Aesop's fables 속담과 교훈

Aesop's fables로 속담과 교훈 익히기

1. The Shepherd-Boy and the Wolf

A Shepherd-Boy, who tended his flock not far from a village, used to amuse himself at times in crying out. "Wolf! Wolf!" Twice or Thrice his trick succeeded. The whole village came running out to his assistance, when all the return they got was to be laughed at for their pains. At last one day the Wolf came indeed. The Boy cried out in earnest. But his neighbours, supposing him to be at his old sport, paid no heed to his cries, and the Wolf devoured the Sheep.

Q : Why don't people believe the shepherd boy ?

Lesson : Liars are not believed even when they tell the truth

2. The Lion and the Goat

On a summer's day, when everything was suffering from extreme heat, a Lion and a Goat came at the same time to quench their thirst at a small fountain. They at once dell to quarreling which should first drink of the water, till at length it seemed that each was determined to resist the other even to death. But, ceasing from the strife for a moment, to recover breath, they saw a flock of vultures hovering over them, only waiting to pounce upon whichever of them should fall. Whereupon they instantly made up their quarrel, agreeing that it was far better for them both to become friends, than to furnish food for the crows and vultures.

Q : Write the lesson of this fable in Korean.

Lesson : Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures. And however undramatic the pursuit of peace, that pursuit must go on

3. Hercules and the Waggoner 스스로 돕는 자를 돕는다.

As a Countryman was carelessly driving his waggon along a lane, his wheels stuck so deep in the clay that the horses came th a stand-still. Upon this the man, without making the least effort of his own, began to call upon Hercules to come and help him out of his trouble. But Herclues bade him lay his shoulder to the wheel, assuring him that Heaven only aided those who endeavored to help themselves.

Q : What's the problem of the man?

Q : Why doesn't the Hurcules help the man ?

Lesson : it is in vain to expect our prayers to be heard, if we do not strive as well as pray.

4. The Boy and the Frogs

A Troop of Boys were playing at the edge of a pond, when, perceiving a number of Frogs in the water, they began to pelt t them with stones. They gad already killed many of the poor creatures, when one more hardy than the rest putting his head above the water, cried out to them, "Stop your cruel sport, my lads, consider, what is Play to you is Death to us."

Q : What does the last sentence mean ?

Lesson : What is Play to you is Death to us.

5. The Lion and His Tree Councilors

The Lion called the Sheep to ask her if her breath smelt. She said Ay, he bit off her head for a fool. He called the Wolf, and asked him, He said No, he tore him in piece fir a flatterer. At last he called the Fox, and asked him. Truly he had got a cold, and could not smell.

Q : Why was the sheep die ?

Q : Why was the wolf die ?

Lesson : Wise men say nothing in dangerous times

6. The Trees and the Axe

A Woodman came into a forest to ask the trees to give him a handle for his Axe. It seemed so modest a request that the principal Trees at once agreed to it, and it was settled among them that the plain homely Ash should furnish what was wanted. No sooner had the Woodman fitted the staff to his purpose, than he began laying about him on all sides, felling the noblest Trees in the wood. The Oak now seeing the whole matter too late, whispered to the Cedar, "The first concession has lost all, if we had not sacrificed our humble neighbor, we might have yet stood for ages ourselves."

Q : What's the lesson of the story ? Write in English.

Q : What does the 'humble neighbor' mean ?

Lesson : When the rich surrender the rights of the poor, they give a handle to be used against their own privileges.

7. The Ass Carrying the Image

An ass once carried through the streets of a city a famous woodenImage, to be placed in one of its Temples. As he passed along, the crowd made lowly prostration before the Image. The Ass, thinking that they bowed their heads in token of respect for himself, bristled up with pride, gave himself airs, and refused to move another step. The driver, seeing him thus stop, laid his whip lustily about his shoulders and said, "O you perverse dull-head! it is not yet come to this, that men pay worship to an Ass."

Q : Why doesn't the ass want to move ?

Lesson : They are not wise who give to themselves the credit due to others.

8. The Ass and the Grasshopper

An ass, having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They replied, "The dew." The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.

