Image Source: Peaceable Kingdom, Edward Hicks.
M0017 (not in Perry). Source: Abstemius 117. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry omitted most of Abstemius’s fables. For another fable about a mismatched feast, see the fable of the bees and the beetles, #694.
17. The Lion Hosting a Feast. The lion presented to the rest of the dumb beasts an abundant, elaborate feast, at which the meat of chickens, thrushes and other such birds, was served, some of it roasted, and some of it stewed. This was quite pleasing to the dog, the cat and to the other carnivorous animals. The other animals, however, those who feed on grasses and grains, cursed a feast of this type as being insipid. The fable shows how difficult it is to satisfy the varied wishes of the crowd.
Why did Perry omit Abstemius' work? Because he guessed they weren't Aesop?
ReplyDeleteWe're just lucky Perry was interested in medieval sources (largely I suspect because the survival of Phaedrus in the Romulus tradition really is fascinating). Most classicists have no interest in Renaissance Latin, but that's actually why I learned Latin originally: I was a Polish major in college and I wanted to read the Renaissance Polish Latin poets. Meanwhile, Abstemius is a DELIGHT. He really knew how to write a fable!
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