Character Index | Proverb Index
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| Character Index | Proverb Index |
Townsend version
An ass feeding in a meadow saw a Wolf approaching to seize him, and immediately pretended to be lame. The Wolf, coming up, inquired the cause of his lameness. The Ass replied that passing through a hedge he had trod with his foot upon a sharp thorn. He requested that the Wolf pull it out, lest when he ate him it should injure his throat. The Wolf consented and lifted up the foot, and was giving his whole mind to the discovery of the thorn, when the Ass, with his heels, kicked his teeth into his mouth and galloped away. The Wolf, being thus fearfully mauled, said, "I am rightly served, for why did I attempt the art of healing, when my father only taught me the trade of a butcher?'
L'Estrange version
An asse had got a thorn in's foot, and for want of a better surgeon, who but a wolf at last, to draw it out with his teeth! The asse was no sooner eas'd, but he gave his operator such a lick under the ear with his sound foot for his pains, that he stunn'd him, and so went his way.
Moral
Harm watch, harm catch, is but according to the common rule of equity and retaliation, and a very warrantable way of deceiving the deceiver.
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Tom Simondi, All Rights Reserved