XI.—THE LION AND THE MOUSE (Ro. i. 18).
From medieval prose Phædrus, which still retains a line or two of the original, but not now extant. Also certainly Indian in the form of "Elephant and Mouse," as elephants are often tied to trees as preliminary to taming them. The Greek form of the fable got into Egyptian literature about 200 A.D., when it occurs in a late Leyden papyrus. Upon this a whole theory of the African origin of the fable was founded by the late Sir R. F. Burton. (See Jacobs, l.c. 91, 92.)
XII.—SWALLOW AND OTHER BIRDS (Ro. i. 20).
In medieval prose Phædrus and Bayeux tapestry. An attempt has been made to find an Indian origin for this fable, but without much success.
XIII.—FROGS DESIRING A KING (Ro. ii. i).
Phædrus, i. 2. Said to have been recited by Solon to the Athenians. It has been recently found in Madagascar, where the Frogs present their petitions, in the first place, to the Sun, and, when the Heron commences to eat them all up, attempt to get the intervention of the Moon. (Ferrand. Contes Malgaches, 1893, No. xiv.)
XIV.—THE MOUNTAINS IN LABOUR (Ro. ii. 5).
Phædrus, iv. 23. Referred to by Lucian, Vera Historia. Clearly referred to in Horace's line, Ars Poet. 139
Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.
