Character Index | Proverb Index
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| Character Index | Proverb Index |
A Lion fell in love with a beautiful maiden and proposed marriage. The maiden's parents did not know what to say. They did not want to give their daughter to the Lion, yet they did not wish to enrage the King of Beasts. At last the father said: "We feel highly honored by your Majesty's proposal, but our daughter is a tender young girl, and we fear that in the heat of love you might possibly do her injury. Might I venture to suggest that your Majesty should have your claws removed, and your teeth extracted; then we would consider your proposal again." The Lion was so much in love that he had his claws trimmed and his big teeth taken out. But, when he again came to the parents of the young girl they simply laughed at him.
Townsend version
A lion demanded the daughter of a woodcutter in marriage. The Father, unwilling to grant, and yet afraid to refuse his request, hit upon this expedient to rid himself of his importunities. He expressed his willingness to accept the Lion as the suitor of his daughter on one condition: that he should allow him to extract his teeth, and cut off his claws, as his daughter was fearfully afraid of both. The Lion cheerfully assented to the proposal. But when the toothless, clawless Lion returned to repeat his request, the Woodman, no longer afraid, set upon him with his club, and drove him away into the forest.
L'Estrange version
A lyon fell in love with a country lass, and desir'd her father's consent to have her in marriage. The answer he gave was churlish enough. He'd never agree to't he say'd, upon any terms, to marry his daughter to a beast. The lyon gave him a sowr look upon't, which brought the bumkin, upon second thoughts, to strike up a bargain with him, upon these conditions; that his teeth should be drawn, and his nailes par'd; for those were things, he say'd, that the foolish girle was terribly afraid of. The lyon sends for a surgeon immediately to do the work; (as what will not love make a body do?). And so soon as ever the operation was over, he goes and challenges the father upon his promise. The countryman seeing the lyon disarm'd, pluck'd up a good heart, and with a swindging cudgel so order'd the matter, that he broke off the match.
Moral
An extravagant love consults neither life, fortune, nor reputation, but sacrifices all that can be dear to a man of sense and honor, to the transports of an inconsiderate passion.
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Tom Simondi, All Rights Reserved