, Tout, dit Esope, et a tout mangé en ma presence, Xanthus luy demanda de­rechef, Qu' a elle dit en mangeant? Elle ne m' a rien dit certes, dist Esope, mais a par soy elle te remercioit. Toutesfois, la Femme du Xanthus tout troublé de cecy, voire de ce, que son mari aimoit mieux vne chienne que sa propre Femme entra en sa chambre, et toute desoleè elle protesta de n' auoir jamais sa compagnie.

Durant ces choses, qu' vn chacun ait bien beu, et qu' on eust proposé beaucoup des questions d'vn coste, et d'autre, l'vn d'entre eux demanda, Quand sera ce qu' il y aura grands troubles, et dissensions entre les hommes? Esope estant pres de luy, dist Quand les morts se resuscite­ront, lors ils redemanderont ce qu' ils possedoient en ce monde; Les escoliers commencerent a rire en disant, Ce nouueau Compagnon est tout ingenieux; Et vn autre proposa ceste question; Pourquoy est ce, que la Brebis laquelle on mene a la Boucherie ne crie point, et le Porceau groigne incessament? Pour ce, dit Esope, qu' on accou­tumé de tirer le laict a la brebis, et de luy tondre la laine, et non obstant elle ne laissa pas de suiure paisiblement, parquoy aussi quand on les prend par les pieds, ne se doubte point qu' on luy veuille faire du mal, ny qu' elle doiue endurer plus que l'ordinaire; Il n' est pas ainsi d'vne truye, qui n' est tireé, ny tondüe, et n'a point accoustomé de la trainer a choses sembla­bles, mais scachant qu' elle n' a rien du bon sur soy, que sa chair, a bon endroit elle se plaint, et crie. Ces choses dites, les escoliers se prendrent encor' a rire, et le loüoient grandement.

Apres qu' ils eurent disnés, Xanthus retourna a sa maison, et com­mencoit a deuiser auec sa femme, selon qu' il auoit de Coustume, mais sa femme le dedaignant luy dit, Ne t' approche point de moy, Donne moy mon Doûaire, a fin que je m' en aillé, car je ne demeu­reray plus auec toy; Quant a toy, va flatter, et faire chere a ta chienne a qui tu as envoie la viande? Adonc Xanthus tout estonné dit, Esope me fait encore quelque encombrier, et dit a sa Femme, Dame, Je ne m' enyuure point, mais es tu point enyuuré toy mesme? A qui ay Je envoye les viandes si non a toy? Sa femme repliqua, Non par le Dieu Jupiter, tu ne me les as point en­voyeés, mais a ta chienne, Xanthus appella Esope et luy dist, A qui as tu presente ce que je t' auois donné? Esope dit, A ta bien aimeé, Et Xanthus demanda a safemme, N' as tu rien receu? [Page 13]Rien, dit elle, Et Esope dit, A qui m' as tu Commandé Maistre de faire le Present? Xanthus respondit, A ma bien aimeé, Esope donc faisant venir la chienne, Cettui cy, dit il, t' aime bien, car ta femme jacoit, qu' elle se dise ta bonne amie, toutesfois si elle se fasche de la moindre chose que ce soit, elle maintenant con­tredit, elle dit iniures, elle s' en va, mais frappe ta chienne, chasse la tant que tu voudras, non pourtant elle ne s' en ira pas, ains mettant en oubli toutes iniures et menaces elle applaudit a son Maistre, et le caresse de la queûe, Il falloit donc O Seigneur que tu me disses, Porté cecy a ma femme, et non pas a ma bien aimeé? Lors Xanthus dit a sa femme, Dame ne vois tu pas, que ce n' est point ma faute, mais de celuy qui a apporte les viandes? Ayes donc patience, et Je trouueray bien tost vn occasion pour le battre? Or elle ne le creut point, mais s' en alla chez ses Pa­rents, Parquoy Esope dit a Xanthus, Maistre, ne t' auois je pas bien dit, que ta chienne t' aimoit mieux que ma Maitresse?

Quelque jours apres Xanthus voyant qu' il ne pouuoit fléchir sa femme, ne faire sa paix auec elle, luy enuoya aucun de ses alliez pour la faire retourner en la maison, mais elle n' y vouloit consentir, Parquoy Xanthus estoit en angoisse, ce que voyant Esope s' addressa a son Maistre, et luy dit, Ne te tourmente point mon Seigneur, car je scay le vray moyen de faire en sorte, que demain, auant qu' il soit nuit ta Femme reuienne icy bien viste, et de son bon gré; Cecy fait, Esope ayant receu argent de son Maistre, accourut au marchè, et apres qu' il eut fait Prouision de Gallines, Oyes, Lapins, Becasses, et autres friandises pour faire vn banquet, en s' en retournant, il alloit par les maisons; Or passoit il par le deuant la maison des parens de sa Maitresse, feignant, de ne scauoir que ce fut leur maison, et que sa Dame fut là logeé, Et quand il eut appelle quel-qu'-vn de­dans, il demandoit, si ceux de la maison n' auoit rien qui fut for-bon pour faire nopces, et qu' ils luy vendissent, le seruiteur qui estoit de­dans, sortant, luy dit, Qui est celuy qui en a affaire? C' est le Philosophe Xanthus, dit Esope, car demain il doit espouser Femme. Le valet oyant ces belles nonelles laissa la Esope, et montant en la chambre, il fit scauoir a la femme du Xanthus ce que l'autre ve­noit de luy dire; Incontinent, et sans delay, elle accourut a son mary, et commence a cryer contre luy, disant entre autres choses, Tant que je viuray Xanthus tu ne pourras remarrier à vne autre, et par ce moyen elle demeura en la maison par l'inuention d' Esope, tout ainst aussi que par son moyen elle s' en estoit alleè.

Quelques jours s' estans escoulez, Xanthus convia ses disciples á souper, et commanda à Esope qu' il allast acheter tout ce qu' il trou­ueroit de bon, et d'excellent, Il s' en alla, et en chemin il disoit à [Page 14]part soy, Je monstreray a mon Maistre, comme il ne faut point com­mander sottement, Apres donc qu' il eut acheté des langues de pour­ceau, et leur eut tres bien dresseès pour ses hostes, il donna a chacun sa langue rostie auec la sauce. Les escoliers loüoient ceste belle entreè, comme viande propre pour Philosophes, pource que la langue sert a bien parler, En suite de cela, il seruit encore de langues boüilliez, et combien qu' ils demandassent d'autres mets, et viandes, toutesfois il ne seruoit que des langues; Les Disciples faschez d'vne mesme vi­ande tant de fois seruie, Jusqu' a quand, disoient ils, cesseras tu d'apporter les langues, ne vois tu pas que nous auons escorché les nostres, a force de manger de celles que tu nous as seruies? Xanthus tout courroucè luy dit, N' as tu autre chose Esope? Non certes, dit Esope, et Xanthus repliqua, Ne t' auois je pas com­mande vilain baboüin, que tu achetasses tout ce que tu trouuerois de bon et excellent? Esope respondit, Je te remercie grandement de ce qu' en la presence des Philosophes tu me reprens, Car qui a t' il donc en ceste vie meilleur, et plus excellent, que la langue? car toute Doctrine, toute Philosophe est monstreé et enseigné par la langue, par icelle nous donnons, nous receuons, par icelle fleurit l'eloquence, par icelle accomplit on les Marriages, on ba­stit les citez, par icelle les hommes sont gardez. Bref par icelle toute nostre vie consiste, parquoy il n' y a rien meilleur que la langue; A ceste cause les Disciples disants qu' Esope a tres bien dit, donnerent le tort à leur Maistre, et s' en allerent.

Le Lendemain les Disciples du Xanthus l'ayans blamé de ce qui estoit passé, il respondoit que cela n' auoit este fait de son consen­tement, mais par la malice de son meschaut seruiteur; Mais, dit il, Je le changera aujourd'-huy de souper, et moi mesme parlera a luy en vostre presence, Xanthus donc appella son seruiteur, et luy commanda d'acheter toutes choses mauaises, et de nulle valeur, disant que ses Disciples deuoient soupper auec soy. Esope alla au marchè et sans rien changer, il derechef d'achetá des langues, et apres qu' il eut dresses il les seruit sur la table; Les Conviez murmu­roient entr' eux, et disoient, voici encores les langues de porceau! mais sans s' arrester a leur discourse, Esope on apporta d'autres, e [...] d'autres encore, jus qu' à la troisiéme fois. Or Xanthus ne pren­nant point en bon gré cecy, Qu' est cecy? dit il, Penses tu meschant, que je t' eusse dict derechef, que tu achetasses toutes choses bon­nes et excellentes? Mais au contraire, ne t' auois je pas com­mande a ceste fois que tu achetasses tout ce que tu trouerois de mauais, et de nulle valeur? Esope respondit, Et qui a il pire que la langue? Ces villes ne sont elles pas destruictes par icelles? Les hommes ne sont ils pas tuez par icelles? Les nopces, et les [Page 15]Magistrats, les Seigneuries, les Royaumes ne sont ils pas rompus et renuersez par icelles? Bref toute nostre vie, n' est elle pas rem­pli d'eareurs infinies par icelles? Apres qu' Esope eut dit cecy, l'vn des assistans dit á Xanthus, Certainement, si tu ne te gardes, cestuy cy te fera enrager, car tel est son esprit, quel est son corps, et Esope luy dit, Tu me sembles estre vn homme de mauuaise sorte, de mesler d'affaires d'autruy, et qui veux irriter le Maistre contre le seruiteur.

Xanthus oyant cecy, et ne desirant rien plus que de trouuer vn' occasion pour battre son lourdant, Banni, dit il, puis que tu as ose tancer mon amy de ce que se meslant des affaires des autres il auoit vn peu­trop de soucy, monstre moy quelque homme qui n' a point de souci? Esope donc, estant le lendemain sorti en vn place ouuert, et re­gardant tous le passants, il en vid vn qui estoit assis, de long temps en vn certain lieu, lequel il jugea, selon sa phantasie, simple, et sans souci, et s' approchant à luy le convia a venir disner auecque son Maistre. Ce paisant n' enquerant de rien, ny demandant qui estoit ce­luy qui l'invitoit, il entra en la maison de Xanthus, auec ses souliers ordes, et salles, ou il se mit a la table, Xanthus demanda Qui est cestuy cy? Esope repliqua, C' est l' homme sans souci; Xanthus dit a l'oreille de sa femme, Fai ce que je te diray, et obei moy vn peu, a fin que je trouue juste occasion pour bien frotter E­sope, puis apres il dit a haute voix, Dame mets de l'eau dans le Bassin, et laue les pieds de nostre Hoste? Or pensoit il en soy mesme, ce rustique ne voudroit pour rien accepter le seruice d'vne si belle Femme, et par se moyen Esope deut estre bien battu, pource que l'autre ne seroit trouuè vn homme sans souci; La Dame donc ayant mis de l'eau au bassin alloit pour lauer les pieds de son Hoste, mais le pauure simple scachant que c' estoit la Maistresse de maison, il parloit ainsi en soy mesme, Elle me veut faire honneur, pour ceste cause elle veut lauer mes pieds de ses propres mains, jacoit qu' elle puisse commander cela à ses chambrieres; Apres donc qu' il eust ètendu ses pieds, la Dame luy dit, laue toy? et il se laua, et puis il se mit a la table: Estant assis, Xanthus commanda qu' on donnast de boire à son hoste, L' autre pensant encore ainsi a part soi, C' est bien raison qu' ils soient seruis les premiers, mais puis qu' ils veulent ainsi, il ne me faut point que je suis curieux d'auantage, et il beut; Or en disnant, on luy apporta de quelque viande, et il en mangea de bon appetit. Xanthus blasmoit son cuisinier de ce qu' il auoit mal appareillé ceste viande, et pourtant le feit despouiller tout nud, et le frotta tres bien; Et ce bon homme di­soit en soy mesme, La Viande est certes bien cuite, et appresteè, et est si bonne à mon goust, qu' il ne luy manque rien, ce me semble, pour estre bien assaisoné, Mais si le Pere de la Famille veut sans cause [Page 16]battre son seruiteur qu' en ai je à faire? Xanthus estoit marri, et ne prennoit bas bien en gré de ce que son hoste n' estoit nullement curieux, et ne s' enqueroit de rien, Finalement on apporta le gasteau, et ce Paisant le maniant, et tournant de toutes costes en mangeoit comme du pain, et comme s' il n' en eust jamais gousté de semblable. Or Xan­thus se courroucant a son boulenger luy dit, Meschant pourquoy n' as tu mis du miel, et du poiure en ce gasteau? Le boulenger respond, Maistre, si le gasteau n' est cuit, frappe moy? Mais s' il n' est accoutré, comme il doit estre, donné en le blasme á ma Maitresse, et Xanthus dit, Si la faute vient de ma femme, je la fera maintenant brusler toute vive; Lors il fist derechef sign á sa femme qu' elle lui obeit á cause d' Esope, Apres donc qu' il eut commandé qu' on luy apportast les sermens, et fagots, il meit le fen au monceau de bois, et tira sa femme aupres du feu, en sorte qu' on croy­oit qu' il la voulut mettre dedans le feu, toutesfois differoit il aucune­ment, et reguardoit de tous costes le paisant, si en aucune sorte il se leueroit point pour le destourner de ceste grande temerite; Mais iceluy pensoit encore en soi mesme ainsi, Puis qu' il n' a nulle cause de se courroucer, pourquoy se courrouce il? Puis le dit, Seigneur, si tu penses qu' il soit raisonable de faire ainsi, attens moy vn peu, jusques a tant que je sois allé en ma maison, et a mon retour je t' ameneray ma femme, a fin que tu ses brusles toutes deux ensemble. Xanthus oyant parler ainsi ce bon homme, et voyant qu' il n' auoit point de malice en son fait, s' en estonna grandement, et dit á Esope, Vrayment, voicy vu homme sans soucy, Tu auras le guerdon de ta Victoire Esope, Contente toy, pour l'aduenir, car je t' affranchiray, et te mettray en liberté.

Le jour en suiuant Xanthus commanda a Esope qu' il allast aux esteuuez pour s' enquerir au quelq' vns, s' il y auoit beaucoup de gens; Or en passant il rencontra fortuiment le Preteur, le quel sachant qu' Esope estoit auec Xanthus, luy demanda ou il s' alloit, Esope respondit, Je ne scay, le Preteur pensant qu' il ne tint compte de sa demande, et qu' il se mocquast de luy, commanda qu' on le menast en prison, Quand donc on tranoit Esope, il s' escria disant, Ne vois tu pas (O Preteur) comme j' ay t' ay bien respondu? Et certes je ne pensois pas aller, ou je vay? Je t' ay rencontré, et maintenant tu me fais mener en prison; Lors le Preteur estonné de ceste sou­daine Responce, le laissa aller.

Esope donc estant venu aux Estuues y veit vne grande multitude de gens, et veit aussi vne Pierre au milieu de l'entreé, à la quelle hur­toient tous ceux qui entroient, et sortoient, A quoy prennant garde vn certain qui s' en alloit aux Estuues, il osta la piere, et la mit ailleurs, [Page 17]Esope donc estant retourné vers son Maistre luy dit Si tu, te veux estuuer, Je n' ay veu qu' vn homme aux estuues, Xanthus y alla, et voyant vne grande multitude dé gens dit, Qu' est ceci Esope? Ne m' as tu point dit, qu' tu n' auois veu qu' vn homme? Ouy bien, dit Esope, car j' ay trouue ceste pierre (la monstrant de la main) mise a l'entreé a laquelle heurtoient tous allans, et venans, mais vn certain homme, auant qu' y hur­ter, l'osta de sa place, et la mit ailleurs, Parquoy j' ay dit que je n' auois veu qu' vn homme, plus estimant cestuy que tous les autres, Lors Xanthus dist, il ny a rien qui puisse retarder Esope qu' il ne respondit promptement.

Ʋn jour Xanthus retournant des lieux priuez, demandoit a Esope, Parquoy est ce que les hommes regardent leur ordure apres qu' ils ont purge leur ventre? Esope respondit, Au temps passé il estoit vn homme, lequel viuant delicieusement demeuroit long temps á retrait, y prennant vn grand plaisir, en sorte qu' estant la trop longuement assis, il mit hors ses entrailles, Depuis ce temps la donc, les autres ont eu peur, et pour ceste cause ils regardent l'ordure de leur ventre, afin qu' ils ne tombent en tel Incon­venient; Mais quant a toy Maistre, ne crains point de perdre ton coeur, car tu n' en as point.

Vn jour entre autres, Xanthus faisoit vn banquet, et estoit assis auec autres Philosophes, et apres qu' vn chacun eut desia assez bien beu, on proposoit plusieurs questions, Et Xanthus commencoit a se troubler, Parquoy Esope estant aupres de luy, dit, Mon Maistre, Bacchus a trois attrempemens, Le premier est de Volupte, le Se­cond d' yurongnerie, le troisesme est de paroles outragieuses, Vous donc qui auez desia assez beu, et estes tout joyeux, conten­tez vouz, et ne touchez plus au reste; Lors Xanthus estant desia yure luy dit, Tay toy? Va porter ton Conseil aux enfers? Et Esope dit, Tu seras donc tiré en enfer, Or vn des Disciples voy­ant que Xanthus estoit à demy-yure, et à fin, que je die tout, auoit perdu l'entendement, Maistre (dit il) aucun peut il boire la mer? Et Xanthus dist, Ouy bien, car moi mesme la boiray, Et son Disciple luy dit, Que s' tu ne peux faire, en quelle amende veux tu estre condamné? Lors dit Xanthus, Je gage toute ma maison, et cependant ils meirent leurs anneaux pour gage, pour confir­mer ceste gajeur, et puis s' en allerent.

