193. Mustela et Homo. Mustela, dum apprehenderet mures, ab homine capitur. Illa vero cum fugere vellet, “Rogo,” inquit, “O homo, ut parcas mihi, quia ex molestis sueta sum domum tuam expurgare.” At ille “Non causa,” inquit, “mea haec facis; nam gratam te haberem, si pro me fecisses, veniamque promeruisses; sed ideo mures necas ut comedas reliquias nostras quas illi fuerant rosuri, et tu totum devores omniaque tecum deportes. Nolo mihi deputes beneficium.” Dixit, sicque morti tradidit. Qui simulatorie famulatur, male remuneratur.
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M0193 = Perry293. Source: Vienna Romulus 37. This is Perry 293. In both Greece and Rome, weasels were used as mousers. Over time, many of the ancient Aesop’s fables about weasels were retold with cats replacing the weasels. Compare the fable of the mole and the gardener, #186. Read a Fabula Facilis version of this fable.
