Aesop's Phrases

The Father and His Sons. 6 by Townsend

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."

Pe53=Ch86, Ba47, L'Es62, Laf4.18, Jacobs72, CS68, TMI J1021.

quotation from "VISNU SARMA The Pancatantra" translated by Chandra Rajan, Penguin Classics.

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Pancatantra 1. (330)

A host, though each member in it is weak,
working untied brings victory to pass.
Of simple straw, a rope is woven,
yet, with it an elephant is bound.

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Pancatantra 3.(44)(45)(46)(47)

As shrubs growing together
inclose-knit clumps stay unscathed
though buffeted by contrary winds,
so too by banding together
the weak are unassailable
by however powerful a foe.

A lone tree firmly rooted,
and mighty, is yet no match
even for a moderate wind;
whereas trees densely packed in groves,
firmly rooted, stand tall
even when swift winds rip into them,
because they stand together.

Likewise a lone man
heroic in the extreme
is regarded easy prey
by foes who soon hem him in.

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Hito1.27

The Lion and the Three Bulls. 220 Townsend

THREE BULLS for a long time pastured together. A Lion lay in ambush in the hope of making them his prey, but was afraid to attack them while they kept together. Having at last by guileful speeches succeeded in separating them, he attacked them without fear as they fed alone, and feasted on them one by one at his own leisure.
Union is strength.

Babrius44=P372=Ch71, Avi18, Jacobs52, TIM J1022.