Le lendemain au matin quand Xanthus fut esueillè, et qu' il eut lau e sa face il ne trouua point son anneau en son doigt en se lauant, Il demanda à Esope, s' il ne l'auoit point veu; Esope respondit, Je ne scay que tu en as fait? Vne chose, scay je bien, que tu [Page 18]n' as plus de droit en ta maison, Lors Xanthus demanda Parquoy? Pource, dit Esope, que quand tu estois hier yure, tu fis accord du boire la mer, et en ceste accord tu as mis ton anneau pour gage, Et Xanthus dit, Quelle chose ay je plus grande en ma puissance que ma foy? Mais maintenant je te prie que fi tu as quelque cognoissance, quelque prudence, quelque experience, tu me vueille assister, a fin que je puisse accomplir ma promesse, ou dissoudre le pacte. Esope respondit, Il est impossible, certes, que tu accomplisse ta promesse, mais je feray que tu pourras dissoudre les pactes. Quand vous serez derechef aujourd'-huy assemblez en­semble, ne tu fay nullement semblance que tu ayes peur, mais dy hardiment en sobrieté ce que tu as conuenu, estant yure. Commande donc que t' on te dresse vne table, et quantite de paille, et du feurre au riuage de la mer, et qu' il y ait des garsons tout prests pour te verser a boire l'eau de la mer: Et quand tu verras que tout le peuple sera assemblé pour voir ce beau spectacle, apres que tu seras assis, commande qu' on te remplisse d' l'eau vne tasse, et l'ayant prinse, dy tout haut a celuy qui a les gages, afin que tous les assistans l'entendent. Quelques sont nos conventions? Et iceluy te respondra que tu as accorde de boire toute la mer. T' addressant donc a tout le peuple tu diras ainsi, Hommes de Samos, vous' scauez vous mesmes que plusieurs fleuues entrent en la mer, or j' ay fait seulement accord de boir la mer, et non pas les riuieres qui entrent dedans, Que ceste escolier donne garde de couler les eaux des riuieres premierement, et puis apres je boiray la mer. Xanthus preuoyant que par cecy les pactes seroi­ent rompues, fut grandement resiouy, le peuple donc s' assembla au riuage de la mer pour voir l'issue de l'entreprinse de Xanthus, et apres qu' il eust dit, et fait ce que luy auoit enseigne Esope, le peuple s' esmerueilla, et le loüa grandement, Lors l'escolier se jet­tant au pieds du Xanthus confessoit s' estre vaincu, et prioit que les pactes seroient rompus, ce que fit Xanthus a la reqneste du peuple.

Apres qu' ils furent de retour en la maison, Esope vint parler a son Maistre, et luy dit, Je t' ay fait plaisir toute ma vie, Seig­neur, n' ay je pas merite d'estre affranchy? Mais Xanthus le reprennant aigrement le repoussa disant, N' ay je pas bone volonte t' affranchir? Sors? et te tien a la porte, et Reguarde si tu verras deux corneilles, et le m' en vien dire? que s' il y en a deux, ce sera bon signe, et s' il n' y en a qu' vne, ce sera mauuaise augure, Apres donc qu' Esope fut sorty, et que d'auantage il eut veu deux corneillées branchées sur vn arbre il retourna l'annoncer á Xanthus, Cependant, que Xanthus sortoit, l'vne s' enuola, et n' en uoyant qu' vne, il dit, Malheureux homme ne m' as tu pas dit [Page 19]que tu en auois veu deux? Ouy, dit il, mais l'vne s' est voleé, Lors Xanthus dit, Tu n' auois autre chose a faire banny, si non que tu te mocquasses de moy? parquoy il commanda qu' il seroit tres bien battu, or quand on le battoit, le Preuost inuita à souper Xanthus, et Esope receüant les coups disoit, O moy miserable, j' ay veu deux corneilles et je fuis battu, et toy qu' n' en as veu qu' vne, tu vas faire grand chere, parquoy la Diuination fut fausse, Lors Xanthus ebahissant de la viuacité de son esprit commanda qu' il ne fut plus battu.

Quelque temps apres Xanthus donna charge a Esope de luy apprester le banquet, car, disoit, il, mes disciples doiuent venir disner auec moy. Esope alla au marché, et acheta de toutes bonnes viandes ne­cessaires pour vn banquet, et apporta en la salle toutes ses prouisions, Il trouua sa Dame sur lict qui dormoit, et luy dit, Madame vous garderez, s' il vous plaist, que les chiens ne touchent a ces viandes, et qu' ils ne mangent, car il me faut returner en la cuisine pour pouruoir au demeurant, Va, dit elle, ou tu voudras, et ne te soucie pas de tes viandes, car mes fesses ont des yeux.

Apres qu' Esope eut dressé toutes les autres prouisions il les apporta en la salle, et pource qu' elle auoit dit que ses fesses auoient des yeux, il la descouurit par derriere, et là laissa dormir; Et Xanthus sur­uint auec ses escoliers, et voyant ce beau menage dit à Esope, Paillard, qu' est cecy? Esope respondit, Seigneur, quand j' ay mis les viandes sur la table, j' ay dit a Madame qu' elle gardast que les chiens ne les mangeassent, et elle me dit que ses fesses auoient des yeux, et pource qu' elle dormoit je les luy ay dis­couuertes, Xanthus luy dit, Banni, tu passeras par mes mains, mais pour ceste heure je te pardonne par l'amour des mes amis.

Ʋn peu de temps apres, Xanthus conuia a disner les Philosophes et Recteurs, et commanda à Esope de se tenir a la porte, et qu' il ne laissast entrer homme quelconque, qui ne fut scauant, mais seulement les Philosophes et gens doctes, Or à l' heure du disner, Esope estant assis dedans la maison aupres de la porte, l'vn des inuitez vint á la porte, et heurta; Esope luy demanda, Que remue le chien? l'autre pensant qu' on l'appellast chien, alla tout courroucé, et ainsi les autres s' en retournerent marris, et pensant estre injuriez.

Il en suruint vn entre les autres, lequel aussi frappa à la porte, et Esope luy demanda, Que remue le chien? L' autre respondit, La queue, et les oreilles, Esope jugeant qu' il auoit tres bien re­spondu, le mena a son Maistre, et dit, mon Seigneur, Il n' est point venu de Philosophe a ton banquet que cestui ci. Xanthus fut bien marry, pensant estre deceu de ceux, qu' il auoit inuitez. Le lendemain, apres que les escoliers furent venues aux escoles, ils le blas [Page 20]moient, disants, Quoy nostre Maistre? t' auons nous donné subject de nous mespriser jusques à ce point, qu' il ait fallu que pour nous empescher d'aller chez toy, tu ayes mis à la porte ce puant Esope, pour nous injurier, et nous appeller chiens? Xanthus repliqua, Est ce songe ce que vous dites, ou chose vray? Si nous ne dormions, dirent ils, c' est verité Incontinent il appella Esope, et tout Courrouce luy demanda, Pourquoy il auoit chassé ses amis, auec honte et diffamé, Esope luy dit, Maistre, Ne m' auois tu pas commandé que je ne laissasse point venir pas bestes, et lourdants à ton bancquet, mais seulement Philosophes, et gens scauants, Lors Xanthus dit, Et ceux cy, quelles gens sont ils? Ne sont il pas scauans? Nullement, dit Esope, car quand ils heurtoient a la porte, et que je leur demandois, Que remue le chien? il n' y en a pas vn qui entendist ma demande, puis donc qu' ils me sembloient estre toutes bestes, Je n' en ay laisse entrer pas vn que cestuy cy, lequel m' a sagement respondu, Quand ils ouyrent ainsi parler Esope, ils accorderent tous qu' il auoit tres bien parlè.

Vne autrefois Xanthus ayant Esope aupres soy, vint aux Sepulchres, et lisant les Epigrammes qui estoit sur les tombeaux y prennoit grand plaisir, Or Esope apperceut en l'vn d'iceux aucunes lettres gravées, Les quelles s' estoient telles, R.P.Q.F.I.T.A, et les monstra à Xanthus et luy demanda s' il scauoit la signification de ces lettres? Xanthus (combien qu' il y pensast profondement) il ne peut toutesfois trouuer la Declaration, et confessa franchement, qu' il en doubtoit; Adonc Esope luy dit, Maistre si par la conduit de ce petit pillier je te monstré vn thresor, comment me recompenseras tu? Fie toy en moy, dit Xanthus, que tu auras ta liberte, et la moitie de l'or? Lors Esope, recedens du monceau de terre quatre pas, commenca a fouiller, et trouua le tresor, et le porta a Xanthus, disant, Tien a moy ta promesse? car j' ay trouue le tresor, et Xanthus luy dit, Je ne suis pas si fol de le faire, si premierement tu ne m' expliques ces lettres, car ce me sera vne chose beaucoup plus pretieuse de scauoir cela, que le tresor trouué, Et Esope dit, Celuy qui a cache en terre ceste tresor, comme homme scauant, il a graué ces lettres cy, lesquelles disent, Recedens passus quatuor, fodiens, inuenies thesaurum aureum, C' est à dire, Si tu recules quatre pas, tu trouueras en fouillant vn thresor d'or; Xanthus dist, Pource que ton esprit est si vif, et plein de cautelles tu n' auras point ta liberté, Esope dist, Maistre Je rapporteray, qu' il faut rendre cet or au Roy de Bizance, car il a este icy cache pour luy. Comme le scais tu? dit Xanthus, Par ces autres lettres, repliqua Esope viz. R. R. D. Q. I. T. lesquelles signifient cecy, Redde Regi Dionysio quem inuenisti thesaurum, C' est a dire, Rends au Roy Dionysius le tresor que tu as trouué.

[Page 21]Xanthus oyant ce, que c' estoit l'or du Roy, dit à Esope, Pren la moitie du tresor, et te tay? Et Esope luy dit, Tu ne me donnes point cecy, mais celuy qui a icy cache le tresor, et qu' ainsi soit, escoute ce que disent les autres lettres suiuantes, A. E. D. Q. I. T. A. lesquelles signifient cecy. Acceptum Euntes diuidite quem invenistis thesaurum aureum? C' est à dire, Diuisez entre vous le thresor d'or que vous auez trouue, en vous allant, Adonc Xanthus luy dit Allons en la maison, afin que nous partissions le thresor, et que tu recoiues ta liberté?

Or apres qu' ils furent venus en la maison, Xanthus craignant le caquet d' Esope, le feit mettre en prison, En allant, Esope dist, Sont ces les promesses des Philosophes? Non seulement tu me denies ma liberté, mais ausi tu me fais mettre en prison? Xanthus donc commanda qu' il fut deliuurè, et luy dit, Certes tu dis bien, afin que quand tu seras affranchi, tu m' accuses de plus grande affection, Si est ce pourtant, respondit Esope, qu' apres me faire du pire que tu pourras, il faudra, malgré toy, que tu me remettes en liberte.

Il advint en ce temps là vne chose estrange en la ville de Samos, Lors que publiquement on celebroit quelque feste, vn Aigle vola tout soudain, et arrachant l'anneau public, le laissa cheoir au sein d'vn Esclaue, Parquoy les Samiens tous estonneès, et contristes de ceste mes­auanture, s' assemblerent tous en vn lieu, et prierent Xanthus, pource qu' il estoit le premier de la ville, et, auec ce, Philosophe, qu' il leur manifestast le jugement de ce signe terrible, mais Xanthus doutant entierement, demanda terme pour y respondre, Estant donc de retour en sa maison, il deuint tout pensif, et se plongea dans vne profonde melancholie, parce qu' il ne pouuoit juger parfaitement de cela, Or Esope voyant la tristesse de son Maistre, vint à luy, et à luy dit, Pourquoy, Seigneur, perseueres tu si long temps en ta fascherie? Ne me cele rien, et chasse ceste melancholie dehors? Donne moy la charge de faire ce que tu as a faire? Quand tu seras demain venu en la place publique, dy simplement aux Habitans, Messieurs Je n' ay point apprins de declarer les choses à venir, ne diuiner les mes-aduentures, may J' ay vn rustique en ma maison qui faict beaucoup des choses, il vous resoudra vostre question; Or mon maistre, si je viens à bout de la solution, l' honneur en sera tien, qui as en ton seruice vn tel valet, si non, le deshonneur sera à moy seul. Xanthus donc le croyant, se trouua le lendemain en la maison de la ville, et estant an milieu d' l'assemblè, selon le conseil d' Esope, il parla aux assistans, parquoy ils le prierent incontinent qu' il feit venir Esope, Et quand il fut venu, il se tenoit debout au milieu d'eux, qui bien estonnez de voir vn homme de ceste mine, s' en rioient ouuertement, et disoient tout haut, Ce bel homme icy, nous pourra il nous declarer les signes? Que pourrions nous jamais oüir de bon, de ce contresait? [Page 22] Et en ceste sorte se moquoient ils, mais Esope, etendant la main, et ayant impetré silence, dit, Hommes Samiens, pourquoy vous moquez vous de ma face? Il ne faut point regarder la face d'l' homme, mais son esprit, car bien souuent Nature à mis en vne laide figure vn bon entendement, Considerez vous la forme exterieure des bouteilles? N' avez vous pas plus tost regard au goust interieur du vin?

Quand tout le peuple ouit ce que disoit Esope, ils luy dirent, Esope, si tu nous peux aider, dy le nous? Il parla donc ainsi hautiment, Messieurs pource que Fortune (laquelle aime dissensions) à proposé vn pris de gloire au Seigneur, et à son serf, si le seruiteur est moindre que le Seigneur, il sera tres-bien battu; que s'il est trouué plus excellent, neantmoins il ne lairroit d'estre bien frotté aussi; Par ains le Seigneur à tousiours victoire soit à droit, soit à tort, et le seruiteur est tousiours fouillé; Si, en luy faisant donner à moy ma liberté et vous me permettez de parler, Je vous declareray vrayement ce que vous demandez, Lors le peuple tout d'vn accord crioyt à Xanthus, Donne liberté à Esope? Obei aux Samiens, Fay ce bien a la Cite? Mais Xanthus ne s' y vouloit point accorder, Pourquoy le Preteur luy dit, Xanthus, s'il ne te plaist, d'obeir au peuple, desmaintenant j' affranchiray Esope, et lors il sera pareil à toy. Adonc Xanthus luy donna sa libertè, et la trompette de la ville cria. Le Philosophe Xanthus donne la liberte d' Esope aux Samiens, Et à cette heure lá, se troua veritable ce qu' vn peu auparauant Esope auoit dit à son maistre par ces paroles Je t' aduise, que mal gré toy, tu m' affranchiras.

Esope donc affranchi, estant au milieu du peuple dist, Messieurs, I aigle, comme scauez, est le Roy des oiseaux, or pource, qu'ayant raui l'anneau de l'Empereur, il la laisse cheoir au fein d'vn seruiteur, cela veut signifier qu' il y a vn des Rois qui sont maintenant viuans qui veut rediger vostre liberte en seruirude, et casser, et annuller vos loix desia establies, et fermes.

Ceci entendu, les Samiens s' attristerent bien fort; Or en peu de temps apres, ils receureut lettres de Cresus Roy de Lydiens, par lesquelles il leur commandoit, que tous les ans ils luy payassent tribut, que s' ils ne luy vouloient obeir, ils s' attendissent d'auoir la guerre, Parquoy ils consultoient entr' eux, car ils craignoyent d'estre sous la Domination du Cresus; Toutesfois ils pensoient estre chose vtile et profitable de demander conseil à l' Esope, Ce qu' ils feirent, Esope donc leur dist, Quand les principaux d'entre vous auront donne sentence, qu'il faudra payer tribute au Roy Cresus, vous n'aurez plus besoin de mon conseil; Mais je vous feray vn recit par lequel vous scaurez ce qui vous est bon de faire; Fortune nous monste en cette vie deux moyens, [Page 23]l'vn de liberté, le commencement du quel est difficile à attaindre, mais l'issue est belle, et plaine; l'autre de seruitude, le commence­ment duquel est facile et accessible, mais la fin laborieuse, et fascheuse. Ceci ony, les Samiens commencerent à protester; Comme ainsi soit, que nous soyons francs, et libres, nous ne voulons point estre seruiteurs pour neant. Parquoy ils r' envoyerent l'Ambassadeur sans accord de paix; Ce qu' ayant entendu Cresus, il delibera de faire guerre aux Samiens; Mais l'Ambassadeur luy dit, Tu ne pourras vaincre les Samiens tandis qu' Esope sera auec eux, et qu'ils besongneront par son conseil; Or tu feras bien mieux (O Roy) si tu leur enuoyes Ambassadeurs, et leur demandes Esope, leur promettant que tu les recompenseras en d'autres choses, et que tu leur donneras relasche de ce que tu leur demandes, Lors parauanture tu les pourras surmonter, Cresus le croyant, y enuoya vn Ambassadeur, par lequel il leur demandoit Esope, Et les Samiens consulterent de donner Esope; Ce qu' Esope ayant entendu vint au milieu d'assemblé, et leur dist, Habitans du Samos, Je n'estime pas peu de chose, certes, que je vay seruir aux pieds du Roy Cresus, mais Je vous veux raconter, vne fable; Au temps que les bestes parloient ensemble, les loups menerent Guerre contre les brebis; Or les chiens estoient du coste des brebis et [...]hassoient les loups; Les loups leurs envoierent Ambassadeurs, et leurs manderent, que si elles vouloyent viuure en paix, et oster tout soupcon de guerre elles leur enuoiassent les chiens. Les ouailles facilement induites à cette sottise donnerent les chiens, parquoy les loups meirent en peices les chiens, et faciliment tuerent les brebis; Les Samiens donc entendants le sense de la fable conclurent entr' eux de retenir Esope, mais il ne voulut point, ains il desancra auec l'Ambassadeur, et s' en alla au Roy Cresus.

