Note 4 — Chapter I · THE FABLE OF THE CICADA AND THE ANT

Sir Roger L’Estrange attributes the fable to Anianus and, as is usual in the English version, substitutes the Grasshopper for the Cicada. It may be interesting to quote his translation:

“As the Ants were airing their provisions one winter, up comes a hungry Grasshopper to ’em and begs a charity. They told him that he should have wrought in summer, if he would not have wanted in winter. ‘Well,’ says the Grasshopper, ‘but I was not idle neither; for I sung out the whole season.’ ‘Nay then,’ said they, ‘you shall e’en do well to make a merry year on’t and dance in winter to the tune that you sung in summer.’ ”—Translator’s Note. ↑