x ^SOP'S FABLES 



There is no fixed text even for the nucleus 

 collection contained in this book. iEsop 

 himself is so shadowy a figure that we might 

 almost be forgiven if we held, with regard to 

 him, the heresy of Mistress Elizabeth Prig. 

 What we call his fables can in most cases be 

 traced back to the fables of other people, 

 notably of Phasdrus and Babrius. It is usual 

 to regard the Greek Prose Collections, passing 

 under the name of iEsop, as having greater 

 claims to the eponymous title ; but modern 

 research has shown that these are but medieval 

 prosings of Babrius's verse. I have therefore 

 felt at liberty to retell the fables in such 

 a way as would interest children, and have 

 adopted from the various versions that which 

 seemed most suitable in each case, telling the 

 fable anew in my own way. 



Much has been learnt during the present 

 century about the history of the various 

 apologues that walk abroad under the name 

 of " iEsop." I have attempted to bring these 



