The Ass in the Lion's Skin
Encyclopedia
The Ass in the Lion's Skin is one of Aesop's Fables
(Perry Index
188). There are also several Eastern variants and the story's interpretation varies accordingly.
Jean de la Fontaine
's version (5.21) follows medieval sources. It is the end of one of his ears poking out that gives the Ass away and he is driven back to work. The moral La Fontaine draws is not to trust to appearances and, following the interpretation of the Classical original, that clothes do not make the man.
In India the same story appears in Buddhist scriptures as the Sihacamma Jataka
. Here the ass's master puts the lion's skin over his beast and turns it loose to feed in the grain fields during his travels. The village watchman is usually too terrified to do anything but finally one of them raises the villagers; when they chase the ass, it begins to bray and betrays its true identity. The ass is then beaten to death, thus illustrating the Biblical saying that 'He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin' (Proverbs 13.3, NIV). A neighbouring tale, the Sihakottukha Jataka, plays on the motif of being given away by one's voice. In this a lion has sired a son on a she-jackal that looks like his father but has a jackal's howl. He is therefore advised to stay silent in future. A common European variant on this sentiment appears in the Sephardic proverb in Ladino
, Asno callado, por sabio contado, a silent ass is considered wise. Another English equivalent is 'A fool is not known until he opens his mouth'.
The story and its variants is alluded to idiomatically in various other languages. In Latin
it was Leonis exuvium super asinum. In Mandarin Chinese it is yang(2) zhi(4) hu(3) pi(2), ‘a goat in a tiger’s skin’. In the Chinese story a goat assumes this disguise but continues to eat grass as usual. When it spies a wolf, instinct takes over and the goat takes to its heels. In this instance the lesson to be learned is equivalent to the Afghan
proverb 'It is the same donkey but with a new saddle', said of someone who has recently gained a high position undeservedly.
In American political culture, this was one of several fables by Aesop that was put to use by cartoonist Thomas Nast
. It was rumoured in 1874 that the Republican President Ulysses S. Grant
would attempt to run for an unprecedented third term in two years' time. About then there was also a false report that the animals had escaped from Central Park Zoo
and were roaming the city. Nast combined the two in a cartoon for the 7 November Harpers Weekly; titled "Third Term Panic", it depicts a donkey in a lion's skin (labelled Caesarism) scattering animals that stand for various interests. Among them is an elephant (labelled the "Republican vote") running toward a chasm of chaos.
Aesop's Fables
Aesop's Fables or the Aesopica are a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a slave and story-teller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 560 BCE. The fables remain a popular choice for moral education of children today...
(Perry Index
Perry Index
The Perry Index is a widely-used index of "Aesop's Fables" or "Aesopica", the fables credited to Aesop, the story-teller who lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 560 BC...
188). There are also several Eastern variants and the story's interpretation varies accordingly.
The Fable
An Ass, having put on the lion's skin, amused himself by terrifying all the foolish animals. At last coming upon a Fox, he tried to frighten him also, but the Fox no sooner heard the sound of his voice than he exclaimed, "I might possibly have been frightened myself, if I had not heard your bray." The moral of the story is often quoted as Clothes may disguise a fool, but his words will give him away.Jean de la Fontaine
Jean de La Fontaine
Jean de La Fontaine was the most famous French fabulist and one of the most widely read French poets of the 17th century. He is known above all for his Fables, which provided a model for subsequent fabulists across Europe and numerous alternative versions in France, and in French regional...
's version (5.21) follows medieval sources. It is the end of one of his ears poking out that gives the Ass away and he is driven back to work. The moral La Fontaine draws is not to trust to appearances and, following the interpretation of the Classical original, that clothes do not make the man.
In India the same story appears in Buddhist scriptures as the Sihacamma Jataka
Jataka
The Jātakas refer to a voluminous body of literature native to India concerning the previous births of the Buddha....
. Here the ass's master puts the lion's skin over his beast and turns it loose to feed in the grain fields during his travels. The village watchman is usually too terrified to do anything but finally one of them raises the villagers; when they chase the ass, it begins to bray and betrays its true identity. The ass is then beaten to death, thus illustrating the Biblical saying that 'He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin' (Proverbs 13.3, NIV). A neighbouring tale, the Sihakottukha Jataka, plays on the motif of being given away by one's voice. In this a lion has sired a son on a she-jackal that looks like his father but has a jackal's howl. He is therefore advised to stay silent in future. A common European variant on this sentiment appears in the Sephardic proverb in Ladino
Judaeo-Spanish
Judaeo-Spanish , in Israel commonly referred to as Ladino, and known locally as Judezmo, Djudeo-Espanyol, Djudezmo, Djudeo-Kasteyano, Spaniolit and other names, is a Romance language derived from Old Spanish...
, Asno callado, por sabio contado, a silent ass is considered wise. Another English equivalent is 'A fool is not known until he opens his mouth'.
The story and its variants is alluded to idiomatically in various other languages. In Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
it was Leonis exuvium super asinum. In Mandarin Chinese it is yang(2) zhi(4) hu(3) pi(2), ‘a goat in a tiger’s skin’. In the Chinese story a goat assumes this disguise but continues to eat grass as usual. When it spies a wolf, instinct takes over and the goat takes to its heels. In this instance the lesson to be learned is equivalent to the Afghan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
proverb 'It is the same donkey but with a new saddle', said of someone who has recently gained a high position undeservedly.
In American political culture, this was one of several fables by Aesop that was put to use by cartoonist Thomas Nast
Thomas Nast
Thomas Nast was a German-born American caricaturist and editorial cartoonist who is considered to be the "Father of the American Cartoon". He was the scourge of Boss Tweed and the Tammany Hall machine...
. It was rumoured in 1874 that the Republican President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
would attempt to run for an unprecedented third term in two years' time. About then there was also a false report that the animals had escaped from Central Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo
The Central Park Zoo is a small zoo located in Central Park in New York City. It is part of an integrated system of four zoos and the New York Aquarium managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society , and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums .The zoo began in the 1860s as a...
and were roaming the city. Nast combined the two in a cartoon for the 7 November Harpers Weekly; titled "Third Term Panic", it depicts a donkey in a lion's skin (labelled Caesarism) scattering animals that stand for various interests. Among them is an elephant (labelled the "Republican vote") running toward a chasm of chaos.