Or quand ils arriuerent en Lydie, le Roy Cresus voyant ce beau tronc deuant soy, se courrouca, disant, Voyez, comme ce petit homme m' a empesche de subjuguer vne si grande Isle; Lors Esope dist, Roy tres-puissant, Je ne suis point venu vers toy ny par force, ny par necessité, mais seulement de mon bon gré; Je te pris, permets vn peu, que je parle a toy; Il y eut iadis, vn homme qui prenant et tuant des sauterelles, print aussi vne cigale, et quand il la vouloit tuer, la Cigale dist, Ne me tue point fans cause, car je fay nul dommage aux bleds, et ne fay tort en chose quelconque, mais seulement je rejouys les passans par l'agreeable son qui se forme du mouement de mes aisles; Tu ne trouueras rien en me, que le chant; Cecy dit, l' homme luy donna congé, et la laissa aller sans luy faire mal; Et moy aussi (O Roy magnanime) Je ne peux attaindre plus haut qu'a tes pieds; Ne me tue point sans cause, car je ne peux faire dommage à autruy, mais en ce laid corps, je parle franchement.

[Page 24] Le Roy oyant ainsi parler Esope non seulement s' esmerveilla, mais aussi en eut Compassion, et luy dist, Tu n' as pas ta vie sauie de par moy, mais par la diuin Destin, Parquoy, Demande ce que tu voudras, et tu l'auras, Esope luy dist, Sire, Toute la priere que j' ay a te faire, c' est qu' il te plaise laisser en paix les Samiens. Ce que le Roy luy accorda; Et Esope se jettant à ses pieds le remercia tres-humblement.

Ce fut en ce mesme temps, qu' Esope composa ses Fables, lesquelles il laissa auec Roy Cresus, et sont encore aujour-d'-huy en sa royale Maison de Lydie; Or ayant chargè de l'Ambassadè, et des lettres du Roy pour l'accord fait auec les Samiens, il retourna en la ville de Samos. Les Samiens donc vindrent au deuant de luy, et luy apporterent chappeaux de fleurs, et à cause de luy, ordonnerent Danses, et jeux publiques, Esope leut les lettres du Roy, et par icelles il leur demonstrast, comment il recompensoit sa liberté que le peuple luy auoit donneé par vne autre libertè, laquelle il auoit impetreé du Roy; Puis apres, delaissant l' Isle de Samos il alloit par tout le monde disputant auec Philosophes, Il arriua donc en Babylone, et en demonstrant là sa doctrine il acquist la grace du Roy Lycerus, tellement qu' il fut vn des plus Grands de sa Court.

Or en ce temps là, les Rois auoient paix ensemble, et pour plaisir s' entr'-envoioyent l'vn à l'autre par lettres, des questions Sophistiques, et ceux qui les pouuoient soudre receuoient des autres tributs, selon qu' il estoit accordé entr' eux, et ceux qui ne pouuoient soudré, payoient les tributs eux mesmes. Esope donc entendant tous les problemes qui estoient enuoiez à Roy Lycerus rendoit la solution d'iceux, et par ce moyen le Roy acqueroit grand bruit, Il enuoioit aussi, en Nom de Lycerus, plusieurs questions aux autres Rois, lesquelles ils ne pouuoient resoudre, parquoy son Roy receuoit grands tributs.

Or Esope se voyant, sans enfans, adopta vn Gentil-homme lequel auoit Nom Ennus, et le presentant au Roy, le luy recommanda comme son propre fils; Mais vn peu apres, Ennus eut affaire auec la concubine d' Esope qui l'auoit adopté. Esope, scachant ceci, vouloit chasser Ennus de sa maison, lequel soudainement contrefit vne lettre, par lequelle il donnoit à entendre, au nom d' Esope, qu' il estoit prest d'adherer plustost a ceux qui enuoioient au Roy Lycerus des questions et pro­blemes, qu' au Roy Lycerus mesme, Et ayant séellé la lettre de l'anneau d' Esope, la donna au Roy, Le Roy adjoustant foy au seau, tout incontinent fut enflammè d'ire, et commanda à Hermippus que sans examen quelconque, il allast tuer Esope comme traitre; Mais Hermippus, qui autrefois estoit amy d' Esope, luy fut encore pour cette fois amy, car il le cacha dedans vn sepulchre, en sorte que nul ne le sceut, et secrettement il le nourrit. Or Ennus eut toute la charge, et government [Page 25]qu' auoit Esope par le commandement du Roy. Quelque temps apres, Nectenabo Roy des Egyptiens ayant entendu qu' Esope estoit mort, envoya incontinent vne lettre á Lycerus, et luy mandoit qu' il luy envoyast des maistres massons qui peussent edifier vne Tour qui ne touchâst ny le ciel, ny la Terre, et vn autre qui respondist a toutes choses qu' il démanderoit, que s' il le pouuoit faire, il receueroit tribut, si non, il le payeroit. Lycerus ayant leu les lettres fut remply de tristesse, pour ce que nul de ses amis ne pouuoit entendre la question de la Tour; Or disoit il, qu' il auoit perdu le pillier et establissement de son Royaume c' est ascauoir Esope. Hermippus cognoissant le douleur qu' auoit le Roy pour la mort d' Esope, s' addressa au Roy, et luy dist qu' Esope viuoit, et qu' il ne l'auoit voulu tuer, scachant que le Roy se repenteroit de cette execution; Le Roy fut resiouy, parquoy Esope lui fut amené tout ord, et crasseux, et quand le Roy le vid, il pleura, et commanda qu' il fut laué, nettoyè, et accoustrè d'vne autre sort. Cecy fait, Esope se purgea de ce que faussement il auoit este accusè, et respondit pertinement aux causes de son accusation, parquoy le Roy vouloit faire tuer Ennus, mais Esope impetra pardon du Roy pour Ennus.

Puis apres, le Roy Lycerus donna la lettre de Nectenabo à Esope pour la lire, laquelle, quand il eut leüe, il entendit incontinent la solution de la question et se print à rire, et feit rescrire au Roy Nectenabo que quand l' hyuer seroit passè, on luy enuoyeroit des Ouuriers qui luy bastiroient sa Tour, et vn Homme qui respondroit à toutes ses questions. Lycerus donc renvoya les Ambassadeurs d' Egypte, et redonna à Esope toute sa premiere administration, et luy rendit Ennus, et tout son bien.

Ennus estant retournè, Esope le receut benignement, et ne le contrista en rien, mais le traitta derechef commè son propre fils, et entre autres choses luy donna plusieurs belles Instructions, dont les principales furent celles-cy.

Mon Fils ayme Dieu sur toutes choses, Honore le Roy, et monstre toy terrible a tes ennemis, a celle fin qu'ils ne te mes­prisent; Sois a tes amis priué, facile, affable, et benign, afin qu'ils soient enclins a te bien vouloir. Souhaité, encore que tes Ennemis deuiennent malades, et soient pauures, afin qu'ils ne te puissent nuire, mais en toutes choses prié bien pour tes amis. Ne te depars jamais de ta femme, de peur qu'elle ne vueille faire essay d'vn autre homme, car le sexe des femmes est leger, et volage, et quand elles sont amadoueés par flatteries, elles pensent plus du mal. Rejette toute parole legiere; Sois sobre de ta langue, Ne porte point d'envie a ceux qui font bien, mais esiouys toy auec eux, car estant enuieux, tu en rapporteras le plus grand dommage, Aye soin de tes domestiques, afin que non seulement ils te craignent [Page 26]comme seigneur, mais qu' ils t' ayent en reuerence comme Bien­faicteur, N' ayes point de honte d'apprendre tousiours de mieux en mieux; Ne descouure point ton secret a ta femme, car elle cherche tousiours occasion comment elle puisse estre ta maitresse, Amasse tous les jours pour le lendemain, car il vaut mieux mourir, et delaissèr à ses ennemis, que viure, et auoir besoin de ses amis, Salue volonteirs ceux que tu rencontres, scachant que la queue du chien donne du pain a son Maistre. Ne te repens point de ta bonté. Chasse le mes disant de ta maison, car ce que tu fais, et dis, il le r' apportera aux autres. Fay chose qui ne te contriste point; Ne te fasche point de ce qu'il t' aduiendra. Ne recoy jamais mauuais conseil, et n' ensui point la vie des meschans.

Ennus estant instruit de toutes ces choses par Esope, et ayant frappè ainsi que d'vne fleché, tant par la parole d' Esope, que par sa propre conscience mourut incontinent apres.

Apres ce, Esope appella tous les oiseleurs, et leur commanda de prendre quatre poussins d'aigles; Or il les eut, et les nourrit (comme on dit) et les instruisit, (a quoy toutesfois nous n' adjoustons pas grande foy) et les aprint à porter, envolant bien haut, des enfans dedans des corbeilles pendües à leur col, et les duisoit à ceste obeissance, en sorte qu' ils volassent ou les garcons voudroient aller, ou en l'air bien haut, ou en bas en terre, Apres que l' hyuer fut passé, et que le printemps commencoit a rire, Esope appresta tout ce qui estoit necessaire pour vn tel voyage, et print les garcons, et les aigles, et s' en alla en Egypte, estonnant, et mettant en diuerses penseès tout le monde par vn tel spectacle.

Incontinent que le Roy des Egyptiens entendit qu' Esope estoit arriué, il dist à ses amis Je suis trompè, car j' auois oüy dire que Esope estoit mort. Le lendemain Nectenabo commanda que ses conseillers fussent tous vestus de pour robbes blanches, et il en luy prit de pour d'vne rouge, se mettant sur la teste vne couronne des pierres pretieuses, Et estant assis en son seige Royal il feit entrer Esope, et en entrant luy demanda A qui me compares tu Esope, et ceux qui sont auec moy? Esope respondit, Je te compare au soleil du printemps, et ceux qui sont a l'entour de toy aux espics meurs; Le Roy l'ayant en l'admiration, luy offrit des grands dons.

Or le lendemain, le Roy estant au contraire vestu d'vne robbe blanche, en feit à ses conseillers prendre de rouges, et feit entrer derechef Esope, et luy demanda, Qui te semble je, et ceux qui sont auec moy? Je te compare au soleil, dist Esope, et ceux qui sont aupres de toy, aux rayons du soleil, et Nectenabo luy dit, Je n' estime rien Lycerus au prix de moy, et Esope souriant dit Ne parle point ainsi legerement de Lycerus, O Roy, car si tu compares ton regne à ton peuple, il reluira comme le soleil, mais si tu viens à t' esgaler à [Page 27] Lycerus, il s' en faudra bien peu, que toute cette eclat ne paroisse vne grande obscurite. Nectenabo estonneé de ceste responce tant bien faite à propos, luy demanda, Nous as tu amené des massons pour bastir le Tour? Esope luy dit Ils sont prests, et il ne reste plus, qu' à leur monstrer le lieu, ou tu veux qu'on fasse les bastimens.

Le Roy donc sortit hors de la ville, et vint a la campagne, et luy monstra vn lieu compassé. Esope donc amena aux quatre coings de ce lieu, lequel luy auoit este monstré, les quatre Aigles, auec les quatre juuenceaux, pendus aux corbeilles, et apres qu' il eut donné en main à chacun son instrument de masson il commanda aux aigles de s' envoler, Elles s' enleuerent incontinent, et lors que ces maistres ouuriers se virent bien haut, ils se mirent à crier ensemble, Donnez nous de pierres? Donnez nous de la chaux? Donnez nous du Bois, et toutes autres choses propres pour bastir? Nectenabo voyant ces garcons monter en haut par le moyen des aigles, dit, D'ou nous sont venus ces hommes volans? et Esope luy dit, Lycerus a plusieurs de tels, et toy, jasoit, que tu sois homme, tu te veux comparer à vn Roy, semblable aux Dieux? Nectenabo luy dit, Esope, Je suis vancu, Il ne me reste plus qu' à te faire certaines demandes pour voir si tu me scauras respondre, J' ay icy, dit il, les juments, qui me semblent merueilleuses, car quand elles oyent hinner les cheuaux qui sont en Babylone, elles concoiuent incontinent. C' est a toy maintenant a monstrer, ( si tu es assez habile homme) la cause de cette mer­veille, Esope luy dit, Sire, Je te, respondra demain.

Estant donc de retour en son hostellerie il feit prendre vn chat par les valets du logis, et le mener par toute la ville publiquement, et le battre en allant. Les Egyptiens, qui auoyent c' este beste en reuerence, le voyans ainsi mal mené, ils accourent tous, et arracherent le pauure Chat des mains de ceux qui le battoient et r' apporterent au Roy ce qui auoit este fait. Le Roy appella Esope, et luy dist, Ne scauois tu pas que nous auons le chat en reuerence comme nostre Dieu? Pourquoy donc as tu feit ceci? Esope luy dit, Sire Nectenabo, ce chat, la nuit passeé, a fait dommage au Roy Lycerus, car il luy a tué son coq qui estoit aspre au combat, et magnanime, et luy sonnoit, et chantoit toutes les heures de la nuit, Le Roy luy dit, N' as tu point honte de mentir? Comment est il possible que le chat en vne nuit seule soit allé d' Egypte en Babylone, Lors Esope en souriant luy dit, Et comment Sire, peuuent conceuoir les juments d' Egypte en oyant hinnir les cheuaux de Babylone? Le Roy, ceci entendu, estima grandement la prudence d' Esope.

Puis apres, le Roy fit venir de la ville d' Heliopolis hommes expertes en questions Sophistiques, et leur parlant de la vivacite d' Esope les inuita en vn banquet, auquel se deuoit trouner Esope, Apres qu' ils [Page 28]furent assis a la table, l'vn de ces Heliopolitains dit à Esope, Je suis enuoyé de par mon Dieu, pour te demander la solution d'vne question; Esope luy dit, Tu ments, car Dieu n'a besoin de s' en­querir, et apprendre d'vn homme, Or non seulement t' accuses toy mesme, mais aussi ton Dieu, vn autre luy dit, Il y a vn grand Temple et en iceluy vn pillier contenant douze villes, et chacune d'icelles est soustenué de trente poutres lesquelles deux Femmes enuironnent; Lors Esope dit, Les enfans de nostre pays soudront bien ceste question. Le Temple, c' est ce monde; Le pillier c' est l'An, les villes sont les mois, Et les poutres sont les jours du mois, le jour et la nuit sont les deux femmes, lesquelles succedent l'vne à l'autre.

Le lendemain Nectenabo appella ses amis, et leur dit, Cet Esope sera cause que nous deurons payer le tribut a Roy Lycerus, et l'vn entr' eux dit, Nous luy proposerons des questions lesquelles nous mesmes n'auons jamais sceües, ny, ouyes. Et Esope leur dit; Je vous feray demain responce sur cecy; Il s' en alla donc, et fit vn petit escrit, auquel estoit contenu, Nectenabo confesse deuoir a Lycerus mille Talents, et retournant le lendemain, il bailla cést escrit au Roy, Or auant que le Roy l'ouurit, tous ses amis luy dirent, Et nous scauons cecy, et l'auons ouy, et vrayement nous le scauons; Et Esope leur dit, Je vous remercie de ce que vous accordez à la debte Or quand le Roy Nectenabo eut ouy la confession de la debte, Il dit à ses gens, Je ne dois rien, et toutesfois vous tesmoignez tous contre moy, les autres changeant d'opinion dirent, nous en scauons rien, ne nous n' en auons ouy parler, Lors Esope dict, Si est ainsi vous auez la resolution de vostre question; Adonc Nectenabo s' esbaissant dit, Le Roy Lycerus est heureux d'auoir vn personnage si scauant en son royaume, Parquoy il deliura les tributs accordez à Esope, et le r' envoya en paix.

Esope retournant en Babylone raconta au Roy Lycerus tout ce' qu' il auoit fait en Egypte, et luy donna le tribut que Nectenabo luy enuoioit; Pour recompense de quoy, Lycerus luy fit eriger vne statüe d'or. Ʋn peu de temps apres, Esope delibera d'aller en Grece, et ayant fait son accord auec le Roy, et prins congè de luy, il partit de Babylone, soubs cette promesse toutesfois, qu'il y retourneroit, et qu' il y passeroit la reste de sa vie. Or apres qu' il eut passé par les villes de Grece et de­monstrè son scauoir, il vint aussi en Delphos, Les Delphiens s' ouyrent volonteirs parler, mais ils ne luy feirent honneur, ne reuerence, Et regar­dant à eux, il leur dit, Hommes Delphiens il me vient en phantasie que vous ressembles a quelque peice du bois qui va flottant sur la mer, car en le voyant de loin quand il est agite par les vagues, nous l'estimons beaucoup, mais quand il est pres de nous il'apparoit [Page 29]de petit pris, Et moy aussi quand j' estois loin de vostre ville, je vous auois en admiration comme dignes de grande louange, mais depuis que je suis arriué à icy, Je vous ay trouuez (si ainsi il faut dire) plus inutiles que tous les autres, parquoy j' ay este deceu, Les Delphiens oyants ce propos, et craignans qu' Esope passant par les autres villes, ne mesdist aucunement d'eux, conspirerent de le tuer mes­chamment. Ils prindrent donc vne phiole d'or, de temple d' Apollon lequel estoit en leur ville, et la mirent secrettement dedans la malle d' Esope. Or Esope, ignorant la conspiration des Delphiens, et sortant de leur ville, s' en alloit en Phocis; Mais le Delphiens le suyuirent, si bien que l'ayant atteint, ils s' en saisirent, et l'accuserent du Sacrilege; Esope nioit auoir commis aucun larcin; Les autres fouillans par force en ses malles, et bouges, trouuerent la phiole d'or, laquelle ils prindrent, et montrerent à tous les citoyens auec grand bruit et tumulte, Esope donc, cognoissant leur tromperies et meschantez, les pria qu'ils le laissassent aller; mais non seulement ils ne luy donnerent congé, ains ils le mei­rent en prison comme vn sacrilege, ayants touts conclu en sa mort pour la voix d'vn chacun. Or Esope voyant que par nulle subtilité il ne pouuoit eschapper de ce malheur, il se plaignoit soy mesme, estant assis en la prison. L' vn de ses amis, lequel auoit nom Damas, vint à luy, et le voyant ainsi plaindre luy demanda la cause de sa plainte, et Esope luy dit, Ʋne femme auoit nouellement enseuely son mary, et allant tous les jours au tombeau pleuroit, Or vn rustique labouroit pres de ce tombeau, et fut surpris de l'amour de ceste femme, et delaissant ses baeufs, s' en alla jusq' au tombeau, et estant lá assis, pleuroit auec la femme, La femme luy demanda pourquoy il pleuroit ainsi, pource dit il, que j' ay perdu ma femme qui estoit belle, et honeste, et apres que j' aura pleurè, je sera releué de ma tristesse. Et la femme luy dit, Il m' est aduenu semblablement, et le paisant luy dit, Si tous deux sommes tombez en semblable Inconuenient, qui empesche que nous ne soyons ma­riez ensemble? car je t' aimeray commé j' aimoy ma femme, et tu m' aimeras comme tu faisois ton mary; La femme le croyant ils s' accor­derent ensemble. Et vn larron vint cependant, et delia les baeufs, et les chassa deuant soy. Or le laboureur retourna, et apres n' auoir trouué ses baeufs commenca à se lamenter, et grandement plaindre; La femme vint apres, et le voyant ainsi pleurer luy demanda, Pourquoy, pleures tu encores? Il luy dit, maintenant je pleure a bon escient; J' en fay de mesme, conclud Esope, qui estant sauuè cy-deuant des plusieurs Dangers, je ne voy point maintenant qu' il y ait moyen de de me tirer de celuy cy, et n' attens d'aucun lieu la deliverance de mon mal.

