Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-09-22
VOL. XXXVII.
EsOp.
BY MRS. E. A. wEswALL.

fables, he is usually regarded as the orr
ginator of them.
He first imputed language to beasts, and
ascrloed reason 10 trees, plants, and other
lnanimate objects, SO that they utter the
preceps OF virtue and the maxims of
mortality. That copied by other writer's,
and are still studied as text books, and
read as pastime. is sufficient proof of the
great value of this style of writing.
Socrates, just before his death, put some
of these fables into verse, and Plato is said
TO have advised nurses TO instruct children
In them, to cultivate good manners and
inspire them with love OF truth
ksop was born B. G. 600, in Phrygia.
Though brilliant wit and humorst, he
was sadly deformed. Rolin says, ''he
was short hunchback, horribly ugly in
face, having scarce the figure of u man,
and for considerable time almost with
out the power of speech!"
Born slave, he was so hideous in APP
pearance that the merchant who bought
him found it difficult to dispose of him
for people were shocked at the sight of
him. His first master sent him to the field
10 work, TO be rid, no doubt, of his dis
agreeable presence.
He was next sold toa philosopher named
Nanlhus, where, in spite of his deformity,
his wit and sprightliness found him many
friends; he was continually astounding
everyone by his wise sayings.
On one occasion, his master having in
vted some friends to dine, ordered Esop
to purchase the best the market afforded.
Esop bought nothing but tongues, which
Ina tnlu the cook IN in u,,pinn,
and with different sauces. When dinner
came, one course after another was served
each was tongue, the sidedishes were
tongue, the desert was tongue-the Kan
thus, filled with rage, exclaimed violently,
"Did not order you to buy the best the
market atlorded?"
And have | not obeyed your ordersP"
replied Esop. ''ls not the tongue the
bond OF social society. the key Of science,
and the origin of truth and reasonP BY
means Of the tongue, cities are built, gov
ernments established and administered
with that. men instruct, persuade. and
preside in assemblies; it is the instrument
by which we acquit ourselves of the chiei
OF all our duties, the praising and adoring
the gods"
"Well. then" said Xanthus, appeased
by this brilliant sally OF wit, and thinking
to puzzle Esop, go to market to. morrow
and buy the worst of everything. The
same company will dine with me, and /
have mind to diversity my entertain.
ment."
The next day Esop provided the same
dishes, again telling his master that the
tongue was the worst thing in the world
"lt is" said he, the instrument of all
strife, contention, the foementer of law.
suits, and the source of dissension and
wars; it is the origin of error of lies, cal
umny and blasphemy."
We are not told how he obtained his
freedom, but it is easy to imagine Il per
son of such brilliant intellect could not bt
at loss to obtain even liberty.
One OF the first undertakings was tc
visit King Cl9sus, so famed for his rishes
His deformity at first SO surprised and an
noyed the king, he could hardly believe
him TO be so talented as he was represented
to be. But the splendor of his mind soor
shone through the ugliness of the body
and Crmsus realized the truth of Esop's
words. on another occasion, that 1--WE
ought not to consider the form of the yes
sci, but the quantity of the liquor it con
tains."
Being at Athens on one occasion, when
the people were suffering under the yok,
of self-imposed sovereign, Esop repeat
ed to them the well known fable of the
frogs asking II king from Jupiter.
When Soon visited Cr9'us, 4EIop was
dissatisfied with the Indifference will
which he looked upon the magniticence o.
the palace and the vast treasures OF the
king.
Certainly" says Anarcharsis to Esop
''you have forgotten your own fable Of The
Fox and the Panther. The latter, he
highest merit, could only show her fin,
skin beautifully marked with different col
ors the foX's skin, on the contrary, wa
very plain, but contained within it "a trea
sure of subtlelies and stratagems of infinit,
value. This very image" continued tn,
Scylhian, 'shows one your own character
you are affected with II splendid outside
while you pay little regard TO what is truly
the man-to that which is in him. an,
consequently properly his"
The manner of 4E3op's death was pecu
liar for man of such abilities. He wen
to Delphi, in the name of Cresus, to maxi
a great sacrifice, and carried with him
large quantity of silver and gold, to give
considerable sum to each inhabilant of th
city. After the sacrifice, Il quarrel aros
between the people and himself; he sen
the money back to Cr@Sus, with the word
those for whom it was intended were un
worthy of the gift.
The inhabitants condemned him, TO
sacrlege, to be thrown from the top of
rock. The god, offended by this action
punished the inhabitants with famine ant
pesllence. The people, hoping TO appeas
him, caused it to be published throughou
Greece that whoever should for the homo
of Esop come and claim vengeance for hi
dealh they would give him satisfaction.
Not till the third generation after di'
one appear, when u man, descended from
the master Of Esop, presented himself
when the Delphians made restitution, ant
were henceforLh delivered from the hor
rors of famine and pestilence. Vide AoOakt