Monday 8 July 2013

'A Dog who was afraid of the Rain'

'A Dog who was afraid of the Rain', an illustration by JVL in Aesop's Fables, Jonathan Cape, 1989.

This is the 60th fable to be found in Roger L'Estrange's Fables and Storyes Moralized. Being a Second Part of The Fables of Aesop and Other Eminent Mythologists, &c, London, Printed for R. Sare at Grayes-Inn-gate in Holbourn, 1699, page 53.

Here is Roger L'Estrange's text, with spelling and other idiosyncrasies in tact:


The Dog who was Afraid of the Rain
IT was observ’d in a Family with all Sorts of Dogs in’t, that one Curr among the rest would never be gotten out of the House in Rainy Weather. His Fellows took Notice of it; and would never let him be quiet till he told them the Meaning on’t: which, in short was This: I was terribly scalt once, a great while ago, and I have been afraid of Water, says he, ever since. His Companions told him he talk’d like a Fool, for Rain-water was Cold, and there could be no Danger in it. Well well! Says he, let it be Hot, or let it be Cold, ’tis Water still; and how shall I know whether it be the one or the other, till I feel it? And by That time, it will be too late to prevent the Mischief.

Moral:  It is folly to fear something without a proper cause but it is wise to be wary when there is reasonable ground for it.


Text: Roger L’Estrange (2/60, 1699).

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