Ces choses estant passeés, les Delphiens vindrent à Esope, et le tirerent hors de prison pour le menir en quelque haut lieu pour le jetter d'iceluy en bas. Or il leur disoit ainsi, quand les bestes brutes parloient [Page 30]le Rat deuint amy de la Grenoüille, et la conuia a souper, et l'ayant mener au cellier d'vn riche homme, ou il y auoit beaucoup de sortes de viandes, luy dit, Mange m' amie Grenoüille? Apres qu' ils eurent fait grand chere, la Grenoüille aussi l'invita à son festin; Mais ne te trauaille point, dit elle, en nageant, J' attacheray bien ton pied au mien auec un filet delié, Cecy fait, elle sauta en l'estang, et ce pendant qu' elle nageoit entre deux eaux, le pauure Rat s' estouffoit, et en mourant, il dit, Helas tu me fais Mourir, mais vn plus grand que toy me van­gera, Le pauure Rat ainsi mort nageoit sur l'eau, et lors vn Aigle vo­lant par lá, l'attrappa, et quand elle attira à soy, il attrappa aussi la Grenouille qui estoit attaché au fillet, et en ceste sorte elle les deuora tous deux; Et moy icy, dit Esope, Je suis mené par force à la mort, et sans raison vous m'y trainez; mais j' aura qui me vengera, car Babylone, et toute la Grece vous feront payer cher pour ma mort. Toutesfois les Delphiens ne luy pardonnerent pas pourtant, Or Esope se retira au temple du Appollon, pour y estre en seuretè, mais iceux tous courroucez l'en retirerent, et le menoient encore au lieu du supplice, ou auparauant qu' arriuer, il leur conta ceste Fable, Escoutez moy Hommes de Delphos, l'aigle poursuiuoit le lieure, le pauure lieure ne scachant ou se cacher se retira en la cauerne de l'escarbot le priant qu' il le gardast du peril ou il estoit, Or l'escarbot, prioit l'Aigle qu' elle ne tuast point le pauure suppliant, la priant de par le grand Dieu Jupiter qu' elle ne dedaignast point sa pe­titesse, l'Aigle toute courrouceé, frappant de l'aile l'escarbot, mit le lieure en peices et le mangea; l'escarbot irrité de l'injure qu' on luy auoit faict, s' enuola auec l'Aigle, pour scauoir le lieu ou estoit son nid, et y estant, roula ses oeufs du haut en bas, et les cassa; l'Aigle imputant cecy à grand fascherie contre celuy qui auroit entreprins vn tel faict contre elle, fit son nid en plus haut lieu, et derechef l'escarbot y alla, et jetta ses oeufs, parquoy l'Aigle despourueüe de conseil, monta à Jupiter (car on la dit estre sous sa garde) et mit en sa sauuegarde à ses genoux la troisjeme porteé de ses oeufs, les luy recommandant, et supliant qu' il les gardast; Mais l'escarbot ayant feit vne pillule de fiens mon­ta en haut et la meit au sein du Jupiter, Jupiter se leuant pour secouer l'ordure, ayant mis en oubli les oeufs de son Aigle, les jetta en bas, et les cassa; Mais apres auoir sceu de l'escarbot qu' il auoit fait cela pour se vanger de l'Aigle (car non seulement elle auoit faict injure à l'escarbot, mais aussi elle a commis meschan­cete contre Jupiter) il parla ainsi à l'Aigle à son retour, C' est l'escarbot qui t' a insi contristeé, et certes il a fait justement, Jupiter donc ne voulant point que la Race des aigles defaillist, il conseilla à l'escarbot qu'il feist son appoinctement auec la Aigle, [Page 31]l'escarbot ne s'y voulut accorder, parquoy Jupiter remit la pro­creation des Aigles en autre temps, que les Escarbots ne se monstrent point. Vos donc messeiurs de Delphos, ne meprifez point ce Dieu à qui je me suis retiré; combien qu' il ait qu' vn petit temple, car il ne lairra pas les meschans impunis.

Les Delphiens ne se soucians pas beaucoup de ce qui disoit Esope le menoit droit à la mort, Esope voyant que nullement il ne les pouuoit amollir, leur dit, derechef. Hommes cruels, et meurtriers, oyez! Vn laboureur devint vieil aux champs, et pource qu'il n' auoit jamais veu la ville, il prioit ceux de sa maison qu' il la peut voir; Ses gens attellerent les asnes, et mirent le pauure veillard sur le charriot, et le laisserent aller tout seul, En allant, l'air deuint obscur à cause des orages, et de la pluye, et ainsi par ces tenebres, les asnes se fouruoyerent du chemin, et allans decà, et delà, jetterent ce pauure homme en vn fossé, Lors en ce mal-encontré il disoit, Helas Jupiter en quoy t' ay Je offence que tant miserablement je suis icy occis, et singulierement que je ne suis point tué par cheuaux courageux, ne par bons mulets, mais par mal heureuses asnes? Et maintenant, Esope conclud, Je suis aussi marri de ce que je suis tué, non pas par nobles gens et honourables, mais par gens inutiles, et meschans.

Estant pres d'estre jette en bas il dit encore ceste Fable. Un Homme, aimant fort sa fille, enuoya sa femme aux champs, et estant seul auec sa fille, il la print à force. La fille luy dist, Mon Pere, tu fais meschamment, j' aymerois beaucoup mieux estre deshonoreé par plusieurs autres, que de toy qui m' as engendré, Je dy aussi cecy maintenant contre vous (O meschans Delphiens) que jaymerois mieux tomber en tous les perils de la mer, aux gouffres, et Syrtes en Affrique, que mourir injustement, et sans cause par vos mains; Je maudis donc vostre pays, et appelle les dieux en tesmoignage que je meurs contre toute justice et equité, lesquels m' exauceront et vengeront; Ils le mirent donc sur le coupet d'une roche, et le jetterent du haut en bas. Or vn peu de temps apres, estans affligez de peste, ils sceurent par dinine responce, qu' il failloit que Reparation fut faite de la mort d' Esope; lesquels se sentans coulpables, et scachans qu' injustement il auoit este tué, luy esleuerent vne pyramide, Et les principaux de Grece, et tous gens scauans, quand ils entendirent ce qu' on fait à Esope, allerent en Delphos, et s' estans enformez de ceux qui estoient cause de la mort d' Esope, ils en firent eux mesmes la vengeance.

MUlti, et magni Nominis, viri, rerum humanarum Naturam assecuti sunt, & Posteritati commendârunt, Aesopus verò, non sine Numine, videtur multis parasangis superâsse omnes in eâ Philosophiae parte quae ad Ethicam, seu moralem disciplinam, pertinet; nam neque definiendo, nec ratiocinando secundum Aristotelem, neque ex Historiâ admo­nendo, secundum Socratem, & Platonem, sed fabulis prorsùs erudiendo, pro statu illius temporis, sic audientium animos aucupatus est, ut pudeat homines ratione praeditos facere, aut sentire quidem, quae bruta animalia deliberatè evitâsse singuntur, ex quibus aliqua, pericula imminentia diverterunt, altera maximam utilitatem opportunè consecuta sunt. Aesopus igitur, qui vitam suam, Idaeam Reipublicae Philo­sophicae, constituerat, & qui rebus, magis quàm v [...]rbis, Philosophum egit, Natione fuit Phryx, ex Ammorio oppido Phrygiae cognomento Magnae, sed Conditione fuit Servus: Quàm pulchrè igitur & quàm verè fuit illud Platonis Dictum, in suo Gorgia, Plerunque inter se sunt contraria, Lex et Natura.

Aesopi animum Natura liberum praestabat, sed Fortunae lex in servitium tradidit; At ne sic quidem Animi libertatem potuit corrumpere, sed quamvis ad res varias, & ad incerta loca, corpus transtulerat, à propriâ tamen sede animum movere non potuit. Aesopus enim non solùm servus fuit, sed & omnium hominum, in aetate quâ degebat, de­formosissimus, nam obstipo fuit & acuto capite, depressis naribus, collo reclivi, labris prominentibus, colore niger, unde & nomen adeptus est (Idem enim Aesopus signi­ficat quod Aethiops;) praeterea ventrosus fuit, valgus, & incurvus, forsitan & Thersiten in Homero turpitudine formae superavit; sed quod pessimum omnium in eo fuit tardiloquentia, & vox blaesa, & inarticulate, Quae omnia videntur servitutem Aesopo destinâsse; mirum etenim fuisset si tam inhabili & indecenti corpore servitutis jugum aufugere potuisset: sed quamvis corpore tali, animo solertissimo naturâ extitit, & ad omne figmentum faelicissimus.

Magister ipsius, tanquam ad nullum domesticum opus utilem, ad fodiendum in agris emisit; Aesopus egressus alacriter operi incumbebat, profecto ad agros Hero ut laborantes observaret, unus ex agricolis egregias ex arbore decerptas ficus dono tulit; Ille verò fructûs delectatus pulchritudine Agathopo Ministro (hoc enim erat Puero no­men) transferri jussit, ut sibi a balneo revertenti apponeret: Quùm verò sic evenisset, ut Aesopus ob quandam necessitatem Heri Domum ingrederetur, Agathopus occa­sione captâ consilium tale conservo cuidam obtulit, Impleamur, dixit, si placeat, ficubus, ac si Herus noster forsan requisierit, nos contra Aesopum testes crimus, quod, in Domum ingressus, ficus clàm comederit, & huic figmento multa alia mendacia super­struemus; Nihil, crede mihi, unus ad duos valebit, praesertim quùm sine ullis probationibus quicquam diducere conabitur.

Hoc consilio inito, ad opus accesserunt, & ficus devorantes, dicebant singuli cum risu, Vae tibi infaelix Aesope! Quùm igitur Herus à Balneo rediisset, & sicus petiisset, audivissetque quod Aesopus eas comederat, irâ excandescens Aesopum ad se vocari [Page 2]jussit, & vocato ait, Itáne (O execrande) me contempsisti, ut in penu non dubitaveris ingredi, & paratas mihi ficus comedere? Aesopus audiebat quidem & intelligebat, sed ob linguae tarditatem nullo modo respondere poterat: Quum jam ad verbera trahe­retur, & delatores vehementer instarent, procumbens ad heri pedes, ut paululum morae sibi indulgeret, petivit; quo concesso, tepidam aquam attulit, & quum bibisset, digitis in os demissis, rursus aquam tepidam solùm ejecit, nondum enim per totum illum diem cibum attigerat. Rogabat, igitur, ut idem & accusatores facerent, ut manifestum fieret quisnam fuit qui ficus devorâsset: Herus, ingenium hominis admiratus, sic facere alios pepulit; Illi autem deliberaverunt bibere quidem aquam, sed non in guttur demittere digitos, at per obliqua tantum maxillarum, huc, illuc, circumferre. Vixdum autem biberant, quum, per tepidam illam aquam nauseâ potantibus inductâ, sicus comesas redderent: Tunc igitur & maleficio Delatorum & calumniâ ante oculos positâ, Herus jussit servos flagro vapulare, qui moesti dictum illud agnoverunt, Qui in alterum dolos struit sibi inscius malum fabricat.

Sequenti die, Hero in urbem revecto, Aesopo verò, quemadmodum jussus fu­erat, in agris fodiente, Sacerdotes Dianae, five alii quidam homines in viâ erran­tes, in Aesopum inciderunt, & per Jovem Hospitalem efflagitabant, ut viam osten­deret quae in urbem duceret: Ille, quum sub Arboris umbram viros priùs adduxisset, frugalem (que) apposuisset coenam, in viam quam quaerebant induxit; Viatores itaque tum ob hospitalitatem, tum ob conductum, mirum in modum, viro devincti, manus in coelum elevârunt, et multis precibus benefactorem remunerati sunt.

Aesopus reversus, et in somnum lapsus, prae assiduo labore, & torrido solis aestu, visus est fortunam sibi astantem videre, & solutionem linguae, & sermonis habilita­tem, & Fabularum Sapientiam l [...]gientem, & non longo post tempore excitatus, Papae, exclamavit, ut suaviter dormivi, et quàm pulchrum somnium videre mihi visus sum, & ecce expeditè loquor, Bos, Asinus, Rastrum, et omnia alia verba, facilè pronuntiare possum; & benè intelligo unde mihi Bonum hoc accesserit, quia enim pius in hospites fui, propitium mihi Numen consecutus sum: Ergo benefacere bonâ plenùm est spe. Sic Aesopus facto laetatus rursum coepit fodere. Sed Praefecto, agri, cui Zenas nomen erat, ad operarios profecto, horum unum, quoniam erraverat in opere, fuste punivit; Aesopus autem exclamavit, Cur sic verberas eum qui nullâ inju­riâ te affecit? Cur omnibus tam temerè plagas quotidie ingeris? Renunciabo Hero pro­fectò. Quae quum Zenas accepisset, non mediocriter obstupuit, & secum ait, Quod Aesopus loqui coeperit nihil mihi emolumenti foret; Praeveniens igitur, ipsum coram Domino accusabo, antequam ipse hoc idem faciat, & me Herus procuratione privet. Haec secum murmurans, ad urbem conversus, domi illius se contulit: Caeterum quum turbatus & fronte parum laetâ accessisset, Salve, inquit, Here; cui Ille, Quid perturbatus ades, Zenas respondebat? Res quaedam miranda in agro accidit: Et Herus, Nunquid Arbor ante tempus abortivum fructum tulit? An Jumentum aliquod praeter Naturam genuit? Et ille, Non, Non, Sed Aesopus, qui antea penè mutus erat, nunc loqui coepit; Et Herus, Sic tibi nihil boni eveniat existimanti hoc monstrum esse: Et ille, Mitto opprobria quae in me Aesopus contumeliosè dixit; In te autem, & in Deos ipsos horrendè conviciatur. His Herus percitus, Zena, ait, tibi Aesopum tra­do, vende, dona, quod vis de eo facito.

Quum Zenas in potestate sua Aesopum accepisset, & in eum absolutum imperium haberet, Aesopo renuntiavit; cui Aesopus placidè dixit, Quodcun (que) volueris effice. Fortè verò quum Mercator quidam Jumenta quaereret emere, & propterea per agrum illum ubi Aesopus laboravit iter faceret, & Zenam pro Jumentis rogavit; Ze­nas respondit, Jumenta non habeo, sed si masculum mancipium emere vis in promptu habeo. Quum verò mercator ostendi sibi servulum petiisset, et Zenas Aesopum ac­cersisset, mercator eum intuens, & cachinnatus, dixit, Ʋnde tibi haec olla? Ʋtrunt truncus est arboris, an Homo? Hic, nisi vocem haberet, plane mihi videretur esse uter inflatus; Quare mihi Iter rupisti hujus Piaculi gratia? Haec dicens abivit. Aesopus [Page 3]autem insecutus ipsum; Mane, inquit: cui Mercator conversus, Abi, inquit, à me sordidissime canis: Et Aesopus, Dic mihi, cujus rei gratia huc venisti? Et Merca­tor, Sceleste, ut aliquid boni emerem, tui non egeo, quod tam inutilis es: Et Aesopus, Eme me, & si qua est fides, plurimum te juvare possum: & ille, Quâ in re, quum penitùs mihi odium sis, utilis esse potes? Et Aesopus, Nonne domi habes pueros stentes & turbulentos? His praefice me Paedagogum, & omnino eis pro larvâ ero; Ridens igitur Mercator, Zenae dixit, Quanti, malum hoc vendis? cui Zenas, tribus obolis; Mercator statim tres obolos solvens, Nihil, dixit, exposui, & Nihil emi.

