• In thirteenth-century Syria, Gregory Bar-Hebraeus wrote not only on serious subjects such as religion and philosophy but also on more playful subjects, and his works include a large collection of amusing stories. Persian, Hebrew, Indian, and Christian wise men appear in these tales, as do animals, clowns, and thieves. The stories that feature talking animals are reminiscent of Aesop’s Fables, an older set of stories in which animals have distinct humanlike character traits. Aesop’s Fables can be traced back to Greek and Latin versions but were added to over time, so all cannot have been written by the Greek storyteller Aesop. Two of his fables are included here for comparison with Bar-Hebraeus’s tales.

Bar-Hebraeus’s Laughable Stories

“A wolf, a fox, and a lion having banded themselves together snared a goat, a stag, and a hare. And the lion said to the wolf, “Divide these among us.” The wolf said, “The goat is for you, the stag is for me, and the hare is for the fox.” When the lion heard these words he became furious and leaped upon the wolf and choked him. Then he said to the fox, “You divide them.” The fox said to him, “The goat is for your breakfast, the hare for your lunch, and the stag for your supper.” The lion then asked him, “Where have you learned to make such an equitable division?” The fox replied, “From this wolf which lies before you, O my lord the king.”

A wolf, a fox, and a hare found a lamb, and they said to each other, “He who is the oldest among us shall eat him.” The hare said, “I was born before God created the heavens and the earth,” and the fox said, “You are right indeed, for I was present when you were born,” and the wolf, at the same time seizing the lamb, said, “My stature and capacity are witnesses that I am older than you both,” so he ate the lamb.”

Aesop’s Fables

“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.

A Wolf, having stolen a lamb from a fold, was carrying him off to his lair. A Lion met him in the path, and seizing the lamb, took it from him. Standing at a safe distance, the Wolf exclaimed, “You have unrighteously taken that which was mine from me!” To which the Lion jeeringly replied, “It was righteously yours, eh? The gift of a friend?”

Sources: Gregory Bar Hebraeus, The Laughable Stories, trans. E. A. W. Budge (London: Luzac, 1897), pp. 90–91, slightly modified; Aesop’s Fables, trans. G. F. Townsend (London: G. Routledge and Sons, 1882), pp. 45, 73.

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