# Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/The Life of Æsop/Chapter XVI

Cap. XVI.
Æsop Adopts Ennus. Ennus's Ingratitude and Falseness, and Æsop's Good Nature.
IT was the Fashion in those Days, for Princes to Exercise Tryalls of Skill in the Putting and Resolving of Riddles, and Intricate Questions; and He that was the Bell: at the Clearing or Untying of Knotty Difficulties carry'd the Prize. Æsop's Faculty lay notably that way,and render'd him so serviceable to the King, that it brought him both Reputation and Reward. It was his Unhappiness to have No Children, for the Comfort and Support of his Old Age; So that with the Kings Consent, he Adopted a young Man, who was Well Born, and Ingenious enough, but Poor; His Name was Ennus. Æsop took as much care of his Institution, as if he had been his own Child, and Train'd him up in those Principles of Vertue and Knowledge that might most probably render him Great and Happy. But there's no working upon a Flagitious and Perverse Nature, by Kindness and Discipline, and 'tis time lost to think of Mattering so Incurable an Evil: So that Ennus, after the Manner of other Wicked Men, heaping One Villany ​on another, Counterfeits his Fathers Name and Hand to Certain Letters, wherein he Promises his Assistance to the Neighbour Princes against Labynetus. These Letters Ennus carry's to the King, and Charges his Father with Treason,though in Appearance, with All the trouble and unwillingness that was possible, Only a Sense of his Duty to his King and to his Country, swallow'd up All other Respects of Reverence and Modesty that a Son ows to a Father. The King took All These Calumnies for Instances of Ennus's Affections to him, without the Least Suspition of any Fraud in the Matter: So that without any further Enquiry, he ordered Æsop to be put to Death. The Persons to whom the Care of his Execution was Committed, being well Assured of his Innocence, and of the Kings Ungovernable Passions, took him out of the way, and Gave it out that he was Dead. Some few Dayes after this, there came Letters to Labynetus from Amasis the King of Ægypt, wherein Labynetus was Desired by Amasis to send him a certain Architect that could raise a Tower that should Hang in the Aire, and likewise Resolve All Questions. Labynetus was at a Great Loss what answer to return, And the Fierceness of his Displeasure against Æsop being by This time somewhat Abated, he began to Enquire after him with Great Passion, and would often Prosess, That if the Parting with One halfe of his Kingdom could bring him to Life again, he would Give it. Hermippus and Others that had kept him out of the Way, told the King upon the Hearing of This, That Æsop was yet Alive; so They were commanded to bring him forth; which they did, in All the Beastlyness he had Contracted in the Prison. He did no sooner Appear, but he made his Innocence so manifest, that Labynetus in Extreme Difpleasure and Indignation, commanded the False Accuser to be put to Death with most Exquisite Torments; But Æsop, after All this, Interceded for him, and Obtained his Pardon, upon a Charitable Presumption, that the Sence of so Great a Goodness and Obligation would yet work upon him. Herodotus tells this Story of Cambyses the Son of Cyrus, and Crœsus, and with what Joy Cambyses received Crœsus again, after he was supposed to be put to death by his own Order; but Then it Varies in This, that he Caused Those to be put to Death, that were to have seen the Execution done, for not Observing his Commands.