Quum igitur iter fecissent, ac pervenissent in suam Domum, pueruli duo qui ad­huc materna sugebant ubera, Aesopo viso, perturbati exclamaverunt, Et Aesopus statim Mercatori dixit, Habes jam mei promissi probationem: Ille verò ridens; In­gressus, inquit, saluta conservos tuos? Introgressum autem ac salutantem quùm vi­derunt illi, Quodnam malum, inquiunt, Hero nostro contigit, ut servulum tam de­formem emerit? sed ut videtur prosascino Domus, ad avertendum omne malum, hunc adeptus est. Non multò verò pòst Mercator, apparari res ad iter servis mandavit, quòd postridiè in Asiam profecturus esset. Illi igitur statim vasa distribuebant; Aesopus autem providè rogavit, levissimum onus sibi concedi, utpote nuper empto, & nondum ad haec ministeria exercitato; His autem, & si nihil portare velit, ve­niam praebentibus; Ille, non oportere, dixit, omnibus laborantibus se solum in­utilem esse: His igitur, quod portare vellet permittentibus, quum hùc, & illùc circumspexisset, & vasa diversa congregâsset, unà cum saccis, stramentis, & ca­nistris, unum canistrum panis plenum quem duo portare debebant sibi imponi posce­bat; Illi autem ridentes, & nihil stultius esse Aesopo affirmantes, qui paulò anteà levissimum rogabat portare onus, & nunc omnium gravissimum elegerat, oportere tamen desiderio ejus satisfacere dicentes, sublatum canistrum Aesopo imponebant: Aesopus, humeris onere gravatis, hùc & illùc dimovebatur; Hunc videns Mercator, admiratus est, & inquit, Aesopus est ad laborandum promptus, & jam suum pretium persolvit, jumenti enim onus, misellus portat. Quum autem in Horâ prandii diver­tissent, Aesopus, qui jussus fuit panes unicui (que) distribuere, semivacuum canistrum, multis comedentibus, fecit, unde post prandium leviore onere facto, alacrius in­cedebat; Verùm vespere quo (que) pane illic quo diverterant distributo, posterâ die, vacuo humeris sublato canistro, primus omnium ibat, ita ut conservis hunc praecur­rentem videntibus, dubium esset, utrum deformis esset Aesopus, an quispiam alius; Et quum propius accedentes cognovissent eundem esse, admirabantur quod nigellus homuncio solertius omnibus fecerit, quoniam qui facilè consumerentur panes sustu­lit, quum illi stramenta & reliquam supellectilem bajularent.

Mercator quum esset Ephesi, alia quidem mancipia cum lucro vendidit, remanse­runt autem tria, Grammaticus, Cantor, & Aesopus: Quum verò quidam ex fami­liaribus Mercatori suasisset ut in Samum navigaret, tanquam ibi cum majori lucro vendituro servulos, quum illic pervenisset, Grammaticum, & Cantorem utrún (que) novâ veste indutum in foro statuebat; sed Aesopum, quoniam totus erat mendosus, & deformis, veste ex sacco ei circumpositâ medium inter utrún (que) constituit, ut & videntes stuperent, dicentes, Ʋnde haec abhominatio quae & alios obscurat? Aesopus autem, quamvis à multis morderetur, constanter tamen stetit, ad ipsos intuens.

Xanthus Philosophus, qui tunc habitabat Sami, profectus in forum, & cernens duos pueros bellè ornatos in foro astantes, & in medio illorum Aesopum, admiratus est Mercatoris Commentum, quod turpem in medio collocaverat, ut appositione deformis, pulchriores quam re verâ erant, alteri adolescentuli apparerent; Et pro­pius accedens percontatus est Cantorem, cujas esset? Et is, Cappadox; Tum Xan­thus, Quid igitur scis facere? Omnia respondebat Cantor; Ad haec Aesopus risit: Sed Discipuli qui cum Xantho unà erant, ut viderunt ipsum ridentem, dentes (que) ostendentem, statim monstrum aliquod se videre arbitrabantur, & corum uno, Certe Hernia est, habens dentes, dicente; & alio, Quidnam videns risit? Alio, [Page 4] non risisse sed rugisse: Omnibus autem volentibus cognoscere cur risisset, unus illorum accedens Aesopo, inquit, Cujus rei gratiâ risisti? Et is, Abscede marina Ovis: Illo verò, eo sermone funditùs confuso, repenté (que) secedente, Xanthus in­quit Mercatori; Quanti pretii est Cantor? Illo autem, mille obolorum, respondente, ad alterum ivit, insolito vexatus pretio; At (que) & hunc rogitante Philosopho, Cujusnam foret, & audito Lydum esse, rursús (que) rogante, Quid ergo scis facere? Et illo respondente, Omnia; iterum risit Aesopus: Ex Scholasticis autem quodam scisci­tante, Quidnam hîc ad omnes ridet? alius ei dixit, Si & vis tu marinus vocari Hircus, roga, quaeso. Interea Xanthus rursus rogavit Mercatorem, Quanti pretii Grammaticus; & illo tribus millibus obolorum respondente, Philosophus aegrè tulit tam immensum pretium, & domi se ferebat. Discipulis autem petentibus, An non placuerint ei servuli? Placent, respondebat, sed non in animo est emere Mancipium pretiosum. Uno autem dicente, Sed quid impedit, ne turpis hic ematur? qui idem obsequium, idem ministerium afferet, quod & alii; nos ergo pretium illius expo­nemus. Xanthus respondet, Absurdum & ridiculum prorsùs erit vos solvisse pretium pro servulo, & me emisse: Praetereà & uxor mea, munditiae studiosissima, nunquam feret à tam deformi serviri mancipio. Scholasticis rursùs dicentibus, sed nobilis est Sententia quae docet, quod, Foeminae non sunt parendae; Xanthus dixit, Faciamus priùs periculum, An sciat aliquid? ne pretium incassum pereat. Accedens igitur ad Aesopum, Gaude, inquit; Cui statim Aesopus, Numnam tristabar? Xanthus proce­dit, Saluto te: Et Aesopus, Et ego te. Xanthus unà cum aliis stupefactus inexpectato responso, rogavit, Cujas es? Ille respondet, Niger. Xanthus iterùm, Non hoc peto, sed unde natus es? Et is, Ex ventre Matris meae. Et Xanthus rursùs, Non hoc dico, sed in quo loco natus es? Et ille, Non renunciavit mihi mater mea, Ʋtrum in loco sublimi, an in humili. Et Philosophus, Quid autem facere nôsti? Et ille, Nihil. Et Xanthus, Quomodo? Aesopus respondet, Quoniam Hi duo se omnia novisse professi sunt, & mihi nihil reliquerunt. Ad quae Scholastici vehementer admirantes, Per Deos dixe­runt optimè respondet: Nullus enim Homo est qui omnia novit, & ob hanc Causam etiam & ridebat. Rursùs Xanthus inquit, Vis ut te emam? Cui Aesopus, Non hac in re me consultore eges: Ʋtrum tibi melius esse videbitur, aut emere, aut non emere, facias; Nemo enim quicquam vi facit; Hoc in tua positum est Voluntate: Et si volu­eris, crumenae Januam aperi, & argentum numera; sin verò minimè, Nè mihi vitio vertas. Rursùs igitur Discipuli inter se dixerunt, Per Deos nostrum Prae­ceptorem antecellit. Xanthus verò quùm dixisset, Si te emero, an non à me ausu­gies? Aesopus ridens respondebat, Hoc si vellem facere nullo modo utar tuo consilio, ut & tu, paulò antè, meo. Et Xanthus, Benè dicis, sed deformis es. Cui Aesopus, Mentem inspicere oportet, O Philosophe, & non gibbosum, non deforme Corpus. Ad Mercatorem igitur accedens, Xanthus dixit ei, Quanti hunc vendis? Cui Mercator, Cur tali modo vituperas meas merces? formosis etenim pueris omissis deformem hunc elegisti: Alterum horum eme, & in illorum Gratiam, Hunc autem Auctarium accipe. Non certes, respondit Xanthus, Deformem hunc solum modò emam, praetereà Neminem. Habeas igitur, dixit Mercator, pro sexaginta obolis: Et Discipuli, qui ad Xanthum pertinebant, obulos confestim collatos liberaliter exposuerunt.

Aesopo, in Xanthi ministerium tralato, Publicani ingruentes aderant, & ven­ditione cognitâ, sciscitantur, Quis vendiderit, & quis emerit? At quùm utrum (que) puderet notos esse propter vilitatem pretii, Aesopus in medio stans (sicut amictum ex­posuimus) exclamavit, Qui venditus est, Ego sum; Qui me emit, hic est; Qui me vendidit, Ille est; Si verò ipsi prorsùs tacuissent, quid obstat, quo minùs ipse liber sim? Publicani, diffusi risu, abierunt, donato Xantho Vectigali. Aesopus igitur seque­batur Xanthum domi proficiscentem: Quùm autem meridianus Sol aestuabat, Xanthus inter ambulandum pallium attollens mingebat; quod Aesopus observans, vestibus illius prensis, retrò ad seipsum Philosophum traxit, & inquit: Quàm celerrimè ut me vendas velim, aliter pocul dubiò aufugiam. Cui Xanthus, Quam ob [Page 5]rem? Quoniam, inquit, gravissimum est taliservire Hero; si enim tu qui Herus es, & neminem times, non relaxationem Naturae praebes, sed eundo mingis, si obtigerit me servum tuum ad aliquod mitti ministerium, & inter eundum tale quid Natura exigat, necesse omninò fuerit (turpe quidem dictu) currendo cacare. Et Xanthus, Hoc te turbat? Rationem tibi quia sic feci, reddam; Stanti mihi Sol perussisset caput, & pedes torridum terrae Solum, & urinae acrimonia olfactum offendisset. Et Aesopus, Vadè igitur, persuasisti mihi. Postquàm autem us (que) ad domum Xanthi profecti sunt; Xanthus jubens Aesopum manere ante vestibulum, quoniam elegantiusculam sibi uxorem noverat, ne (que) illicò debere talem turpitudinem illi ostendi, antequàm aliquis illi urbaniora diceret: Ipse ingressus dixit, Domina, non etiam posthâc reji­cies ministerium quod tibi meae pedissequae praestant; Jam enim ego Puerum tibi emi, in quo videbis pulchritudinem qualem nunquam vidisti, qui & jam ante vestibulum stat. Famulae Xanthi vera existimantes quae dicta fuerant inter se non mediocri gaudio contendebant, cuinam ipsarum Sponsus destinatus sit. Xanthus interea novum mancipium intus vocari jussit, una ex illis magis accelerans &, ut arrha­bonem, mandatum arripiens Aesopum forìs quaesivit, & non inventum, nomine vocavit; cui Aesopus confestim, Coram, quem quaeritis, adsum. Ancilla autem stupefacta; Túne, inquit, es Aesopus? Et ille; Aesopus sum. Ne ingrediaris, dixit Ancilla, sin facies, omnes illicò fugiemus: Illâ haec dicente, egreditur & altera Ancilla, ac ut Aesopum vidit, Caedatur tua, dixit, facies, & ingredere, sed ne ap­propinques mihi.

Aesopus autem Ingressus stetit coram Dominâ, quae ut eum vidisset, oculos aver­tens ad Virum, Ʋndè hoc monstrum mihi attulisti, dixit, abjice ipsum à facie meâ: Et Xanthus, Satis tibi Domina, Ne nimiùm mordaciter succenseas servo meo: Et illa, Videris mihi Xanthe jam me odisse, & causam quaerere uxorem ducendi alteram, & forsan dùm pudebat tibi apertè mihi dicere, Discede â Domo meâ, Canicipitem hunc apportâsti, ut ejus aegrè latura ministerium, à Domo tuâ fugiam; Retribuas igitur mihi Dotem meam, ut abscedam.

Haec quùm Xanthus audivisset, Aesopum objurgavit, quod nullum Responsum Uxori dedit, quùm inter eundum in Itinere faceta quaedam de mictu locutus fuerat: Aesopus tandem iracundè protulit, Projice ipsam in Barathrum. Cui Xanthus, Tace scelus! An nescis me illam ut meipsum amare? Et Aesopus, Pulchrè sapientiam profiteris, An Philosophus amat mulierculam? Et ille, Admodum quidem; Ad quae Aesopus pulsato pede exclamavit, Xanthus Philosophus Ʋxorius est: Et versus deinde ad Dominam, ait, Tu velles, O Domina, quod Dominus meus emisset tibi servum Juvenem, bono habitu, & vigentem, qui te nudam in Balneo spectaret, & tecum luderet in dedecus mariti. O Euripides, ut veneror te & aureum os tuum talia dicentem; Multi sunt impetus fluctuum marinorum, multi fluminum & Ignis calidi flatus; Dura est res paupertas, & Dura alia Infinita, tamen nihil aequè durum ut mulier mala. Tu verò Domina, Philosophi quùm sis Ʋxor, serviri tibi noli à ve­nustis adolescentulis, nè quo pacto contumeliam aliquam viro tuo inflixeris.

Xanthi Uxor quùm haec audîsset, & nihil contradicere potuisset: Unde secum aiebat, Vir meus pulchritudinem hanc venatus est; Nihilominùs quamvis sordidissimè se gerit, & loquax nebulo est, & facetus, Reconciliabor ei: Tum Xanthus, Aesope, reconciliata est tibi tua Hera; Et Aesopus, Ironicè loquens, Magna est res, inquit, placare mulierem. Et Xanthus, Cave, posthâc ut taceas, emi etenim te ad serviendum, non ad contradicendum.

Posterâ Die Xanthus, Aesopo sequi jusso, ad hortum quendam ivit, empturus olera; Quùm verò Olitor fasciculum olerum messuisset, Aesopus in manum acce­pit, & Xantho soluturo Hortulano Pecuniam; Pace, inquit Hortulanus, tuâ, Domine, Problema unum à te desidero: Et Xanthus, Quidnam est? Tum Ille; Quae­nam est Causa quod quae à me plantantur olera, quamvis & diligenter fodiantur, & quotidiè irrigantur, tardum tamen accipiunt Incrementum, quùm illa quibus sponta­nea [Page 6]est à terrâ germinatio, & si nulla cura adhibetur, iis tamen celerior germi­natio? Xanthus, licèt ad Philosophum quaestio pertinebat, quùm nihil aliud sciret dicere, & hoc etiam ut caetera omnia à Divinâ Providentiâ gubernari, inquit. Ad haec verba Aesopus risit; Ad quem Philosophus, Ridésne? an derides? Et Aesopus, Derideo, inquit, sed non te, sed qui te docuit; Quae enim à Divinâ Providentiâ fiunt, à sapientibus viris solutionem sortiuntur; Si mihi permittas, ego hoc solvam problema: Xanthus ergò conversus Olitori dixit; Dedecus mihi foret, qui in tantis Auditoriis disputaverim, nunc apud hortulanos solvere problemata: Si autem Puero huic meo, qui rerum multarum consecutiones callet, sophisma tuum proposueris, so­lutionem habebis quaesiti. Et statim Hortulanus; Hiccinè tàm turpis literas novit? O Infaelicitatem nusquàm credendam! Sed narra, O amice, si quaesiti sensum nôsti? Et Aesopus, Mulier, inquit, quùm ad secundas nuptias iverit, liberis ex priore viro susceptis, si virum quo (que) invenerit filios ex priorè Ʋxore genuîsse, quos ipsa filios eduxit, horum mater est, quos autem inven [...] penes virum, Horum est Noverea. Multam igitur in utris (que) ostendit differentiam: Nam quos ex se genuit, amanter & accu­ratè nutrire perseverat, alienos verò partus odit, & invidiâ utens illorum cibum diminuit, suis (que) filiis addit; Illos enim, quasi Naturâ proprios, amat, odio autem habet qui [...]iri sunt, quasi alienos. Eodem modo & terra eorum quae ipsa ex se genuit mater est, quae autem tu plantas, corum est Noverca; cujus rei gratia, quae sua sunt, ut legitima, nutrit ac sovet, à te autem plantatis, ut spuriis, non tantum alimenti tribuit. Hoc responso delectatus Hortulanus, Crede mihi, inquit, mag­nâ me sollicitudine & meditatione levâsti; Abeas igitur, & gratis capias tecum tua olera, & quotiès tibi illis opus est, tanquam in proprium Hortum vadens accipe.

Paucis diebus praeterlapsis, Xantho iterùm in Balneum profecto, quibusdam amicis ibi inventis, Aesopum mittit, ut lentem in ollam ejectam coqueret; ille, ut jussus erat, unum lentis granum in ollam jecit, quo cocto Xanthus unà cum amicis ad prandium venit, praefatus tamen quod tenuè admodùm esset futurum pran­dium, utpote ex lente solummodò, quodque non oporteret varietate fer­culorum amicos judicare, sed probare voluntatem: Amicis annuentibus, & in domum ingressis; Xanthus inquit, Da nobis à Balneo bibere, Aesope: Illo verò ex defluxu balnei accipiente, & tradente; Xanthus faetore repletus, Hem, quid hoc, inquit, Aesope? Et ille, à Balneo at jussisti. Xantho autem prae­sentiâ amicorum iram compescente, & pelvim sibi apponi jubente; Aesopus pelvi appositâ stabat; & Xanthus, Ʋbinam est Aqua? Tum ille; Quae jussisti facere effeci; Tu non dixisti injice aquam in pelvim, & lava pedes meos, & pone soleas, & quaecún (que) deinceps? Quo audito, Xanthus amicis ait, Non Servum emi sed Ma­gistrum: Discumbentibus itá (que) ipsis, & Xantho Aesopum rogante, An cocta sit lens? cochleari acceptum lentis granum tradidit; Xanthus accipiens, & ratus gratiâ faciendi periculum coctionis, lentem accepisse, digitis conterens, ait, Benè cocta est, Affer: Illo aquam solum vacuante in scutellas, & apponente, Xanthus rogat, Ʋbi est lens? Et Aesopus, accepisti ipsam. Itáne verò, inquit Xanthus, an unum saltem granum coxisti? Tum Aesopus, Maximè, lentem etiam in singulari nu­mero dixisti, non lentes in plurali, quod plures significat. Xanthus ergò prorsùs consilii inops, Viri socii, ait, Vilis hic Homuncio prorsùs ad Insaniam me rediget: Conversus deindè ad Aesopum, dixit, Sed improbe, & ommum petulantissime, nè videar amicis injuriosus, abiens eme quatuor porcinos pedes, & perceleriter coctos appone.