Q: What does the ass want to get ?

Q : Why does the ass eat dew ?

Lesson : Even a fool is wise-when it is too late!

9. The Ass and His Driver

An ass, being driven along a high road, suddenly started off and bolted to the brink of a deep precipice. While he was in the act of throwing himself over, his owner seized him by the tail, endeavoring to pull him back. When the Ass persisted in his effort, the man let him go and said, "Conquer, but conquer to your cost."

Q : What's the meaning of "Conquer, but conquer to your cost"?

Lesson : A willful beast must go his own way

10. The Ass and His Masters

An ass, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master. Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker. Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master. Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner. The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master's occupation, said, groaning: "It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him."

Q : Why does the ass repent his behavior ?

Q : What's the lesson of the story ?

Lesson : He that finds discontentment in one place is not likely to find happiness in another

11. The Ass and the Lapdog

A man had an Ass, and a Maltese Lapdog, a very great beauty. The Ass was left in a stable and had plenty of oats and hay to eat, just as any other Ass would. The Lapdog knew many tricks and was a great favorite with his master, who often fondled him and seldom went out to dine without bringing him home some tidbit to eat. The Ass, on the contrary, had much work to do in grinding the corn-mill and in carrying wood from the forest or burdens from the farm. He often lamented his own hard fate and contrasted it with the luxury and idleness of the Lapdog, till at last one day he broke his cords and halter, and galloped into his master's house, kicking up his heels without measure, and frisking and fawning as well as he could. He next tried to jump about his master as he had seen the Lapdog do, but he broke the table and smashed all the dishes upon it to atoms. He then attempted to lick his master, and jumped upon his back. The servants, hearing the strange hubbub and perceiving the danger of their master, quickly relieved him, and drove out the Ass to his stable with kicks and clubs and cuffs. The Ass, as he returned to his stall beaten nearly to death, thus lamented: "I have brought it all on myself! Why could I not have been contented to labor with my companions, and not wish to be idle all the day like that useless little Lapdog!"

Q : Why does the ass think the lapdog is useless ?

Q : Why does the ass kick and drive out ?

Lesson : To be satisfied with one's lot is better than to desire something which one is not fitted to receive

12. The Ass and His Purchaser

A man wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed with its owner that he should try out the animal before he bought him. He took the Ass home and put him in the straw-yard with his other Asses, upon which the new animal left all the others and at once joined the one that was most idle and the greatest eater of them all.

Seeing this, the man put a halter on him and led him back to his owner. on being asked how, in so short a time, he could have made a trial of him, he answered, "I do not need a trial; I know that he will be just the same as the one he chose for his companion."

Q : What's the meaning of the last sentence ?

Q : What's the lesson of the story ?

Lesson : A man is known by the company he keeps.

13. The Ass and the Mule

A Muleteer set forth on a journey, driving before him an Ass and a Mule, both well laden. The Ass, as long as he traveled along the plain, carried his load with ease, but when he began to ascend the steep path of the mountain, felt his load to be more than he could bear. He entreated his companion to relieve him of a small portion, that he might carry home the rest; but the Mule paid no attention to the request. The Ass shortly afterwards fell down dead under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in so wild a region, the Muleteer placed upon the Mule the load carried by the Ass in addition to his own, and at the top of all placed the hide of the Ass, after he had skinned him. The Mule, groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself: "I am treated according to my deserts. If I had only been willing to assist the Ass a little in his need, I should not now be bearing, together with his burden, himself as well."

Q : What's the lesson of the story ?

Lesson : An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

14. The Ass and the Old Shepherd

A shepherd, watching his Ass feeding in a meadow, was alarmed all of a sudden by the cries of the enemy. He appealed to the Ass to fly with him, lest they should both be captured, but the animal lazily replied, "Why should I, pray? Do you think it likely the conqueror will place on me two sets of burdens ?' "No," rejoined the Shepherd. "Then," said the Ass, "as long as I carry the burdens, that matters it to me whom I serve?'

Q : What's the lesson of the story ?

Q : What's the meaning of the last sentence ?

Lesson : In a change of government the poor change nothing beyond the name of their master.

