'The Ass's skin used for a drum', an illustration by John Vernon Lord
in Aesop's Fables, Jonathan Cape, 1989, page 85.
The Text:
The Ass’s Skin Used for a Drum
A Miserable Ass that was ready to
sink under Blows and Burdens, call’d upon Death to Deliver him from that
Intolerable Oppression. Death was within Hearing it seems, and took him at his
Word; but told him withal for his Comfort, that whereas other Creatures end
their Misfortunes and their Lives together, You must not expect that it will be
so with you; for (says Death,) they’l make Drums of your Skin, when your
Carcass shall be Carrion, and never leave Drubbing of ye so long as one Piece
will hold to another.
Moral: Even after death people
cast aspersions on the reputation of others.
Text:
Roger L’Estrange 1/437 (1692).
Selected parallels: Babrius 141. Phaedrus 4/1. Caxton, Romulus
3/18. Chambry 236. Perry 164.
This fable is sometimes entitled the
‘Priests of Cybele’ who used to go on begging excursions with an ass to carry
their belongings.
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