Thirty verse fables after Aesop, composed by Páll Vídalín, sýslumaður í Dalasýslu. Each fable is a single stanza — four lines of narrative and a fifth line of moral. Published in the 1906 miscellany Nokkrar rímur og kvæði (Reykjavík). First known English translation.
1. The Rooster Who Found the Gemstone
The rooster roots about in the mound
and finds a pearl among the rubbish.
"A grain of barley," says he, "is better for me
than the brightness that shines from you."
Fools often receive treasures in their hands.
2. The Dog and the Piece of Meat
The dog carries a morsel in his jaw;
come to a river, he sees his own shadow.
He thinks to rob it, and snatches at the muck —
the meat flew away, and he was left with nothing.
When the mind thinks much, the hand often holds little.
3. The Donkey and the Puppy
The master played with the puppy in his lap,
patted him and allowed his tricks.
The donkey sees this and leaps into his knee —
but is beaten with a stick.
Not everything is valued the same for everyone, though the deed be one.
4. The Crow with Borrowed Feathers
Cunning among the other birds, the crow
got feathers for her coat by begging.
But when she preened in borrowed splendour,
each bird took back its own feather.
Loan-wealth is fickle, said the crow — that is cause for grief.
5. The Ape and the Fox
The fox asked the ape, who carries a tail behind,
to give one joint of his brush.
"Though I should have to carry it in my performance —
you who sneer, you should not have it."
The greedy one will give nothing, even from what he does not need.
6. The Lion and the Fox
The sick lion beckons the vixen,
who would lure her in to him.
"I fear the tracks — they face inward,
but I find none leading out from here."
Much is to be guarded against; be watchful, my friend.
7. The Crane and the Wolf
The crane spoke of her bargain —
she who pulled the bone from the wolf's throat.
"Did you expect," said he, "better terms?
I did not bite your head off!"
To have helped and be treated thus — I call that a rogue's custom.
8. The Doctor and the Dead Man
The doctor, at the man's funeral,
declared to his friends:
"If he had not given himself to wine,
he would still be living today."
Late counsel serves the unwise ill.
9. The Housewife and the Serving-Maids
The housewife, when the rooster crowed,
drove the maids up before the sun.
They killed him — but after that
she wakes them half a night earlier.
Many things go otherwise than what was planned.
10. The Stomach and the Limbs
The limbs say: "We refuse,
lazy stomach, to serve you any longer."
When they denied his needs,
the body's strength withered away.
Discord causes a man's ruin.
11. The Ape-Women
The ape-women dance in a row,
dressed up fine in silk.
They renounce finery and refuse coin —
until fair apples are shown to them.
Though nature be beaten with a club, she finds her way home.
12. The Wax
The wax envied the brick its high origin
and the hardness it got from fire;
it went wandering toward the coals
and ran like grease.
Know how to cut your coat according to a fitting pattern.
13. Nearest to Oneself
The wife had a sick husband;
she vowed to die if he should live.
When death pressed in upon her —
"There," says she, "is the man."
Each one is found nearest to himself when sorrow presses hard.
14. The Donkey Who Stumbled
A weary donkey tottered about the yard —
he who had long and well served.
He stumbled over a stone, and the one who sat on him
beat him hard, as fast as he could.
So does many a man repay soured milk and swallowed food.
15. The Mouse and the Raven
"Dear little mouse!" the raven beckons.
"Gnaw the snare from my foot."
The mouse lent her kindness —
freed, he slaughtered her.
Never is good repaid — unless with evil.
16. The Fox and the Crocodile
The crocodile and the fox held
a boasting-match about their lineage.
"No need for words," the vixen says —
"the signs are written plain upon the skin."
By a long mouth one may often judge what kind of man he is.
17. The Oak and the Wedges
The woodsman felled the champion of trees
and fashioned smooth wedges from it.
The oak groaned, for she suffered torment
from branches of her own body.
Sore it is to suffer sorrow and harm from one's own kin.
18. The Donkey Owned by Three
Three brothers shared one donkey;
all used the working beast.
They argued over whose turn it was to feed him —
he starved to death from their scheming.
From a bad bargain, blood can drip from the nose.
19. The Mice and the Cat
The mice together took this counsel:
to sew a bell upon the cat with thread.
But when each asked the other to do it,
none dared approach the cat.
Easier to know the right advice than to carry it out.
20. The Raven and the Wolf
The raven claims his morsel from the wolf,
for he had always followed him at a run.
"You ate the prey and gave me nothing,"
the wolf replies, when things thus stand.
Do not expect a gift from any kind of creature.
21. The Geese and the Cranes
Geese and cranes together at the river —
none saw the hunter coming.
The heavy geese were caught with ease;
many a crane flew off over the town.
Light goes the one who wanders free — learn from this.
22. The Vulture and the Birds
The vulture made a feast for the birds,
a banquet on his birthday.
When they were all drunk he killed them,
unaware, in the locked hall.
In the midst of pleasure, danger is nearer than one thinks.
23. The Hen Who Laid the Golden Egg
A farmhand owned the hen
who laid a fair golden egg each day.