15. The Bald Knight

A bald knight, who wore a wig, went out to hunt. A sudden puff of wind blew off his hat and wig, at which a loud laugh rang forth from his companions. He pulled up his horse, and with great glee joined in the joke by saying, "What a marvel it is that hairs which are not mine should fly from me, when they have forsaken even the man on whose head they grew."

Lesson : Thy pride is but the prologue of thy shame

16. The Bat, the Birds and the Beasts

A great conflict was about to come off between the Birds and the Beasts. When the two armies were collected together the Bat hesitated which to join. The Birds that passed his perch said: "Come with us"; but he said: "I am a Beast." Later on, some Beasts who were passing underneath him looked up and said: "Come with us"; but he said: "I am a Bird." Luckily at the last moment peace was made, and no battle took place, so the Bat came to the Birds and wished to join in the rejoicing, but they all turned against him and he had to fly away. He then went to the Beasts, but soon had to beat a retreat, or else they would have torn him to pieces. "Ah," said the Bat, "I see now, what I am"

Lesson : He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends.

17. Belling the Cat

Long ago, the mice had a general council to consider what measures they could take to outwit their common enemy, the Cat. Some said this, and some said that; but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, which he thought would meet the case. "You will all agree," said he, "that our chief danger consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us. Now, if we could receive some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her. I venture, therefore, to propose that a small bell be procured, and attached by a ribbon round the neck of the Cat. By this means we should always know when she was about, and could easily retire while she was in the neighbourhood."

This proposal met with general applause, until an old mouse got up and said: "That is all very well, but who is to bell the Cat?" The mice looked at one another and nobody spoke. Then the old mouse said: "It is easy to propose impossible remedies"

Q : Why did the mice have a general council ?

Q : What's the solution of the mice ?

Q : What's their problem ?

Lesson : It is easy to propose impossible remedies

18. The Bowman and Lion

A very skillful bowman went to the mountains in search of game, but all the beasts of the forest fled at his approach. The Lion alone challenged him to combat. The Bowman immediately shot out an arrow and said to the Lion: "I send thee my messenger, that from him thou learn what I myself shall be when I assail thee." The wounded Lion rushed away in great fear, and when a Fox who had seen it all happen told him to be of good courage and not to back off at the first attack he replied: "You counsel me in vain; for if he sends so fearful a messenger, how shall I abide the attack of the man himself?'

Q : What's the meaning of the last sentence ?

Q : What's the lesson of the story ?

Lesson : Be on guard against men who can strike from a distance

19. The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat

The birds waged war with the Beasts, and each were by turns the conquerors. A Bat, fearing the uncertain issues of the fight, always fought on the side which he felt was the strongest. When peace was proclaimed, his deceitful conduct was apparent to both combatants. Therefore being condemned by each for his treachery, he was driven forth from the light of day, and henceforth concealed himself in dark hiding-places, flying always alone and at night.

Q : Why does the bat conceal himself ?

Q : What's the lesson of the story ?

Lesson : He winds up friendless who plays both sides against the middle

20. The Cage Bird and the Bat

A singing bird was confined in a cage which hung outside a window, and had a way of singing at night when all other birds were asleep. one night a Bat came and clung to the bars of the cage, and asked the Bird why she was silent by day and sang only at night. "I have a very good reason for doing so," said the Bird. "It was once when I was singing in the daytime that a fowler was attracted by my voice, and set his nets for me and caught me. Since then I have never sung except by night." But the Bat replied, "It is no use your doing that now when you are a prisoner: if only you had done so before you were caught, you might still have been free."

Q : What's the meaning of the last sentence ?

Q : What's the lesson of the story ?

Lesson : Precautions are useless after the crisis.

21. The Fox and the Goat

A fox one day fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape. A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good. Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the Fox indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the Fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape. "If," said he, "you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards." The Goat readily assented and the Fox leaped upon his back. Steadying himself with the Goat"s horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could. When the Goat upbraided him for breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out, "You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape."

Q : Why does the fox laugh at the goat ?

Q : What's the lesson of the story ?

Lesson : Look before you leap.

