Character Index | Proverb Index
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| Character Index | Proverb Index |
Townsend version
A man had two dogs: a Hound, trained to assist him in his sports, and a Housedog, taught to watch the house. When he returned home after a good day's sport, he always gave the Housedog a large share of his spoil. The Hound, feeling much aggrieved at this, reproached his companion, saying, "It is very hard to have all this labor, while you, who do not assist in the chase, luxuriate on the fruits of my exertions." The Housedog replied, "Do not blame me, my friend, but find fault with the master, who has not taught me to labor, but to depend for subsistence on the labor of others."
Moral
Children are not to be blamed for the faults of their parents.
L'Estrange version (A Hound and A Mastiffe)
There was a man had two dogs; one for the chace, t'other to look to the house; and whatever the hound took abroad, the house-dog had his part on't at home. T'other grumbled at it, that when he took all the pains, the mastiffe should reap the fruit of his labours. Well, says the house-dog, that's none of my fault, but my masters, that has not train'd me up to work for my self, but to eat what others have provided for me.
Moral
Fathers and masters have a great deal to answer for, if their children and servants do not do as they should do.
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Tom Simondi, All Rights Reserved