Dum pedes coquerentur, Xanthus causam quaerens ut Aesopum flagris caedat, quùm Aesopus fuit in re aliquâ occupatus, unum ex pedibus, ex ollâ clanculùm auferens, occuluit; Paulò pòst Aesopus veniens, & ollam perscrutatus, ut tres solos pedes vidit, cognovit statim sibi aliquas insidias esse factas, & in stabu­lum cucurrit, & saginati Porci unum ex pedibus cultro amputans, & pilis nu­dans, [Page 7]in ollam jecit, & cum caeteris concoxit; Xanthus verò veritus ne Aesopus subreptum pedem non inveniens fugeret, rursùs in ollam ipsum injecit: Aesopo autem pedes in patinam evacuante, & quinque pedibus apparentibus; Xanthus, Quid hoc, inquit, Aesope? quomodò quinque? Aesopus dein interrogavit Xanthum, Quot pedes habent duo Porci? Xanthus respondebat, octo. Tum Aesopus, Sunt ergò in hâc patinâ quinque, & saginatus Porcus inferiùs tripes pascitur. Quod Xanthus admodùm molestè ferens, amicis inquit, An non paulò dixi quod celerrimè hic me ad Insaniam rediget? Et Aesopus, Here, An non nôsti id quod ex additione, & sub­ductione, in quantitatem secundum rationalem summam colligitur, non esse errorem? Xanthus igitur, nullam honestam inveniens causam verberandi Aesopum, quievit.

Postridiè autem unus ex Scholasticis sumptuosam apparans coenam, cum aliis Discipulis & praeceptorem Xanthum invitavit: Coenantibus igitur, Xanthus electa accepit fercula, & Aesopo penè stanti dedit, & Dilectae meae, haec, inquit, trade. Ille verò discedens haec secum cogitabat, Nunc occasio mihi oblata est ulcisci meam Dominam, proptereà, quòd me, quùm novitius veni, scommatibus multis lacessivit; Videbo igitur an Hero meo benè velit: Profectus ita (que) domum, & sedens in vestibulo, & Herâ accitâ sportulam ferculorum coram ipsâ posuit, ac inquit ei, Hera, Dominus haec omnia misit, non tibi, sed Dilectae; & cane vocatâ, at (que) dicto, Veni Lycaena, veni, comede, tibi enim Herus haec jussit dari, particu­latim, cani omnia projecit: Et post hoc ad Herum regreslus, & rogatus, An Dilectae dedit omnia; Omnia respondebat Aesopus, & coram me omnia comedebat: Illo verò iterum interrogante, Et quid dixit inter edendum? Et Aesopus, Mihi quidem nihil dixit, sed secum tibi (ut puto) gratias habebat. Uxor intereà Xanthi calamitosum esse arbitrans se Cani esse posthabitam, concludebat, se in posterum non ampliùs cum eo cohabitaturam, & ingresso cubiculo ploravit. Poculis autem vicissim sese alternantibus, & quaestionibus propositis: Quando futura esset ingens inter Homines turbatio? Aesopus ponè stans ait, Quùm resurrexe­rint mortui, repetentes ea bona quae possederint; Scholastici ridendo dixerunt, Inge­niosus est Hic novitius: Alio verò rursùs proponente, Quamobrem ovis ad caedem tracta non exclamat, Sus autem miserrimè vociferatur? Aesopus interponens rursùs, ait, Quoniam ovis assueta mulgeri, aut velleris gratum onus deponere, tacitè sequi­tur; Ideò etiam, quamvis pedibus arrepta, & grande pedum videns, nihil grave suspicatur, sed illa familiaria solùm sibi videtur passura; Sus autem qui neque mulgetur, neque tondetur, neque novit ad Bonum aliquid trahi, sed carnes suas tantum usui esse, meritò vociferatur; His sic dictis, Discipuli rursùs laudaverint eum.

Finito verò convivio, & Xantho in domum reverso, & uxorem, pro more, aggresso alloqui, illa ipsum aversata, inquit, Ne propinquiùs ad me accedas; Da mihi dotem meam, & abibo, non enim ulteriùs tecum mansero: Tu autem abiens cani adulare, cui dapes misisti. Ad haec verba Xanthus stupefactus dixit, Non contra me majus malum machinari Aesopus potuit; Et Uxori inquit, Domina, númne poto tu ebria es? Cui dapes misi? Nónne tibi? Non per Jovem, inquit illa, sed cani. Xanthus accito Aesopo dixit ei, Cuinam Aesope dedisti dapes quas Ʋxori misi; Aesopus respondebat, Dilectae tuae. Xanthus ad Uxorem conversus dixit, Et tu nihil accepisti? Et illa, Nihil omninò. Aesopus interponens dixit, Cui, Here, jussisti partes dari? Et ille, Dilectae meae: Aesopus, cane vocatâ, Haec, inquit, te Here diligit, nam mulier etsi videtur tibi benè velle, tamen pro minimâ quâ (que) offensâ contradicet, convitiabitur, & abibit; Canem verò verberato, aut à domo expellito, non tamen discedet; sed oblita omnium, benignè statim blan­ditur, ut cum Hero gratiam ineat: oportebat igitur dicere, Here, Ʋxori has partes ferto, & non Dilectae. Tum Xanthus, Vides Domina non meam esse culpam, sed ejus qui tibi dapes ferre jussus erat; Patienter fer igitur, non deerit mihi occasio quâ eum verberem. Illâ verò non credente, ad parentes suos clàm regressa est; qua­propter [Page 8] Aesopus Xantho dixit, An non rectè tibi, Here, dixi, Canem tibi magis benè velle quam Heram meam?

Diebus aliquot praeteritis, & uxore irreconciliatâ manente, & Xantho affines quosdam ad ipsam ut reverteretur domum mittente; Illa verò quùm credere nollet, & Xanthus plenus moeroris erat. Aesopus adiens, ad eum dicebat, Ne te affligas, cràs enim spontè & citissimè etiam faciam venire adte; Et acceptâ pecuniâ, in forum ivit, ac emptis anseribus & gallinis, & aliis quibusdam ad convivium idoneis, ambulans domos circumibat: Transibat igitur, & ante Domum parentum Herae fuae, ignorans simulans Domum illorum esse, & in eâ Heram manere; Et quùm in quendam ex domo illâ incidisset, rogabat, An aliquid ad nuptias utile Domestici habuissent vendere: Illo autem, & cui opus est? Rogitanti & Aesopo, Xantho Philosopho, respondente, cràs enim uxori ducendus est: Servulus statim penetralia ascendit, & Uxori Xanthi, quae audivisset, renuntiavit. Xanthi Uxor commotavaldè tam turbido Nuntio & propero pede ad Xanthum ivit, & contra ipsum clamavit, dicens inter alia, & haec petulantioris animi scommata; Non me vivente, O Xanthe, alteri faemellae tibi nubere dabitur; Et sic mansit in Domo, honesto Ingenii figmento, quemadmodùm propter Aesopum à Domo discesserat.

Post dies rursùs aliquot, Xanthus invitavit Discipulos ad prandium; Et Aesopo inquiebat; Ito, Eme optimum quod (que) & quod tibi praestantissimum videtur; Aesopus inter eundum, secum dicebat; Ego docebo Herum meum, non tam stulta mihi commit­tere mandata; Quùm linguas igitur suillas solùm emisset, & apparâsset discumben­tibus linguam assatam singulis cum condimento apposuit.

Discipulis laudantibus, ut Philosophicum, in Incipio, ferculum, propter linguae ad loquutionem ministerium; rursùs in secundo ministerii cursu, elixas iterum Aesopus apposuit linguas, at (que) iterum etiam cursu alio, at (que) alio petito, Aesopus nihil aliud nisi linguas apposuit: Discipulis autem eodem repetito cibo indignan­tibus, & quaerentibus, Quoús (que) linguas? An non & nos per totum prandium, nostras linguas edendo doluimus? Xanthus iratus fatur, Nihil aliud in praesto est, Aesope? Et is, Non certes: Xanthus dixit, Nónne, sordidissime Homuncio tibi mandavi, opti­mum quod (que) & praestantissimum obsonari? Cui Aesopus, Multas tibi gratias habeó­increpanti me coram Philosophos omnes qui hîc adsunt; Nam quid est linguâ melius aut in tot â hominum vitâ praestantius? Omnis Doctrina, Omnis Philosophiaper ipsam arti­culatè monstratur & traditur; Per ipsam celebratur Largitiones omnes, Acceptiones, Fora salutationes, Benedicentiae, Musa omnis; Per ipsam celebrantur Nuptiae, civitates eriguntur, Homines servantur, & ut breviter dicam, per ipsam tota vita nostra consistit; Nihil ergò linguâ melius. Ob haec Aesopum rectè loqui Discipulis pronuntiantibus, Xanthum verò errâsse, singuli in suas abiêre domos.

Postridiè verò, Ipsis Xanthum accusantibus, quod in hesterno prandio non tam generosè se hospitibus commendaverat; Xanthus respondebat, Non secundùm suam voluntatem haec facta fuisse, sed inutilis tantùm servi petulantiâ, suggessit (que) Hodiè prandium permutaturum, & ipse praesentibus vobis cum eo colloquar: Aesopo statirn vocato, vilissimum unumquód (que) & pessimum opsonari jubet, quoniam Discipulos quos in hesternum prandium invitâsset, secum hodiè pransuros expectâsset; Aesopus autem nihil mutatus, rursùs linguas emit, & apparatus discumbentibus apposuit; Hi autem inter se obmurmurabant, Porcinis iterum linguis pascimur? Aesopus autem rursùs alias, post alias, linguas apposuit, & rursùs, iterum, iterúmque. Xanthus autem hoc iniquè ferente, & Aesopo accersito, quùm increpâsset illum dicens, Et quid nobis cum Crambe tuâ tam saepè coctâ? An tibi hodierno mandavi die optimum quod (que) & quod lantissimum est mercari? an non potius quod est pessimum, & vilissimi pretii & ante omnia nauseandum? Aesopus, sine ullâ deliberantis animi morâ, statim respon­debat; Et quid, O Here, est pejus linguâ, An non urbes per ipsam corruunt? An non homines per ipsam quotidiè interficiuntur? An non maledicta omnia & Mendacia? An non omnia perjuria per ipsam perficiuntur? An non Nuptiae, Principatus, & Regna [Page 9]per ipsam evertuntur? Et, ut summatim dicam, An non per ipsam vita omnis infinitis erroribus referta est? Aesopo in haec verba Philosophante, quidam ex discumbentibus cum Xantho dicebat, Hic nisi multâ Providentiae & Patientiae cautelâ uteris, non dubia erit tibi Insaniae Causa, Mores enim Animi sequuntur temperamentum Corporis: Et Aesopus conversus ad eum dixit, Tu mihi videris, O Homo, pravus quidem & curiosus esse, quia Herum irritas contra servum! Cui Xanthus, occasionem quaerens verberandi Aesopum, Fugitive, quoniam curiosum dixisti amicum, ostendas velim, Incuriosum Hominem. Aesopus igitur, quùm sequenti die in heriles agros egressus erat, & omnes qui praeteribant circumspexerat, observavit hominem sub umbrâ diù sedentem, quem judicans otiosum & simplicem esse, accedens propiùs, inquit, Heus tu Bone, Herus meus invitat te hodiè secum prandere.

Rusticus nihil aliud sciscitatus, ne (que) quis esset à quo invitaretur, cum Aesopo ingrestus est Xanthi domum, & cum ipsis calceis, ut essent putridi, discubuit: Rogante autem Xantho, Quis est hic? Aesopus statim in aurem susurravit, Incuriosus Homo est; Xanthus interea, quùm Uxori tacitè persuasit, ut sibi inter prandendum obsequeretur, & quod ipse jussit faceret, ut honesta causa plagas Aesopo inferret, coram omnibus convivis dixit, Domina aquam in pelvim injice, & Hospitis pedes lava; Cogitabat enim secum, Hospitem recusaturum, Aesopum verò, illo Curio­sum esse apparente, verberibus caesum iri; Illa igitur jactâ in pelvim aquâ, pedes ibat Hospitis lotura: At Ille, cognoscens hanc esse Domůs dominam, secum loque­batur, Multo me Honore prosequi vult, at (que) hujus Rei gratiâ suis Manibus pedes meos lavare vult, quùm Ancillis hoc officium mandare queat; Extensis igitur pedi­bus, Lava, inquit, Pedes, Hera: ac pedibus lotis discubuit.

Xantho paulò pòst jubente, vinum hospiti dari ad appetitum provocandum, rursùs ille secum considerabat, Ipsos anteà oportere bibere, sed quia ipsis sic visum fuerit, non opus mihi haec inquirere; Accipiens igitur, liberaliter bibebat. Inter pran­dendum verò, & ferculo quodam Hospiti apposito, & illo suaviter comedente; Xanthus coquum quòd malè condivisset criminabatur, & nudum in conspectu hospitis flagellabat: Rusticus autem secum dicebat, Ferculum quidem optimè est conditum, & nihil deest quo minùs rectè paratum sit; si autem abs (que) causâ suum velit flagellare servum, quid ad me attinet? Xantho autem aegrè ferente, neque jucundè affecto, quod Hospes nihil curiosè inquirebat, tandem placentae allatae sunt; Hospes verò, ut nunquàm anteà placentam gustâsset, convolvens & accipiens ipsas, ut panes comedebat; Xantho autem pistorem accusante, & Cur, O execrande, dicente, absque melle & pipere has placentas praeparâsti? Pistor respondebat, Sieruda est, O Here, placenta, me verbera, sin verò ut oportebat praeparata est, non me sed heram accusa; Et Xanthus, Si a meâ hoc factum est Ʋxore, vivam ipsam comburam, at (que) iterum Ʋxori innuit ut sibi obsequeretur propter Aesopum; Sarmentis igitùr jussis in medium afferri pyram succendit, & arreptam uxorem propè pyram secum tulit, ut expectaretur ipsam in ignem mittere; Differebat autem aliquantisper & circum­spiciebat Rusticum, si quo modo assurgens à tali facinore prohibere ipsum moli­retur: Sed Rusticus rursùs secum considerabat, Nulla est Causa, ut mihi videtur, quod sic irascitur; Deinde, ad Xanthum conversus, dixit, Si hoc, O Pater-familias judicas oportere sieri, exspecta me parumper dum digressus adducam & ipse meam ex agro uxorem, ut ambas simul comburas.

Quùm Xanthus haec à Rustico audivisset, sinceritatem & generositatem Viri admiratus, Aesopo inquit; Ecce verè homo incuriosus, habeas accepta praemia Victo­riae, Libertatem tuam assequeris: Postridiè autem Xanthus jussit Aesopo in balneas ire & scrutari an multa adesset turba, velle enim in Balneum discendere; Abeunti Praetor occurrens, & Xanthi servum esse cognoscens, interrogavit quò iret; Quod quùm is se negâsset scire, Prator, iratus quod tam flocci penderetur, Aesopum in Carcerem conjecit; Quùm igitur Aesopus abduceretur, clamavit, Vides Praetor quemadmodùm reciè responderim, quae enim non expectavi, & occurri tibi, & in [Page 10]Carcerem jam trahor; Tum Praetor, attonitus Responsi promptitudine, perm isit abire: Aesopus autem profectus in Balneas, multam turbam in ipsis intuitus est, sed & lapidem videbat in medio Ingressu positum, in quem singuli ingredientes & egredi­entes pedem offendebant; Hunc autem unus quidam ingrediens ut lavaretur subla­tum transposuit: Reversus igitur ad Herum, Si vis, inquit, Here, lavari unum hominem tantùm in balneis vidi; Xantho autem profectò, & multitudinem lavan­tium vidente, dixit ad Aesopum, Quid hoc sibi vult, nónne unum solummodò hominem dixisti te vidisse; Et Aesopus, Ità, inquit; nam lapidem illum, manu ostendens, ante Ingressum positum repperi, in quem ingredientes omnes, & exeuntes, offendebant; unus verò quidam, antequam illideret, elevatum transposuit; Illum igitur unum Homi­nem dixi vidisse, pluris faciens quàm alios; Tum Xanthus, Nihil apud Aesopum tardum est ad Responsionem.

Aliquando Xantho ex latrinâ redeunte, & interrogante Aesopum, Quaenam est Causa quod homines, post purgationem ventris, excrementa intuentur? Aesopus respon­det, Antiquis temporibus, Vir quidam, delicatiùs vivens, multo tempore prae delitiis in latrinâ sedebat, ut & sua, diutiùs illic immorans, expurgaverit viscera; Ex illo igitur tempore timentes caeteri homines ventris inspiciunt sordes, nè quo modo & ipsi hoc patiantur; Sed tu, Here, ne time, non enim sunt tibi praecordia. Die autem quo­dam celebrato convivio, & Xantho cum aliis discumbente, & potu jam invalescente, crebrae questiones inter hos versabantur; Atque Xantho incipiente turbari Aesopus astans ait, Here, Bacchus tria possidet temperamenta; Primum, Voluptatis; Secundum, Ebri­etatis; Tertium, Contumeliae; Et vos igitur poti, & laetati, quae reliqua sunt omittite: Tum Xanthus jam ebrius ait, Tace; Inferis Consule: Cui Aesopus, Igitur & in Inferos distrahere. Ex Discipulis autem quidam Xanthum jam ebrium videns, &, ut in universum dicam, temulentum, O Praeceptor, inquit, potéstne aliquis ebibere Mare Homo? Et ille, Admodùm quidem, Ego enim ipse ebibam: Et Discipulus, Ac si non poteris quam tibi mulctam irrogabo? Tum Xanthus, Domum meam depono totam. At (que) interim depositis annulis pacta firmaverunt, & discesserunt.

