My google-fu is weak today. I cannot find a Dutch(?) folktale. One of the trencher prints refers to a fable I can't remember and can't find. The British Museum says this group is from Aesop, but I can't find it the collections I've checked (The hedgehog and the rabbit; a trencher copied from Gheeraerts's illustrations to Aesop). Can anybody give me a summary of the tale with a moral someting like:
The cunny help the hedgehogs dovt | the hedgehoge keeps the cvnny out | Wher by it may be notet | Will gave som a inch theyll tak a nell
The bunny helps the hedgehogs out | The hedgehog keeps the bunny out | Where by it may be noted, | Will give some a inch, they will take a yard.
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Date: 2010-05-27 05:07 am (UTC)The Hedgehog is a farmer who one fine Autumn Sunday morning goes for a walk in his fields to see how his turnips are growing. While out in the field he encounters the Hare. The Hare, while a gentleman, is also cruel and arrogant. He ignores the Hedgehog's friendly greeting and instead asks what he is doing out so early. "Going for a walk" replied the Hedgehog. "Walking? On those short, crooked things? They're better fit to crawl." sneered the Hare. This galled the Hedgehog who replied, " I bet I can outrun you in a foot race" "You? With your crooked legs?" said the Hare. "That's laugh. But if you are of such a mind, what will you bet?" "Ten gold ducats and a bottle of brandy! replied the Hedghog. "But first I must go home and eat a little breakfast as I have not yet had anything to eat." The Hare agreed and awaited the Hedgehog's return.
The Hedgehog went home and told his wife to dress in his other clothes, go to the far end of his field, lie down in the furrow, and when the Hare approached cry out 'I'm already here'. She went to the far end of the field and the Hedgehog went to the Hare and said 'Let's begin". The Hare dashed off while the Hedgehog ran three steps fell flat into the furrow. The reached the end of the field where he saw the hedgehog's wife who cried out, "I'm already here". "That's very strange" said the Hare. "Let's do it again!" So off he sped leaving the hedgehog's wife sitting there. The hedgehog, seeing the Hare approach jumped up and cried out, "I'm already here!" The Hare flew into a rage, yelled "AGAIN!", and sped off. And again the Hedgehog's wife cried out, "I'm already here!" This repeated for 73 time. On the 74th time, the Hare dropped dead in the middle of the field, blood pouring from his nose. The Hedgehog and his wife took the ten ducats and the bottle of brandy and went home happy.
There are two morals to this tale. No one, be he so refined should make fun of his lessors. And secondly, it is good to marry someone much like oneself. "Who is a hedgehog, then, must see to it that his wife is also a hedgehog."
Here's a parody of the fable: