_Fabula ostendit_ that History repeats itself, with variations.
XXXVII.
A pig who had engaged a cray-fish to pilot him along the beach in
search of mussels, was surprised to see his guide start off backwards.
"Your excessive politeness quite overcomes me," said the porker, "but
don't you think it rather ill bestowed upon a pig? Pray don't hesitate
to turn your back upon me."
"Sir," replied the cray-fish, "permit me to continue as I am. We now
stand to each other in the proper relation of _employe_ to employer.
The former is excessively obsequious, and the latter is, in the eyes
of the former, a hog."
XXXVIII.
The king of tortoises desiring to pay a visit of ceremony to a
neighbouring monarch, feared that in his absence his idle subjects
might get up a revolution, and that whoever might be left at the head
of the State would usurp the throne. So calling his subjects about
him, he addressed them thus:
"I am about to leave our beloved country for a long period, and desire
to leave the sceptre in the hands of him who is most truly a tortoise.
I decree that you shall set out from yonder distant tree, and pass
round it. Whoever shall get back last shall be appointed Regent."
So the population set out for the goal, and the king for his
destination.
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