22. The Goatherd and the Wild Goats

A goathered, driving his flock from their pasture at eventide, found some Wild Goats mingled among them, and shut them up together with his own for the night. The next day it snowed very hard, so that he could not take the herd to their usual feeding places, but was obliged to keep them in the fold. He gave his own goats just sufficient food to keep them alive, but fed the strangers more abundantly in the hope of enticing them to stay with him and of making them his own. When the thaw set in, he led them all out to feed, and the Wild Goats scampered away as fast as they could to the mountains. The Goatherd scolded them for their ingratitude in leaving him, when during the storm he had taken more care of them than of his own herd. one of them, turning about, said to him: "That is the very reason why we are so cautious; for if you yesterday treated us better than the Goats you have had so long, it is plain also that if others came after us, you would in the same manner prefer them to ourselves."

Q : What's the reason that they are cautious ?

Q : What's the lesson of the story ?

Lesson : Old friends cannot with impunity be sacrificed for new ones.

23. Birds of a feather flock together.

A Farmer placed nets on his newly-sown plowlands and caught a number of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed. With them he trapped a Stork that had fractured his leg in the net and was earnestly beseeching the Farmer to spare his life. "Pray save me, Master," he said, "and let me go free this once. My broken limb should excite your pity. Besides, I am no Crane, I am a Stork, a bird of excellent character; and see how I love and slave for my father and mother. Look too, at my feathers -- they are not the least like those of a Crane." The Farmer laughed aloud and said, "It may be all as you say, I only know this: I have taken you with these robbers, the Cranes, and you must die in their company." Birds of a feather flock together.

Q : Why was the stock captured ?

Q : Why didn't the farmer be loose the stock ?

Q : What's the lesson of the story ?

Lesson : Birds of a feather flock together.

24. The ass and the fox and lion

The ass and the Fox, having entered into partnership together for their mutual protection, went out into the forest to hunt. They had not proceeded far when they met a Lion. The Fox, seeing imminent danger, approached the Lion and promised to contrive for him the capture of the Ass if the Lion would pledge his word not to harm the Fox. Then, upon assuring the Ass that he would not be injured, the Fox led him to a deep pit and arranged that he should fall into it. The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured, immediately clutched the Fox, and attacked the Ass at his leisure.

25. A TORTOISE

A tortoise, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the sea-birds of her hard fate, that no one would teach her to fly. An Eagle, hovering near, heard her lamentation and demanded what reward she would give him if he would take her aloft and float her in the air. "I will give you," she said, "all the riches of the Red Sea." "I will teach you to fly then," said the Eagle; and taking her up in his talons he carried her almost to the clouds suddenly he let her go, and she fell on a lofty mountain, dashing her shell to pieces. The Tortoise exclaimed in the moment of death: "I have deserved my present fate; for what had I to do with wings and clouds, who can with difficulty move about on the earth?' If men had all they wished, they would be often ruined.

Q : Why does the tortoise want to fly ?

Q : What happened the tortoise in the end ?

Q : What's the purpose of the story ?

Lesson : Wise man knows his limits.

26. Quarreling sons.

A father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it. He next opened the faggot, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons' hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words: "My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks."

Q : Why does the father bring the bundle of sticks ?

Q : What's the lesson of the father ?

27. A mouse and a lion

A lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: "If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness." The Lion laughed and let him go. It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free, exclaim "You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor; I now let you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion."

Q : What's the lesson of the story ?

Q : What does the mouse say to the lion ?

Q : How can the mouse help the lion ?

Q : Why does the lion laugh at the mouse ?

28. Wolf and a Lamb

Wolf, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf's right to eat him. He thus addressed him: "Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me." "Indeed," bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, "I was not then born." Then said the Wolf, "You feed in my pasture." "No, good sir," replied the Lamb, "I have not yet tasted grass." Again said the Wolf, "You drink of my well." "No," exclaimed the Lamb, "I never yet drank water, for as yet my mother's milk is both food and drink to me." Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying, "Well! I won't remain supperless, even though you refute every one of my imputations."

Q : What's the reason the wolf ccaught the lamb ?

