240. Asinus et Umbra Eius. Demosthenes, causam orans, cum iudices parum attentos videret, “Paulisper,” inquit, “aures mihi praebete; rem vobis novam et iucundam narrabo.” Cum aures arrexissent, “Iuvenis,” inquit, “quispiam asinum conduxerat, quo Athenis Megaram profecturus uteretur. In itinere cum sol ureret neque esset umbraculum, deposuit clitellas et sub asino consedit, cuius umbra tegeretur. Id vero agaso vetabat, clamans asinum locatum esse, non umbram asini. Alter cum contra contenderet, tandem in ius ambulant.” Haec locutus, Demosthenes, ubi homines arrectis auribus auscultantes vidit, abiit. Tum revocatus a iudicibus rogatusque ut reliquam fabulam enarraret, “Quid,” inquit, “de asini umbra libet audire? Causam hominis de vita periclitantis non audietis?”
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M0240 = Perry460. Source: Yenni, Anecdote 6. This is Perry 460. Demosthenes was a famous orator of fourth-century Athens (see also #82). The city of Megara mentioned here was a city on the Saronic Gulf to the west of Athens. Compare the fable about Demades taunting his audience with an Aesop’s fable, #871.