He cut her open, expecting to find
wondrous gold inside — but found nothing.
Greed spoils the gain already in hand.
24. The Mountains in Labour
The people marvelled, the folk stood awed —
the mountains took a light sickness.
The folk trembled, exhausted with fright —
and one little mouse was born.
Often what comes is small from a blow that was struck high.
25. The Toad
The toad puffed herself up entirely,
meaning to become as large as an ox.
"Though you burst, mother dear,"
said her son, "it cannot be."
Foolish men's minds aim far beyond their measure.
26. The Quarrel over the Donkey
Two men found a donkey;
both wished to own him.
But while they bickered over the beast,
the donkey trotted off into the forest.
Choice things can be lost through strife and slander.
27. The Sick Donkey
Word came that the donkey had fallen ill;
the dogs went quickly to visit him.
Pale, he said to them at once:
"I am fitter than you would like to see."
Some kind words are next to treachery — that is seen here.
28. The Crab
The crab says to his son:
"You always walk sideways."
"If your tracks were set straight forward,"
the son replies, "then I would walk straight."
Let each correct the other — but first attend to his own path.
29. The Old Man and Death
A worn-out old man carries his burden
and, weeping, calls for death.
Death came — but the old man started back
and heaved the bundle up onto himself again.
Dear is life, and fair the soul, when one must go.
30. The Mice and the Cat
The cat lay still and quiet;
the mice came to see this.
One went to kiss the cat at once —
she was gobbled up on the spot.
Often a fiend wears a fair skin — guard yourself from that.
Colophon
Nokkrar Esópiskar dæmisögur (Some Aesopic Fables). Thirty verse fables composed by Páll Vídalín, sýslumaður í Dalasýslu. Published in Nokkrar rímur og kvæði (Reykjavík, 1906), pp. 53–72.
Good Works Translation from Icelandic by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, with scribal labour by Claude (Tulku). Gospel register. Each fable preserves the original structure: four narrative lines and a fifth moral line.
First known complete English translation.
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Source Text
Nokkrar esópiskar dæmisögur, ortar af P.V. Vídalín sýslumanni í Dalasýslu.
1. Um hanann, sem fann gimsteininn.
Haninn rótar haugi í,
og hittir perlu í sorpi því.
"Byggkorn," segir hann, "betra er mér,
enn birtan sú, sem stendur af þér."
Heimskum lukkan hnosið oft í hendur ber.
2. Um hundinn og kjötstykkið.
Hundurinn krás í kjafti ber,
komin að á, sinn skugga sér;
þann hyggst ræna, og þrífa á lort,
þaut burt kjöt, en glenti hann hvort.
Þá hugurinn mikið, höndin lítið hefir oft.
3. Um asnann og hvelpinn.
Húsbóndinn við hvelp sér lék,
honum klappar og líður brek;
það sér asni og í hans kné,
uppstökkur, en — slæst með tré.
Eigi er virt fyrir öllum eins, þó eitt verk sé.
4. Krákan með lánsfjaðrum.
Af fuglum öðrum krákan kæn,
í kyrtil sinn hlaut fiður með bæn;
en þegar dramblát sómdi sér,
sina burttók fjöður hver.
Valt er lansfé, krákan kvað, því kvíða ber.
5. Um apann og refinn.
Ref bað apinn, aftan ber,
einn lið gefa af rófu sér.
"Þó yrði eg að flytja na færleik á,
foxið tér, þú skyldir ei fá."
Ágjarni vill við aumingjann af engu sjá.
6. Um ljónið og refinn.
Sjúku ljóni tóa tér,
sem teygja vildi hana inn að sér:
"Eg hræðist spor, þau horfa inn,
en héðan engin liggja finn."
Margt er að varast, vertu gætinn, vinur minn.
7. Um trönuna og úlfinn.
Trana um kaup sitt talaði ein,
sem togaði úr kverkum úlfsins bein:
"Bjóstu," sagði hann, "betra við?
Beit eg ei af þér höfuðið!"
Hjálparmann að hafa tel eg hrekkjasið.
8. Um læknirinn og þann dauða.
Læknirinn í líkför manns,
lýsir því fyrir vinum hans:
"Við vín ef hefði hann ei lagt sitt lag,
lifa myndi hann enn í dag."
Ósvinnum koma eftirráðin illa í hag.
9. Um húsfreyju og griðkonur.
Húsmóðir, nær haninn gól,
þrakti upp þernur fyrir sól;
þær drápu hann, en héreftir
hálfu fyr hún vekja fer.
Margt fer stundum öðruvísi en ætlað er.
10. Um magann og limina.
Limirnir segja: "Letjumst vér,
latur magi, að þjóna þér."
Þegar neita þörfum hans,
þverruðu burðir líkamans.
Ósamþykkið auðnuleysi ollir manns.
11. Um apinjatnar.
Apinjurnar dansa datt,
dúðaðar upp með silkið smátt;
þær neita skarti og synja seim,
nær sýnd voru fögur epli þeim.
Þó náttúran sé lamin með lurk, hún leitar heim.
12. Um vaxið.
Tígulsteinsins hátt upphaf,
og hörku fengna eldi af,
öfundar vax og fer á flakk
fram að glóð, og rann sem lakk.
Vittu að sníða vexti eftir vænan stakk.
13. Sér sjálfum næstur.
Sætan átti sjúkan mann,
sér kaus dauða ef lifði hann.
Þegar hel sér þrengdi inn,
"þarna er," segir hún, "maðurinn."
Hver finst næstur sjálfum sér, nær sorg er stinn.
14. Um asnann, sem rasaði.
Lúinn asni lötraði um hlað,
sem lengi hafði og vel þjónað;
hann rasaði um stein, en sá á sat,
með svipum keyrði hann fast sem gat.
Svo launar margur sopna mjólk og svelgdan mat.
15. Um músina og hrafninn.
"Kæra mysla!" krummi tér,
"kroppaðu snöru af fæti mér."
Liðsemd músin lét í té,
losnaður henni slátraði.
Aldrei gott er oflaunað, nema illu sé.
16. Um refinn og krókódílinn.
Kappskraf höfðu um kynþátt sinn
krókódíll og refurinn.
"Ei þarf orðin," tóa tér,
"teiknin gjörvöll skinnið ber."
Af munni löngum merkjast kann, hver maður er.
17. Um eikina og fleigana.
Óreinn trjánna garpurinn hjó,
og gildar fleiga sér til bjó;
stundi eik, er átti föl
af eigin kvistum reyna kvöl.
Sárt er að líða af sér nákomnum sorg og böl.
18. Um asnann, sem þrír áttu.
Bræður eríðu asna þrír,
allir brúka vinnudýr;
þeir möttust um að metta hann,
í megurð af því deyja vann.
Úr dálega snyttu dreyrinn nefi detta kann.
19. Um mýsnar og köttinn.
Mýs samtóku svoddan ráð,
að sauma bjöllu á köttinn með þráð;
þá hver aðra um þetta bað,
þorði enginn kisu að.
Hægra er að kenna heilræðið enn halda það.
20. Um hrafninn og úlfinn.
Hrafn af úlfi heimtir krás,
því honum ætíð fylgdi á rás.
"Áztu bráð, en ei gafst mér,"
úlfur talar, þá svo við ber.
Óættu að af hverju geði gjört sé þér.
21. Um gæsir og trönur.
Gæsir og trönur eru með á,
engin veiðimanninn sá;
þungar gæsir fangast frí,
flugu margar trönur um by.
Létt er þeim, sem laus flakkar, það lærðu af því.
22. Um gamminn og fuglana.
Gammurinn fuglum gjörði í hag,
gestaboð á fæðingardag;
ölvaða þar alla hann
óvart drap í læstum rann.
Í vellystingunum voði er nær enn varir mann.
23. Um hænuna, sem átti gulleggið.
Húskarl átti hænu þá,
sem hvern dag fagurt gullegg á,
krufði og ætlaði innra þar
sé undra gull, en fann ei par.
Fíknin spillir fengnum hlut, sem fyrir var.
24. Um fjöllin jóðsjúklin.
Furðaði sig firða drótt,
fjöllin tóku létta sótt;
felmtrar líka fólkið þreytt,
fæddist músar greyið eitt.
Hlýst oft smátt af höggi því, sem hátt er reitt.
25. Um pödduna.
Paddan upp sér allri skaut,
ætlaði að verða stór sem naut.
"Þó þú springir, móðir mín,"
mælti son, "það getur ei skeð."
Heimskra manna hátt úr máta hugsar geð.
26. Þrætan um asnann.
Asnann fundu ítar tveir,
eignast vildu hann báðir þeir;
en sem þrátta þann um plóg,
þrammaði asni út á skóg.
Missast kunna kjörgripir fyrir kíf og róg.
27. Um asnann sjúka.
Fregn var að asninn féll í sótt,
fóru hundar að vitja ns skjótt,
fölur sagði fljótt við þá:
"Færari er eg enn vilduð sjá."
Sum vilmæli eru svikum næst, það sést hér á.
28. Um krabbann.
Krabbinn segir son sinn við:
"Sífelt gengur þú út á hlið."
"Ef þín spor væru áframsett,"
ansar hinn, "þá gengi eg rétt."
Hver aðra síðar, sjálfur ræki sína stétt.
29. Um karlinn og dauðann.
Kari örmæddur byrði ber,
og bað grátandi dauða sér;
kom þar dauði, en karl við brá,
og keyrði upp á sig bagga þá.
Dyrt er líf, og fagurt fjör, þá farast á.
30. Um mýsnar og köttinn.
Kötturinn vært í kyrðum lá,
komu myslur þetta að sjá;
ein fer að kyssa kisu í stað,
kolikuð var hún strax í spað.
Oft er flagð í fögru skinni, forðastu það.
Source Colophon
Source text from Nokkrar rímur og kvæði (Reykjavík, 1906), pp. 53–72. Digitised by Google Books. OCR artifacts silently corrected where the reading is unambiguous.
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