Postridiè diluculò excitato Xantho, ac faciem manús (que) lavante, & annulum inter lavandum non vidente, & Aesopum de eo interrogante: Nescio, inquit Aesopus, quidnam factum fuerit; Hoc unum scio tantùm, quod à Domo decideris tuâ. Tum Xanthus, Quam ob rem. Cui Aesopus, Quoniam herì ebrius pepigisti Mare ebibere, at (que) in pactis annulum deposuisti: Et is, Quomodo fidem persolvam quae ante omnia observanda est; Verùm te rogo, si quod Commentum, si quae Versutia, si quae experi­entia, praesto sis, ac opem porrige ut aut vincam, aut certes pacta dissolvam: Cui Aesopus, Vincere quidem haud licet, sed ut solvas pacta efficiam; Quùm hodiè rursùs in unum conveneritis, nullo modo videaris timere, verum quae hesterno die pactus es benè potus, eadem nunc sobrius dic; Jubeas ita (que) stramenta, & mensam in littore poni, & pueros paratos cum poculis porrigere tibi marinam aquam; Quùm autem omnem videritis turbam concurrisse, ad spectaculum, ipse discumbens, jube ex Mari impleri Poculum, at (que) hoc accepto, dic elatâ voce ut omnes audiant; Quaenam apud nos foedera inivimus? At (que) is respondebit tibi, Pepigisti Mare ebibere: Conversus igitur tu ad omnes sic dicito; Viri Samii, Scitis & vos omnes, quod plurimi sunt fluvii qui in Mare se exonerant; Ego autem pactus sum Mare solum ebibere, & non exeuntia in ipsum flumina; Hic ita (que) Scholasticus eat priùs retenturus flumina omnia, deinde Mar [...] solum ebibam. Xanthus autem futuram ex hoc pacti solutionem cognoscens, vehementer laetatus est; Populo igitùr confluente ad Spectaculum, quùm Xanthus quod edoctus fuerat ab Aesopo fecisset, ac dixisset; Samii acclamârunt laudantes ipsum, & admi­rantes; Sed Scholasticus ad Xanthi pedes provolutus, & victum sese fatebatur, & pacta rogabat dissolvi, quod Xanthus fecit exorante Populo.

Profectis autem ipsis in Domum, Aesopus adiens Xanthum inquit, Per omnem Vitam tibi gratificatus sum, & indignus tibi videor libertatem consequi? Sed Xanthus objurgavit illum, dicens; Nolo facere, sed exi ante vestibulum, & si duas cor­nices [Page 11]videris, renuncia mihi; nam pulchrum est augurium, quòd si unam videas, hoc malum est. Abiens ergò Aesopus, & quùm fortè duas Cornices super quadam arbore sedentes vidisset, accedens Xantho renuntiavit: Exeunte autem Xantho, altera Cornicum evolavit, & Xanthus alteram solam videns, ait, Nónne dixisti, Execrande, duas te Cornices vidisse? Ità, dixit Aesopus, sed altera evolavit: Tum Xanthus, Reli­quum er at tibi, Fugitive, ut derideres mihi? Et jubet eum denudatum verberari. At dum Aesopus verberabatur, Praefectus quidam invitavit Xanthum ad coenam, ac Aesopus inter verbera exclamavit; Hei Misèro mihi! Ego enim qui duas vidi Cornices verberor; Tu verò qui unam tantum, in convivium abis: Tum Xanthus solertiam ejus admiratus, cessare jussit verbera. Non multis autem pòst Diebus, Philoso­phos & Rhetores quùm invitâsset Xanthus, jussit Aesopo ante vestibulum stare, & nullum Idiotam ingredi sinere, sed sapientes solos: Horâ autem prandii, clauso vestibulo, Aesopus intùs sedebat; Ex invitatis autem quodam profecto, & januam pulsante, Aesopus intùs ait, Quid movet Canis? Ille putans se Canem vocari iratus discedit, & sic unusquisque veniens redibat iratus, credens se injuriâ affici; Aesopo eadem omnes interrogante. Quùm autem unus eorum pulsâsset, & Aesopo ut priùs interrogante, Quid movet Canis? Caudam, & aures, respondit: Aesopus ipsum rectè judicans respondisse, apertâ januâ, ad Herum duxit; ac inquit, Nullus Philoso­phus ad Convivium tuum venit, O Philosophe, praeter hunc solum; Et Xanthus valdè dolebat, deceptum se existimans ab illis quos ad Coenam invitavit.

Postridiè, quùm venissent invitati ad Ludum literarium, accusabant Xanthum, dicentes, Ʋt nobis, videtur, cupiebas quidem contemnere nos, & pro hac causa putridum illum in vestibulo constituisti Aesopum, ut nos injuriâ afficeret, & canes vocaret: Quibus Xanthus, Somniúmne id est, an res vera? Tum illi, nisi omnes stertimus, verum est. Quapropter celeriter vocatus Aesopus, & rogatus cujus rei gratiâ amicos Xanthi tam ignominiosè amolitus esset, respondet, An non tu mandâsti, Here, ut nullum vulgarem aut indoctum permitterem in tuum venire Convivium, sed solos sapientes? Tum Xanthus, Et quales Hi? An non Sapientes? Cui Aesopus, Nullo pacto; Ipsis etenim pulsantibus Januam, & me intùs rogitante, Quidnam moveat Canis? Non quisquam eorum intellexit Sermonem: Ego igitur, quùm indocti omnes vi­derentur, nullum ipsorum introduxi, nisi hunc qui sapienter respondebat. Sic igitur quùm Aesopus respondisset, re intellectâ, rectè omnes ipsum dicere confirmâ­runt.

Rursùm, post dies aliquot, Xanthus, sequente Aesopo, ad monumenta accessit, & quae in hâc vel illâ Arcâ erant Epigrammata cum delectatione legebat: Aesopus in quâdam ex ipsis, quùm has literas insculptas vidisset, R. P. Q. F. I. T. A. Xantho ostendebat, rogavít (que) An noscet quid intelligerent? Diligenter ille scrutatus, non potuit illarum invenire declarationem, ac fassus est se omnino dubitare: Tum Aesopus, Si per hanc columnulam, O Here, Thesaurum ostendam tibi, quâ re me remunerabis? Cui Xanthus, Confide mihi; Accipies libertatem tuam at (que) Dimidium Auri: Tunc Aesopus abiens à cippo passus quatuor, & fodiens, accepit aurum, & tulit Hero dicens, Da mihi promissum, cujus causâ inveni Thesaurum: Et Xanthus, Non ego, si sapiam, nisi & sensum literarum mihi exposueris, nam seire hoc multò re inventâ est mihi pretiosius: Tum Aesopus, Qui Thesaurum infodit hîc, ut vir sapiens, literas has insculpsit, quae & inquiunt, Recedens Passus Quatuor, Fodiens Invenies Thesaurum Aureum. Et Xanthus, Quoniam it à solers es, & astutus, non accipies tuam liberta­tem. Et Aesopus, Renuntiabo hoc, O Domine, Regi Byzantinorum cui aurum dan­dum est, nam (que) illi est reconditum. Cui Xanthus, Ʋnde hoc nosti? Et ille, Ex literis hisce, R. R. D. Q. I. T. quae hoc significant, Redde Regi Dionysio Quem Invenisti Thesaurum. Xanthus, quùm audivisset Regis esse Thesaurum, Aesopo ait, Accepto dimidio lucri taceto: Et ille, Non tu mihi hoc praebes, sed qui aurum hic inso­diebat, & sic ex aliis literis juxta positis agnoscas; literas intuere, A. E. D. Q. I. T. A, quae hoc inquiunt, Acceptum Euntes Dividite Quem Invenistis Thesaurum Auri. [Page 12]Et Xanthus, Veni ergo, inquit, in domum, ut & Thesaurum dividamus, & tu liber­tatem accipias. Quùm à Monumentis abierunt, Xanthus timens Aesopi loquacitatem, in carcerem ipsum jussit trahi; Et Aesopus inter abducendum, Haeccine sunt, inquit, Promissa Philosophorum? Non solùm enim non accipio libertatem, sed in carcerem jubes me injici.

Xanthus igitur jussit ipsum solvi; & ait, Nimirùm puto, ut, partâ libertate, vehementior fias contra me accusator; Aesopus dixit, Quodeun (que) malum mihi potes facere, facito, omninò vel invitus liberabis me. In illa tempestate hujusmodi Res Sami obtigit, Quùm publicè Festum celebraretur, repentè Aquila devolans, & publicum rapi­ens annulum in Servi sinum demisit; Ita (que) Samii perterriti, & in plurimum ob hoc prodigium quùm incidissent moerorem, in unum coacti, coepissent rogare Xanthum, quoniam primus Civium esset, & Philosophus, ut sibi judicium prodigii manifesta­ret: At ille omninò ambigens, tempus petiit; Et profectus domum, multùm erat tristis & variis sollicitudinibus immersus, ut qui nihil certi judicare possit; Sed Aesopus, moerore Xanthi cognito, adiens ad eum, aiebat, Quâ ratione, Here, tanto dolori, crudelis tibi-met ipsi, indulgeas? Dic mihi, obsecro, & melancholicam tyrannidem dis­cute? Cras igitur in Forum profectus Xanthus dic tu Samiis, Equidem neque ego pro­digia solvere didici, ne (que) augurari; sed puerum domi habeo multarum rerum peritum, ipse vobis quaesitum solvet: Et si ipse consecutus fuero solutionem, Here, tu gloriam reportabis tali utens servo; sin minùs fuero consecutus, mihi soli erit dedecus. Persuasus igitur Xanthus, & postero die in Theatrum profectus, & secundum Aesopi admonitionem, stans in medio, concionatus est iis qui convenerant: Illi verò statim rogabant Aesopum acciri, qui quùm venisset, & in medio positus staret; Samii fa­cie illius observatâ deridentes clamabant, Haeccine est facies quae prodigium solvet? Ex deformi hoc quid unquam boni audiemus? at (que) ridere coeperunt. At Aesopus extentâ manu, & silentio facto, Viri Samii (inquit) quidfaciem meam cavillami­ni? Non faciem, sed Mentem respicere debitis; Saepe etenim in turpi formâ bonum ani­mum Natura imposuit: An vos exteriorem testarum formam solùm consideratis, & non potiùs interiorem vini gustum? Haec quum ab Aesopo audivissent, omnes dixe­runt, Aesope, si quid potes dic Civitati. Tum ille audacter ait, Viri Samii, quoniam Fortuna quae studiosa contentionis est, gloriae certamen proposuit Domino, & Servo; & si Servus inferior videatur Domino verberibus coesus abibit, sin autem praestantior nihilo­minùs & verberibus lacerabitur; si vos per libertatem loquendi fiduciam mihi indul­seritis, Ego nunc vobis intrepidè quaesitum narrabo. Ad haec, Populus uno ore clamabat ad Xanthum, Da libertatem Aesopo, obtempera Samiis, & largire libertatem ejus Civitati. At Xanthus non annuebat; Et Praetor ait, Xanthe, Si tibi non placeat auscultare Populo; Ego hâc horâ libertate donabo Aesopum, & tunc tibi aequalis fuerit: Tum demum Xantho libertatem largire Aesopo placuit; Et Praeco cla­mavit, Xanthus Philosophus liberum Aesopum facit; Atque interim fidem sermo Aesopi accepit dicentis Xantho, Vel invitus me libertate donabis. Aesopus itaque libertatem consecutus, stans in medio eorum, dixit, Viri Samii, Aquila, ut scitis, Regina avium est, quoniam autem Imperatorium annulum haec raptim demisit in Servi sinum, hoc significat, Regem quendam velle vestram libertatem in servitutem redigere, at (que) sancitas leges irritas facere. His auditis, Samii moerore repleti sunt, sed non multo pòst tempore, Literae à Croeso Lydorum Rege venerunt ad Samios, jubentes eis, ab illo tempore tributa sibi pendere, quod si non obtemperaverint, ut ad Bellum se parent: Consultabant igitur Universi, timuerunt enim subditi fieri Craeso, conducibile tamen esse Aesopo consulere; Et ille consultus ait, Quùm Principes vestri jamdudum dixerint, obtemperandum esse Regi, consilium jam nullum, sed nar­rationem vobis afferam, ut sciatis quid conducat; Fortuna duas vias ostendit in vitâ; unam Libertatis, cujus principium accessu difficilè, sed fims planus; alteram Servitutis, cujus principium facile, & accessibile, finis autem laboriosus. His auditis, Samii exclamaverunt, Nos quùm sumus liberi, servi esse gratis nolumus, & Oratorem re infectâ demiserunt.

[Page 13]His rebus cognitis, Croesus decrevit bellum in Samios movere; Sed Legatus Regi rettulit, Non potes Samios debellare, quandiù Aesopus est apud eos, & Consilia suggerit; Potes autem magis, ait, O Rex, legatis missis petere ab ipsis Aesopum, pollicitus eis pro eo & gratias aliàs relaturum, & solutionem ipsorum Tributorum, & tunc fortè poteris eos superare: Croesus his persuasus, Legato misso, dedi sibi Aesopum petebat: Samii autem hunc decreverunt tradere. Quo cognito, Aesopus in mediâ concione stetit, ac inquit, Viri Samii, & ego permulti facio, ad Regis pedes proficisci, sed volo vobis unam Fabulam tradere; Quo tempore ani­malia inter se loquebantur, Lupi bellum Ovibus intulerunt; sed Canibus pro Ovibus praeliantibus, Lupi legato misso dixerunt Ovibus, si voluerint in pace vivere, & nullum suspicari bellum, Canes sibi traderent; Oves verò quùm obstultitiam persuasae essent, & Canes tradidissent, Lupi nullo Negotio & Canes dilaceràrunt, & Oves voraverunt. Samii, Fabulae hujus sensu percepto, decreverunt apud se detinere Aesopum: Ille verò non permisit, sed cum Legato unà solvit, & ad Croesum Regem se conferebat. Profectis itá (que) iis in Lydiam, Rex ante se stantem Aesopum videns, indignatus est, dicens; Vide qualis Homuncio obstitit mihi ad tantam In­sulam subjugandam! Tum Aesopus, Maxime Rex, non vi, ne (que) egestate coactus ad pedes tuos me prosterno, sed sponte adsum; Sustine autem parumper me audire; Vir quidem quùm locustas caperet, occiderétque, cepit & cicadam; quùm & illam vellet occidere, Cicada pro se veniam petebat, dicens, Obsecro nè me innocentem occi­das; Ego enim neque Spicam laedo, neque in aliâ re quâpiam injuriâ te afficio, motu verò membranularum quae in me sunt suaviter canto delectans viatores, praeter vocem in me nihil invenies; Et ille, quùm haec dixisset permisit, abire: Et ego itá (que) O Rex, tuos pedes attingo, Nè me sine causâ occidas, non enim possum injuriâ quem­quam afficere, sed in vili corpore generosum loquor sermonem. Rex autem & mira­tus, simul & miseratus ipsum, ait, Aesope, Non ego solum vitam tibi largior, sed potentiam habe quicquid à me vis petendi; Ergo quod vis, pete, & accipies: Et ille, Rogo te, O Rex, reconciliari Samiis: Quúm (que) Rex dixisset, Reconciliatus sum; Aesopus, procidens in terram, gratias agebat Regi.

Post haec suas conscripsit Fabulas quas in hunc usque diem exstantes apud Regem reliquit. Acceptis demum ab ipso literis ad Samios, quod Aesopi gratiâ reconciliatus illis fuerat, & multis oneratus muneribus, in Samum navigavit. Samii igitur hunc videntes, coronas ei intulerunt, & tripudia ejus gratiâ con­stituerunt; Ille autem & Regis literas quas illis mittebat, legit, & ostendit quod sibi donatam à Populo libertatem, libertate rursùs remuneratus fuerit.

Post haec ab Insulâ decedens circumibat orbem, ubique cum Philosophis dispu­tando. Profectus autem in Babilonem & suam ipsius doctrinam demonstrando, magnus apud Regem Lycerum evasit; Illis enim temporibus Reges invicem pacem habentes, delectationis gratiâ quaestiones Sophistarum vicissim scribendo mittebant, quas qui solverent, tributa pacta à mittentibus accipiebant, qui verò non solverent aequalia praebebant; Aesopus autem problemata quae mittebantur Lycero Regi intelligens dissolvebat, & illius Sapientiâ clarum reddebat Regem, & ipse Lyceri Nomine altera itidem Regibus remittebat, quae quùm remanerent insoluta, tributa Rex quàm plurima exigebat.

Aesopus, quùm non genuisset silios, nobilem quendam, Ennum Nomine, adopta­vit, at (que) ut legitimum filium Regi allatum commendavit: Non multo autem pòst tempore, cum Aesopi Concubinâ rem habuit; Hoc sciens Aesopus expulsurus erat domo Ennum; qui correptus irâ, epistolam fictam ut ab Aesopo, missám (que) ad eos qui problematibus cum Lycero certabant, quòd ipsis paratus esset magis quàm Lycero adhaerere, Regi dedit: Ficta haec epistola, majorem dolis incutere fidem, signata erat Aesopi annulo; Rex sigillo credens, at (que) inexorabili irâ per­citus, confestim Hermippo mandavit, ut nullâ Examinatione factâ proditorem occideret Aesopum: At Hermippus fuerat Amicus Aesopi, & in illo temporis arti­culo [Page 14]amicum se esse ostendebat; In sepulchro enim quodam, nemine sciente, occultavit Hominem, & secretò nutrivit: Ennus autem Regis jussu omnem Aesopi administrationem suscepit. Sed quodam pòst tempore Nectenabo, Rex Aegyptiorum, audiens Aesopum occidisse, mittit Lycero statim Epistolam, jubentem Architectos sibi mittere qui Turrim aedificent, ne (que) Coelum, ne (que) Terram attingentem, & responsurum semper Aliquem ad omnia quaecun (que) rogaverint; Quod si fecisset, Tributa exigeret, sin minùs solveret: His lectis, Lycerus moerore affectus, quùm nullus ex amicis quaestionem potuit de turri intelligere, Rex columnam sui Regni Aesopum dicebat interiisse.

