The Dog and The Wolf

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The Dog and The Wolf

Better starve free than be a fat slave.

A gaunt Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened to meet a House-dog who was passing by. "Ah, Cousin," said the Dog. "I knew how it would be; your irregular life will soon be the ruin of you. Why do you not work steadily as I do, and get your food regularly given to you?"

"I would have no objection," said the Wolf, "if I could only get a place."

"I will easily arrange that for you," said the Dog; "come with me to my master and you shall share my work."

So the Wolf and the Dog went towards the town together. On the way there the Wolf noticed that the hair on a certain part of the Dog's neck was very much worn away, so he asked him how that had come about.

"Is that all?" said the Wolf. "Then good-bye to you, Master Dog."

Townsend version

A wolf, meeting a big well-fed Mastiff with a wooden collar about his neck asked him who it was that fed him so well and yet compelled him to drag that heavy log about wherever he went. "The master," he replied. Then said the Wolf: "May no friend of mine ever be in such a plight; for the weight of this chain is enough to spoil the appetite."

L'Estrange version

There was a hagged carrion of a wolfe, and a jolly sort of a gentile dog, with good flesh upon his back, that fell into company together upon the king's high-way. The wolfe wonderfully pleas'd with his companion, and as inquisitive to learn how he brought himself to that blessed state of body. Why, says the dog, I keep my master's house from thieves, and I have very good meat, drink, and lodging for my pains. Now if you'll go along with me, and do as I do, you may fare as I fare. The wolfe struck up the bargain, and so away they trotted together: but as they were jogging on, the wolfe spy'd a bare place about the dogs neck, where the hair was worn off. Brother (says he) how comes this I prethee? Oh, that's nothing, says the dog, but the fretting of my collar a little. Nay, says t'other, if there be a collar in the case, I know better things than to sell my liberty for a crust.

Moral

We are so dazzd'd with the glare of a splendid appearance, that we can hardly discern the inconveniences that attend it. 'Tis a comfort to have good meat and drink at command, and warm lodging: but he that sells his freedom for the cramming of his gutt, has but a hard bargain of it.

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