Fábulas: Esopo, Fedro, Iriarte, Samaniego y Hartzenbusch

Abstract

"The introduction is well titled "Cinco Fabulistas." I think I could understand immediately choosing the latter three. They are prominent Spanish language fabulists. Why take only Aesop and Phaedrus from the classic world? Why not include La Fontaine? Though that introduction does not take up this question -- it dives instead immediately into accounts of each of the five -- it does say of Aesop, for example, that perhaps his chief merit is as exemplar for others like Phaedrus, La Fontaine, and Samaniego. The book offers eighteen to twenty fables from each of the first four fabulists and six from Hartzenbusch. From Iriarte I tried "Los Dos Conejos" (68). I do believe that they are arguing what kind of dogs are chasing them -- right up to the time that the dogs kill them! From Samaniego I tried "Los Dos Perros" (108). I believe that Pinto reproaches Sultan for stealing a piece of meat from the house that feeds him. He should let it go. Sultan answers "And won't you pick it up if I do drop it?" From Hartzenbusch I enjoyed "La Prudencia Humana" (128). A fish is caught in a net and thrashes its way out, promising never to be so silly again -- until it spies some bread floating on the water. Of course the bread has a hook and is tied to a fishing pole. So we humans move from error to error. There is a "Guia de Trabajo" at the end, with plenty of questions."