Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
151. A SOW AND A DOG (Perry 222)
There pass'd some hard Words betwixt a sow and a Dog, and the Sow swore
by Venus, that she'd tear his Guts out, if he did not mend his Manners.
Ay, says the Dog, you do well to call upon her for your Patroness, that
will not so much as endure any Creature about her that Eat Swine's Flesh.
Well (says the Sow) and that's a Token of her Love, to hate any Thing
that hurts me; but for Dog's Flesh, 'tis good neither Dead, nor Living.
THE MORAL. Where the Matter in Controversy will not bear an Argument,
'tis a Turn of Art to bring it off with a Paradox
L'Estrange originally published his version of the fables in 1692. There is a
very nice illustrated edition in the Children's Classics series by Knopf: Sir
Roger L'Estrange. Aesop
- Fables which is available at amazon.com.