Aesop's Phrases

The Vain Jackdaw. 57 by Townsend

JUPITER DETERMINED, it is said, to create a sovereign over the birds, and made proclamation that on a certain day they should all present themselves before him, when he would himself choose the most beautiful among them to be king. The Jackdaw, knowing his own ugliness, searched through the woods and fields, and collected the feathers which had fallen from the wings of his companions, and stuck them in all parts of his body, hoping thereby to make himself the most beautiful of all. When the appointed day arrived, and the birds had assembled before Jupiter, the Jackdaw also made his appearance in his many feathered finery. But when Jupiter proposed to make him king because of the beauty of his plumage, the birds indignantly protested, and each plucked from him his own feathers, leaving the Jackdaw nothing but a Jackdaw.

Pe101=Ch162, Ba72, L'Es33, CS51, Type224*, 224

The Jay and the Peacock. 21 by Jacobs.

A Jay venturing into a yard where Peacocks used to walk, found there a number of feathers which had fallen from the Peacocks when they were moulting. He tied them all to his tail and strutted down towards the Peacocks. When he came near them they soon discovered the cheat, and striding up to him pecked at him and plucked away his borrowed plumes. So the Jay could do no better than go back to the other Jays, who had watched his behaviour from a distance; but they were equally annoyed with him, and told him: "It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds."

Phaedrus1.3=Pe472, Cax2.15, Laf4.9, Kry7.26, TMI J951.2, Type244

The Jackdaw and the Doves. 192 by Townsend.

A JACKDAW, seeing some Doves in a cote abundantly provided with food, painted himself white and joined them in order to share their plentiful maintenance. The Doves, as long as he was silent, supposed him to be one of themselves and admitted him to their cote. But when one day he forgot himself and began to chatter, they discovered his true character and drove him forth, pecking him with their beaks. Failing to obtain food among the Doves, he returned to the Jackdaws. They too, not recognizing him on account of his color expelled him from living with them. So desiring two ends, he obtained neither.

Pe129=Ch163, L'Es181, TMI J951.2

quotation from Aesop Without morals, Lloyd W. Daly

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THE JACKDAW AND THE CROWS

A jackdaw who was larger than the other jackdaws scorned the birds of his own kind, went to the crows, and wanted to live with them. They examined him for size and voice and then chased him away with a good beating. After he had been driven off by them, he came back to the jackdaws, but they were out of patience with his insolence and wouldn't accpt him. The upshot of it was that he was denied association with either of them.

------------------------------------------------------------ not the public domain.

Pe123=Ch161