A lion gnawing on his prey, photographed near the Aloegrove Safari Lodge in the Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia. The traditional versions of this Aesop’s Fable have the Lion justify his claim to the whole kill on the grounds that he is King and did most of the work, before making a threat of violence that he leaves hanging menacingly in the air. Sir Roger’s Lion never openly threatens violence (though he implies that the Ass might be violent towards him). His ultimate threat is a committee-meeting. Perhaps Sir Roger was drawing on his experiences in the Court of King Charles II.
Introduction
Aesop’s Fable of the Lion and the Wild Ass is the origin of the phrase ‘the lion’s share’, meaning the largest portion by far. The version below comes from Sir Roger L’Estrange’s ground-breaking collection of 1669, just as he wrote it. “People should have a care” he advised “how they Engage themselves in Partnerships with Men that are too Mighty for them, whether it be in Mony, Pleasure, or Bus’ness.”
A LION, an Ass, and some other of their Fellow-Forresters, went a Hunting one day; and everyone to go share and share-like in what they took. They pluck’d down a Stag, and cut him up into so many Parts; but as they were entering upon the Dividend, Hands off says the Lion: This Part is mine by the Privilege of my Quality: This, because I’ll have it in spite of your Teeth:* This again, because I took most Pains for ’t; and if you Dispute the Fourth, we must e’en Pluck a Crow* about it. So the Confederates Mouths were all stopt, and they went away as mute as Fishes.
Original spelling
From ‘Fables, of Aesop and Other Eminent Mythologists, with Morals and Reflections’ (3rd edn, 1669), by Sir Roger L’Estrange (1616-1704).
* The Lion implies that he is bravely standing up for his rights, when he is merely bullying an Ass.
* ‘Pluck a crow’ means ‘Hold a debate’. As Phaedrus, a contemporary of St Paul, told the tale, the Lion’s final threat was violence: as Sir Roger told it, the final threat was a committee.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
In Sir Roger l’Estrange’s retelling of the famous Fable, a lion engaged his fellow-animals in a stag hunt, promising equal shares. But afterwards he claimed everything, as their superior and the hardiest hunter. He defied them (bravely, he reckoned) to contest his claim, threatening them at last with the council chamber; and the others just melted away. (56 / 60 words)
In Sir Roger l’Estrange’s retelling of the famous Fable, a lion engaged his fellow-animals in a stag hunt, promising equal shares. But afterwards he claimed everything, as their superior and the hardiest hunter. He defied them (bravely, he reckoned) to contest his claim, threatening them at last with the council chamber; and the others just melted away.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, besides, if, must, ought, unless, whether, who.
About the Author
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Crow. Mouth. Take.
2 Away. Other. So.
3 Hunt. Ill. My.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1.
Him.
Hymn.
2.
Your.
You’re.
Yore.
3.
But.
Butt.
4.
There.
Their.
5.
Won.
One.
6.
Pain.
Pane.
7.
Yew.
You.
8.
Some.
Sum.
9.
Sew.
So.
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Like. 2. Mine. 3. Down.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
x
0
Add
Your Words ()
Post Box : Ask Nicholas
Grok : Ask Grok
You are welcome to share your creativity with me, or ask for help with any of the exercises on Clay Lane. Write to me at this address:
See more at Post Box.
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
Related Posts
Some panicky Pigeons agree to let the Kite rule their dovecote, so long as he promises not to take advantage of his position.
Picture: © Jebulon, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.. Source.
Posted July 14 2021
Picture: Attributed to Edwin Henry Landseer (1802-1873), from the National Trust via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted March 24 2021
When some people talk about compromise, what they mean is that everyone else should compromise for their benefit.
Picture: © Wouterus Verschuur, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted March 23 2019
.jpg){kind=link}
A council of mice comes up with a plan to outsmart the Cat, but volunteers are a bit thin on the ground.
Picture: © Juanedc, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.. Source.
Posted February 21 2016