Æsop's fables in words of one syllable

by Lucy Aikin

"Æsop's fables in words of one syllable" by Lucy Aikin and Aesop is a collection of fables written in the late 19th century. It presents classic Aesopian animal tales retold in simple, one-syllable prose for young or early readers, each closing with a clear moral. Expect brisk scenes featuring foxes, wolves, crows, dogs, and children that illustrate prudence, humility, and common sense. The opening of the collection strings together many very short animal parables, each told in plain words and capped with a maxim. Early pieces include the Boy and the Wolf (lying destroys trust), Boys and Frogs (your sport may be another’s harm), the Fox and the Grapes (sour-grapes self-justification), the Mice, the Cat, and the Bell (plans are easier than deeds), the Wolf and the Lamb (might over right), Stone Broth (ingenuity and persistence), and the Man, His Son, and His Ass (you cannot please all). Other quick hits stress valuing use over show (the Cock and the Gem, the Stag in the Lake), choosing freedom over gilded chains (the Wolf and the House Dog), and favoring gentle means (the Wind and the Sun) while warning against greed (the Goose with the Gold Egg) and flattery (the Fox and the Crow). This rapid sequence continues through many familiar fables and concludes in the excerpt as a cat flatters an old hawk to gain entry, signaling yet another lesson in slyness and trust.