Hermippus autem dolori Regis ob Aesopum intellecto, adiit Regem, & vivere illum affirmavit, addidît (que) ipsius Causâ se non interimisse Aesopum, sciens quod aliquando Regem sententiae poentieret. Rege autem non mediocriter super hisce exhilarato; Aesopus, totus sordidus, & squallens, adductus est: Quúm (que) Rex, ut eum vidit, illachrymâsset, at (que) ut lavaretur, & aliis vestibus indueretur, jussisset; Aesopus ante Regem de quibus accusatus fuerat causas confutavit, ob quae quùm Rex Ennum esset occisurus, Aesopus ei veniam petiit.

Post haec autem Rex Aegypti Regis Epistolam Aesopo legendam dedit; At ille solutione quaestionis statim cognitâ risit, ac rescribere jussit, ut quùm Hyerns praeteriisset, se missurum & qui Turrim essent aedificaturi, & responsurum ali­quem ad Rogata; Rex igitur Legatos Aegyptios remisit: Aesopo autem tradidit omnem pristinam Administrationem, & Ennum etiam in suas manus tradidit. Aesopus acceptum Ennum nullâ Injuriâ affecit, sed ut filio rursùs recepto, aliis at (que) hisce admonuit verbis; Fili, ante omnia Deum cole, Regem Honora, Inimi­cis tuis terribilem te praebe ne te contemnant, amicis facilem, & communicabilem, quo longè benevolentiores tibi sint; Item precare ut Inimici tui malè se habeant, & ut gravi paupertatis onere opprimantur, nè te possint offendere; At amicos in om­nibus benè valere velis: Ʋxori tuae semper adhaere, nè alterius viri periculum facere velit, leve est etenim mulierum genus, ac adulatum minus malum cogitat; Velocem ad Sermones nè praebeas aurem; Linguae ante omnia continens esto; Benè agentibus nè invide, sed congratulare potiùs; Invidens enim seipsum offendit: Do­mesticorum tuorum satage, ut te non solùm ut Dominum timeant, sed etiam ut Benefactorem venerentur; Nè pudeat semper discere meliora; Mulieri non unquam secreta credas, sic enim semper armata erit ut tibi dominetur; Quotidiè in diem crastinum reconde, melius enim est mortuum Inimicis relinqui quam viventem ami­cis indigere; Salutes facilè qui tibi occurrunt, sciens & catulo caudam panem com­parare; Bonum esse nè poeniteat; Susurronem Virum ejice Domo tuâ; nam quae à te vel dicuntur, aut fiunt, aliis communicabit; Fac quae te non moestum facient; Contingentibus nè tristare, ne (que) prava consulas unquam, ne (que) mores malorum imi­teris. His ab Aesopo Ennus admonitus, tum sermone, tum suâ conscientiâ, ut sagittâ quâdam, percussum habens animum, paucis pòst diebus è vitâ discessit.

Aesopus intereà Aucupes omnes accersivit, at (que) ut caperent quatuor Aqui­larum pullos mandavit; Sic ita (que) captos nutrivit, & quotidiè sic instruxit (cui Rei non magnam fidem adhibemus) ut pueros in sportis appensos gestando in altum tollerent, at (que) ità morigeri pueris essent, ut quocun (que) illi vellent, volarent, sive in altum, in aëre, sive in terram, humi.

Praeterito verò hyemali tempore, & vere jam ridente, quùm ad iter om­nia Aesopus paravisset, & pueros accepisset & Aquilas, in Aegyptum discessit, multâ Imaginatione & opinione ad stupefactionem illorum Hominum usus; Sed Nectenabo, audito adesse Aesopum, Insidiis circumventus sum, amicis dixit, quià intellexeram Aesopum mortuum esse: Postridiè autem jussit Rex ut omnes Magi­stratus candidis amicirentur vestibus, ipse purpuream induebat, & coronam habuit gemmis & smaragdis gravem; quúm (que) sedens in alto solio Aesopum intro­duci jussisset, Cui me assimilas, ingredienti dixit Aesopo, & cos qui mecum sunt? [Page 15]Et Ille, Te quidem Soli verno, qui verò te circumstant maturis Aristis. Rex Aesopum admiratus, donis eum pluribus prosecutus est. Postero die Rex candidâ indutus veste, amicis autem purpureas accipere jussis; Ingredientem Aesopum iterum Rex rogavit, & iisdem verbis quibus die praecedenti usus est; Te, inquit Aesopus, comparo Soli, & hos qui te circumstant radiis Solaribus. Nectenabo sub­junxit, Existimo nihil esse Lycerum prae meo Regno; Aesopus subridens, Nè facilè de eo sic loquere, O Rex; nam genti vestrae, vestrum Regnum collatum instar Solis lucet; at si Lycero comparetur, nihil aberit quin splendor hic tenebrae appareant: Nectenabo appositâ verborum responsione stupefactus, Attulisti nobis, ait, qui Turrim aedificent? Et ille, Parati sunt, si modò locum ostendas.

Posteà, Rex egressus extra urbem, in planitiem demonstrat dimensum locum; Aesopus ita (que) quatuor Aquilis adductis ad quatuor demonstratos loci Angulos, unà cum pueris in sportulis stantibus, ac Puerorum manibus Fabrorum datis In­strumentis, jussit Aquilas evolare; Pueri autem, qui per Aquilas evecti, in sub­limiorem Aeris Regionem tollebantur, clamaverunt, Date nobis lapides, date calcem, date ligna, & alia quae ad aedificationem apta sunt: Sed Nectenabo, visis Pueris ab Aquilis in altum sublatis, dixit, Ʋnde mihi Volucres Homines? Et Aesopus, sed Lycerus habet; Tu autem quùm Homo sis, vis cum Rege Diis aequali contendere? Et Nectenabo dixit, Aesope, victus sum; quaestionem autem tibi pro­ponam; Et ait, Sunt mihi foeminae hic equae, quae quùm audiverint eos equos qui in Babylone sunt hinnire, confestim concipiunt; Si tibi ad hoc est Doctrina, ostendas causam: Et Aesopus, Respondebo tibi cras, O Rex.

Profectus verò ubi hospitabatur, jubet pueris Felem comprehendere, & captum publicè circumduci verberando: Aegyptii autem illud animal colentes, & sic malè tractari ipsum videntes, concurrerunt, & Felem è manibus verberantium eripuerunt, ac rem celeriter Regi renuntiant; qui vocato Aesopo, Nesciebas, in­quit, Aesope, tanquam Deum à nobis Felem coli? Quare igitur hoc fecisti? Et ille, Lycerum Regem injuriâ affecit praeteritâ nocte hic Felis, Gallum enim ejus occidit pugnacem, & generosum, & quâlibet nocte, horas noctis, cantando, ei nuntion­tem. Et Rex, Non pudet te mentiri, Aesope? Quonam enim modo in unâ nocte Felis ab Aegypto ivit in Babylonem. Tum ille subridens, inquit, Et quomodo, O Rex, Babyloniae Equis hinnientibus hîc Equae Foeminae concipiunt? Rex autem, his auditis, prudentiam Aesopi foelicem esse dixit.

Posthaec autem quùm accivisset ex Heliopoli viros quaestionum Sophisticarum peritos, at (que) invitavit eos unà cum Aesopo ad Convivium; Discumbentibus om­nibus, quidam Heliopolita dixit Aesopo, Missus sum à Deo meo quaestionem quandam te rogare, ut ipsam solveres. Cui Aesopus, Mentiris, Deo enim ab homine nihil opus est discere; Tu autem non solùm teipsum accusas, sed & Deum tuum. Alius rursùs ait, Est Templum ingens, & in eo Columna duodecim Ʋrbes continens, qua­rum singulae triginta trabibus fulcuntur, quas circumcurrunt duae Mulieres; Tum Aesopus ait, Hanc quaestionem apud nos solvent Pueri; Templum enim est Mundus, Columna Annus, Ʋrbes Menses, & Trabes Dies; Dies autem & Nox, duae Muli­eres quae vicissim sibi succedunt. Postridiè convocatis amicis omnibus, Nectenabo inquit, Propter hunc Aesopum tributa debebimus Regi Lycero; At ex his unus ait, Jubebimus ei quaestiones nobis proponere quae ne (que) scimus, ne (que) audivimus; Et ille, Cras hâc de re vobis respondebo: Decedens igitur Aesopus, quùm scrip­tum composuisset in quo continebatur, Nectenabo confitetur se mille Talenta Lycero debere, manè reversus Regi Scriptum reddidit; Regis autem Amici, priusquam charta aperiretur, dixerunt unâ Voce Omnes, Et scimus hoc, & audi­vimus & verè scimus; Tum Aesopus laetabundus, Habeo vobis Gratiam: At Nectenabo, confessione lectâ mille Talentorum quae Lycero debebantur, dixit, Vos Omnes Testes estis quod nihil Lycero debeo; Et amici Regis, animis mutatis, omnes subitò acclamaverunt, Neque seimus, neque audivimus; Tum Aesopus, [Page 16]Responsis illorum, ut optabat, compositis, repentè suggessit, Si ita haec se habent solutum est quaesitum. Nectenabo ad haec, Foelix est Lycerus qui talem Virum in Regno suo possidet; Tributa ergo pacta tradidit Aesopo, at (que) in Pace remisit.

Aesopus verò in Babylonem profectus narravit Lycero omnia quae in Aegypto transacta fuerant, & tributa reddidit; Lycerus autem jussit statuam auream Aesopo erigi. Non multo pòst tempore, Aesopus in Graeciam decrevit navigare, at (que) Rege concedente discessit, juratus ei priùs, proculdubiò se rediturum in Babylonem, at (que) in illâ Civitate reliquum vitae acturum: Peragratis autem Grae­ciae Civitatibus, & suâ Doctrinâ omnibus manifestatâ, profectus est ad Del­phos; Et Delphi disserentem quidem libenter audierunt, sed nullo hono­re eum affecerunt; Quod Aesopus sinistrè ferens, Viri Delphi, inquit, In animo mihi est vos ligno comparare quod in mari fertur; Illud enim remotum ab oculis videntes, dum sluctibus, huc, illuc, agitatur, magni pretii esse existimamus; Postquam autem proximè advenerit, vilissimum apparet: Eodem modo, & Ego, quùm procùl essem ab Ʋrbe vestrâ, vos admirabar ut admiratione dignos, nunc autem ad vos profectus, omnibus aliis quoscunque vidi, ut ità dixerim, inveni vos inutiliores ad Philosophiae Doctrinam capessendam, & sic deceptus sum. Quum haec Delphi audivissent, & formidabant, nè aliquo modo Aesopus, & ad alias Urbes accedens, malè de se diceret, decreverunt hominem dolo interficere, & auream Phialam ex Sacello Apollinis accipientes, clàm in Aesopi absconde­runt stragulis: Quùm verò Aesopus in Phocidem iturus erat, prorsùs ignorans quae ab ipsis dolo machinata fuerant, Delphi aggressi detinebant eum, & per­contabantur ut Sacrilegum; Illo autem vehementer negante se aliquid fecisse ejusmodi, Delphi, vi stragulis evolutis, auream invenerunt Phialam, quam, non sine magno tumultu, omnibus Civibus ostenderunt: Aesopus igitur, cognitis illorum Insidiis, rogabat eos ut solveretur; Delphi autem non solùm non solve­runt, sed ut Sacrilegum in carcerem injecerunt, morte ejus suffragiis decretâ. Aesopus quùm nullâ astutiâ à malâ hâc Fortunâ liberari posset, seipsum solus in Carcere lugebat: Unus autem ex ipsius Familiaribus, Damas nomine, ad ipsum ingressus, & videns eum tanto moerore affligi, quaesivit Causam; Et Ille, Mulier quaedam quùm recenter suum virum sepelisset, quotidiè profecta ad tumulum ploravit; Arator autem quidam non procul à Sepulchro, amore captus mulieris, derelictis bobus, ivit & ipse ad tumulum, ac sedens unà cum muliere plorabat; Cum illa parumper à Lachrymis desiisset, quaesivítque, Cur nam & ipse sic luge­ret? Quoniam & ego, inquit, decentem mulierem sepelivi, & posteaquam plora­vero, moestitiâ levor: Illa autem, Idipsum & mihi accidit; Et Ille, Si igitur in eadem incidimus mala, cur nam invicem non conjungimur? Ego etenim amabo te ut illam, & tu rursùs me ut tuum virum. His persuasit mulieri, & convenerunt. Intereà fur ad Aratrum proficiscens, solvebat boves, abegítque; Ille autem reversus, non inventis bobus, lugere vehementer coepit; Mulier lamentantem iterum inveniens, inquit, Dic, quaeso, Cur rursum ploras? Et Ille, nunc, ait, verè ploro, & multis evitatis periculis, totus sum in lachrymis, quod solutionem hujus mali nusquam invenire possum.

Post haec affuerunt Delphi, & extrahentes Aesopum à Carcere violenter duce­bant in Praecipitium; Ille autem, quamvis moriens, hanc Fabellam illis tradidit, Quùm bruta Animalia colloquebantur, Mus Ranae amicus factus, ad Coenam eam invitavit, & quùm in penuarium Divitis abduxisset, ubi multa erant esculenta, Co­mede, inquit, amica Rana: Post Epulationem, & Rana Murem in suam invita­vit Coenationem, & Ne fatigatus sis natando, inquit, silo tenui tuum pedem meo alligabo, Atque hoc facto saltavit in paludem; Ranâ autem natante, in profundum Mus suffocatur, & moriens ait, Ego quidem per te morior, sed mox alter aderit qui me vindicabit; Supernatante igitur mortuo Mure in palude, devolans Aquila [Page 17]hunc arripuit, & unà etiam cum eo appensam ranam, & s [...]c ambos devoravit: Et ego etiam qui per vos morior habebo ultorem; Babylon enim & Graecia omnis meam à vobis exigent mortem. Delphi nihilominùs in Malitiâ obstinatè perseve­rantes, ne sic Fabulanti pepercerunt; Ille autem in Apollinis confugit Sacellum, sed & illinc extraxerunt irati, & in praecipitium rursùs traxerunt: Aesopus quùm abduceretur, dicebat, Audite me Delphi; Lepus, Aquilâ insectante, in Scarabei domicilium consugit, obnixè petens ut ab eo servaretur; Scarabeus autem rogabat Aquilam nè occideret supplicem, obtestando ipsum per maximum Jovem nè despiceret parvitatem suam; Aquila verò irata percutiens Scarabeum alâ, Leporem raptum est depasta; Scarabeus autem quùm Aquila avolavit, tacitè sequebatur, ut nidum ejus disceret, & loco invento, ova ejus devoluta disrupit; Illa autem gravè existimans quod quis hoc ausus fuisset, in altiore loco nidum suum erexit; Et illic rursùs Scarabeus ova rupit, disjecitque; Sed Aquila, prorsùs inops Consilii, ascen­dit ad Jovem (in ejus enim tutela esse dicitur) & in ipsius genibus tertiam foeturam ovorum deposuit, Jovi ipsa commendans & supplicans ut custodiret. Sed Scarabeus, pilis è stercore compositis, ascendit, & in sinus Jovis eas demisit; Ju­piter exsurgens ut fimum excuteret, etiam & ova oblitus disjecit, contrivitque: Sed quùm didicisset à Scarabeo, quod haec fecisset ut Aquilam ulcisceretur, non enim in Scarabeum tantùm injuriosa fuisset, sed in Jovem ipsum impia, consuluit Aquilae, ut Scarabeo reconciliaretur: Quùm autem Scarabeus consentire recusavit; Jupiter in aliud tempus transposuit Aquilarum partum, quùm propter inertiam fri­goris, Scarabei non apparent. Vos igitur O Viri Delphi, inquit Aesopus, nè despicite hunc Deum ad quem profugi, etsi parvum apud vos sortitus est Delubrum,

Delphi verò, parùm curantes quae Aesopus praedixerat, rectà ad mortem itidem agebant; Aesopus quùm nullâ ratione flecti & inexorabiles prorsùs observavit, rursùs ait, Viri crudeles & Intersectores, Audite; Agricola quidem in agro con­senuit, & quùm nunquam ingressus esset in Ʋrbem, precabatur domesticos, ut, ante mortem Ʋrbem saltem videre liceat; Murmurantes illi, junctis asellis, at (que) Hero in curru imposito, solum jusserunt, currum agere; Eunti autem Procellis cum tur­bine aërem occupantibus, & tenebris factis, aselli à viâ aberrantes in quoddam Praecipitium deduxerunt senem; At Ille jam praecipitandus, O Jupiter, inquit, quâ in re Injuriâ te affeci, quod sic iniquè occidor; praesertim neque ab equis generosis, ne (que) à bonis mulis, sed ab asellis vilissimis. Et ego eodem planè modo nunc doleo, quod non ab honoratis Viris, aut elegantibus, verùm ab inutilibus & pessimis intersicior.

Jámque praecipitandus supremam hanc dixit Fabulam; Vir quidem suam perditè amans filiam, in agros Ʋxorem misit, & filiam solam domi manentem violavit, Illa autem, Pater, scelestè facis, mallem etenim à multis viris dedecore hoc affici, quam à te qui me genuisti: Hoc nunc & in vos, O iniqui Delphi, dico, quod eligerem potiùs in Scyllam aut Charybdim incidere, aut in Africae Syrtes, quam per vos injustè & indignè mori; In Patriam vestram Diras mitto, & moriens Deos omnes testor, qui me ulciscentur exauditum, me, nullâ ratione, vel legibus humanis vel divinis, habitâ, injuriosissimam subire mortem. Praecipitârunt autem Delphi Aesopum de Rupe, & mortuus est; sed aderant ultores Dei; Non multò enim post tempore, pestilentiâ laborantes, ab Oraculo acceperunt expiandam esse Aesopi mortem, quod & fecerunt, & conscii quam injustè eum interimerunt, etiam Cippum in Aesopi Memo­riam erexerunt. Primates autem Graeciae, & Sapientissimi quique, quum quae in Aesopum patrata fuissent intellexerunt, in Delphos profecti, severâ Inquisitione habitâ, & ipsi ultores Aesopi mortis extiterunt.