
Aesopus Emendatus
Old Saws with New Teeth
Transcribed from the 1899 G. P. Putnam’s Sons edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
The Moral Principle and the Material Interest...
The Crimson Candle
The Blotted Escutcheon and the Soiled Ermine
The Ingenious Patriot
Two Kings
An Officer and a Thug
The Conscientious Official
A lively anthology of bite‑sized stories, this collection gathers a hundred‑plus fables that twist classic animals and everyday characters into sharp, often sardonic lessons. From prowling wolves and clever foxes to reluctant kings and obstinate politicians, each tale spins a quick, self‑contained scenario that reveals the gap between intention and outcome. The narrator’s wry voice invites listeners to pause and smile at the absurdities of human nature, while the moral at the close offers a gentle nudge toward reflection.
The pieces vary in tone, ranging from playful humor to darker, more cynical observations, yet all share a crisp, almost journalistic precision. Whether it’s the cat that outsmarts a youth, the farmer who learns from his wayward sons, or the ever‑watchful lion confronting a humble boar, the stories feel both timeless and freshly relevant. Listeners will find themselves humming the moral of each fable long after the final line fades.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (162K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Dec 1, 1995
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1842–1913
Best known for The Devil’s Dictionary and unforgettable tales of war and terror, this sharp-tongued American writer turned bitterness, irony, and dark humor into an art form. His life ended in one of literature’s great mysteries after he vanished in Mexico in late 1913.
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