736. Hedera et Murus. Hedera muro blandiens dixit, “Permitte ut ego, fragilis et nescia me sustinere, tibi tam stabili et tam firmo adhaeream.” Murus haud renuit. At postmodum, stirpibus hac illac furtim permeantibus, ille hanc lapidum compaginem laxare et cementa solvere queritur; herum rogat communem consortium disrumpere velit et plantam nocivo foedere sibi iugatam procul eiicere. Herus muri querentis preces audit et approbat, et noxias stirpes revellere tentat. At, cum per omnes muri cavos penetrassent et internodiis tenacibus haererent, intellegit eas iam revelli non posse, quin ipse murus vel inclinetur, vel etiam ruat. Ideoque timens ne damnum maius eveniat, commercium malum dirimere non audet. Fabula hunc monet quisquis temere sinit se vinculo societatis arcto alligari.
M0736 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 8.6 (adapted into prose; shortened). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; it appears original to Desbillons, as he cites no source. Compare the story of the hedgehogs as houseguests that won’t go away, #183.