Q : What's the meaning of the last sentence ?

Q : What's the lesson of the story ?

　

　Lesson : The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.

29. The Kingdom of the lion

The beast of the field and forest had a Lion as their king. He was neither wrathful, cruel, nor tyrannical, but just and gentle as a king could be. During his reign he made a royal proclamation for a general assembly of all the birds and beasts, and drew up conditions for a universal league, in which the Wolf and the Lamb, the Panther and the Kid, the Tiger and the Stag, the Dog and the Hare, should live together in perfect peace and amity. The Hare said, "Oh, how I have longed to see this day, in which the weak shall take their place with impunity by the side of the strong." And after the Hare said this, he ran for his life.

Q : Why did the rabbit run away in the end ?

Q : What 's the contents of the general proclamation ?

30. A FISHERMAN 　

A fisherman skilled in music took his flute and his nets to the seashore. Standing on a projecting rock, he played several tunes in the hope that the fish, attracted by his melody, would of their own accord dance into his net, which he had placed below. At last, having long waited in vain, he laid aside his flute, and casting his net into the sea, made an excellent haul of fish. When he saw them leaping about in the net upon the rock he said: "O you most perverse creatures, when I piped you would not dance, but now that I have ceased you do so merrily."

Q : What's the purpose of the fisherman when he played his tune ?

Q : What happened after he played his tune ?

The Aesop's life

The life and History of Aesop is involved, like that of Homer, the most famous of Greek poets, in much obscurity. Sardis, the capital of Lydia; Samos, a Greek island; Mesembria, an ancient colony in Thrace; and Cotiaeum, the chief city of a province of Phrygia, contend for the distinction of being the birthplace of Aesop. Although the honor thus claimed cannot be definitely assigned to any one of these places, yet there are a few incidents now generally accepted by scholars as established facts, relating to the birth, life, and death of Aesop. He is, by an almost universal consent, allowed to have been born about the year 620 B.C., and to have been by birth a slave. He was owned by two masters in succession, both inhabitants of Samos, Xanthus and Jadmon, the latter of whom gave him his liberty as a reward for his learning and wit. one of the privileges of a freedman in the ancient republics of Greece, was the permission to take an active interest in public affairs; and Aesop, like the philosophers Phaedo, Menippus, and Epictetus, in later times, raised himself from the indignity of a servile condition to a position of high renown. In his desire alike to instruct and to be instructed, he travelled through many countries, and among others came to Sardis, the capital of the famous king of Lydia, the great patron, in that day, of learning and of learned men. He met at the court of Croesus with Solon, Thales, and other sages, and is related so to have pleased his royal master, by the part he took in the conversations held with these philosophers, that he applied to him an ｅxpression which has since passed into a proverb, "The Phrygian has spoken better than all."

on the invitation of Croesus he fixed his residence at Sardis, and was employed by that monarch in various difficult and delicate affairs of State. In his discharge of these commissions he visited the different petty republics of Greece. At one time he is found in Corinth, and at another in Athens, endeavouring, by the narration of some of his wise fables, to reconcile the inhabitants of those cities to the administration of their respective rulers Periander and Pisistratus. one of these ambassadorial missions, undertaken at the command of Croesus, was the occasion of his death. Having been sent to Delphi with a large sum of gold for distribution among the citizens, he was so provoked at their covetousness that he refused to divide the money, and sent it back to his master. The Delphians, enraged at this treatment, accused him of impiety, and, in spite of his sacred character as ambassador, executed him as a public criminal. This cruel death of Aesop was not unavenged. The citizens of Delphi were visited with a series of calamities, until they made a public reparation of their crime; and, "The blood of Aesop" became a well-known adage, bearing witness to the truth that deeds of wrong would not pass unpunished. Neither did the great fabulist lack posthumous honors; for a statue was erected to his memory at Athens, the work of Lysippus, one of the most famous of Greek sculptors. P haedrus thus immortalizes the event:

Aesopo ingentem statuam posuere Attici,

Servumque collocarunt aeterna in basi:

Patere honoris scirent ut cuncti viam;

Nec generi tribui sed virtuti gloriam.

These few facts are all that can be relied on with any degree of certainty, in reference to the birth, life, and death of Aesop. They were first brought to light, after a patient search and diligent perusal of ancient authors, by a Frenchman, M. Claude Gaspard Bachet de Mezeriac, who declined the honor of being tutor to Louis XIII of France, from his desire to devote himself exclusively to literature. He published his Life of Aesop, Anno Domini 1632. The later investigations of a host of English and German scholars have added very little to the facts given by M. Mezeriac. The substantial truth of his statements has been confirmed by later criticism and inquiry. It remains to state, that prior to this publication of M. Mezeriac, the life of Aesop was from the pen of Maximus Planudes, a monk of Constantinople, who was sent on an embassy to Venice by the Byzantine Emperor Andronicus the elder, and who wrote in the early part of the fourteenth century. His life was prefixed to all the early editions of these fables, and was republished as late as 1727 by Archdeacon Croxall as the introduction to his edition of Aesop. This life by Planudes contains, however, so small an amount of truth, and is so full of absurd pictures of the grotesque deformity of Aesop, of wondrous apocryphal stories, of lying legends, and gross anachronisms, that it is now universally condemned as false, puerile, and unauthentic. l It is given up in the present day, by general consent, as unworthy of the slightest credit. G.F.T.

M. Bayle thus characterises this Life of Aesop by Planudes, "Tous les habiles gens conviennent que c'est un roman, et que les absurdites grossieres qui l'on y trouve le rendent indigne de toute." Dictionnaire Historique. Art. Esope.

이솝의 생애는, 그리스의 유명한 시인인 호머의 생애와 마찬가지로, 많이 알려져 있지 않다. 리디아의 수도인, 사드리스; 그리스의 섬인, 사모스; 트레이스의 고대 식민지인, 메셈브리아; 그리고 프리지아의 주요도시인, 코티이엄이 이솝의 출생지의 유력한 곳으로 거론된다. 비록 이렇게 주장되는 명성이 이들 장소들 중의 어느 한 곳에 명확히 주어질 수 없지만, 이솝의 탄생과 죽음에 관련하여, 오늘날 학자들에 의해서 일반적으로 굳어진 사실로서 인정되는 몇 가지 사건들이 있다. 그는, 거의 모두가 찬성하는 것으로, 기원전 620년 경에 태어났다는 것이 인정되며 그는 태생이 노예였다. 그는 연이어 두 주군들에 의해서 소유되었다, 사모스, 산토스, 그리고 모두 자드몬의 주민들로서, 이들 중의 후자가 그의 지식과 재치에 대한 보상으로 자유를 주었다. 고대의 그리스 공화국들에서 자유인의 특권들 중의 하나는, 공공의 문제에 적극적으로 관심을 보일 수 있다는 점이었다; 그리고 이솝은, 페도, 메니푸스, 그리고 에픽테토스와 같은 철학자들처럼, 후대에는, 자신을 노예 상태의 불명예에서 상당한 명예의 위치까지 올려 놓았다. 그의 가르침을 주고자 하며 가르침 받고자 하는 욕망에서, 그는 많은 나라들을 여행하였으며, 그들 중에서, 그 시대에 있어서, 학문과 학자들의 위대한 후원자인, 유명한 리디아 왕의 수도인 사르디스에 왔다. 그는 크로이서스의 정원에서, 솔론, 탈레스 및 다른 현자들을 만났으며, 이들 철학자들과 함께 나눈 대화의 역할로서, 그의 군주를 무척 즐겁게 하여서, 그의 군주는 그에게, 이후에 속담이 되어버린, "프리지아 인이 제일 말을 잘한다"라는 표현을 이솝에게 부여하였다. 크로이서스이 초청으로 이솝은 그의 거처를 사르디스로 정하였으며, 그 군주에 의하여 그 국가의 다양한 어렵고 까다로운 업무들을 맡게 되었다. 이런 임무들에서 벗어난 뒤에 그는 그리스의 여러 작은 공화국들을 방문하였다. 한번은 코린트에서, 다른 한번은 아테네에서, 그의 지혜로운 우화들을 이야기함으로, 이들 도시들의 주민들을 페리안더와 피시스트라투스 같은 통치자들의 다스림에 화합할 수 있도록 노력하였다. 이들 대사로서의 임무들 중의 하나는, 크로이서스의 명령으로 맡은 것으로, 그의 죽음의 원인이 되었다. 시민들에게 나누어 주기 위하여 많은 황금을 가지고 델피로 파견되었던 그는 그들의 탐욕에 너무나 화가 나서 그 돈을 나누어 주기를 거부했으며 그것을 다시 그의 군주에게 보내버렸다. 델피인들은, 이런 처사에 분노하여, 그를 무례함을 이유로 정죄하였으며, 대사로서 그의 신성한 자격에도 불구하고, 공공의 범죄자로 처형하였다. 이솝의 이런 잔인한 죽음은 복수를 불러오지 않은 것이 아니었다. 델피의 시민들은 일련의 재앙들을 맞이 하였으며, 마침내 그들은 자신들의 범죄에 대하여 범 시민적인 보상을 하였다; 그리고, "이솝의 피"는 유명한 격언이 되어서, 악한 행위들은 처벌받지 않고서는 넘어갈 수 없다는 진리를 증거하게 되었다. 이 위대한 우화작가는 사후의 명예를 받지 않은 것이 아니었다; 왜냐하면 아테네에는 그를 기념하기 위하여, 그리스의 가장 유명한 조각가인 리시퍼스의 작품으로서, 동상이 세워졌다. 페드루스는 이렇게 그 사건을 불멸의 명성을 부여하고 있다:

Aesopo ingentem statuam posuere Attici,Servumque collocarunt aeterna in basi:Patere honoris scirent ut cuncti viam;Nec generi tribui sed virtuti gloriam.

이 몇 가지 사실들은 모두, 이솝의 출생, 삶, 그리고 죽음과 관련하여, 어느 정도의 확실함으로 믿을 수 있는 모든 것이다. 이것들은 처음에, 프랑스인인 M. 클라우드 가스파르드 바쉬 드 메제리아크에 의해서, 그는 프랑스의 루이 13세의 스승이 되는 명예마저도 거절하고, 문학에 전적으로 몰두하고 싶은 바람으로, 고대 작가들에 대한 끈질긴 연구와 부지런한 조사 끝에 드러난 것이다. 그는 이솝의 생애를 기원 1632년에 발행하였다. 상당히 많은 영국과 독일 학자들의 이후의 연구들은 M.메제리아크가 제시한 사실들에 매우 적은 내용을 추가하였다. 그의 논문의 상당한 진실성은 이후의 비평과 조사에 의해서 확인되었다. M.메제리아크의 이런 발행에 앞서서, 이솝의 삶은, 비잔틴의 황제인 대 안드로니쿠스에 의해서 베니스의 대사로 파견된, 콘스탄티노플의 수도승인, 막시머스 플라누데스의 펜에서 나온 것이었으며, 그는 14세기 초기에 집필하였다. 이솝의 삶은 모두 이들 우화들의 모든 초기 판들의 서두에 놓여 있었다, 그리고 대주교 크록살에 의해서 1727년에, 그의 이솝 이야기 편의 서문에서 재 발행되었다. 플라누데스에 의한 이런 이솝의 생애는, 그러나, 진실성은 거의 없었으며, 이솝을 괴상하게 왜곡한 말도 안 되는 상상으로 가득 차 있었다. 즉, 경이로운 묵시적인 이야기들, 거짓 전설들, 그리고 엄청난 시대착오적인 것들로서, 오늘날 일반적으로 진실성이 없으며, 유치하며, 신빙성이 없는 것으로 비난 받고 있다. 그것은 일반적인 의견에 의해서, 최소한의 신뢰의 가치도 없는 것으로 무시된다. G.F.T.

M. 베일은 프라누데스의 이와 같은 이솝의 생애를 이렇게 특징짓는다, "Tous les habiles gens conviennent que c'est un roman, et que les absurdites grossieres qui l'on y trouve le rendent indigne de toute." Dictionnaire Historique. Art. Esope