He lives a hare's life. He is full of care and anxiety, like a hare, said to be the most timid of all animals, which is perpetually on the watch, and even in its sleep is said not to shut its eyes, lest it should be surprised and taken by the dogs. The hares, tired of living in a state of constant fear and anxiety, were determined to put an end to their existence, by drowning themselves. With this resolution, they rushed clown to a pool of water. Some frogs, who were near the pool, alarmed at the noise, leaped into the water, to avoid, the danger which they supposed threatened them; this being noticed by some of the most forward of the hares, they stopped, and observing to their brethren, that their condition was not worse than that of the frogs, they desisted from their intention. This is one of the apologues of Æsop, and was meant to cure men, labouring under misfortunes, from thinking that they are more unhappy than the rest of mankind; there being few so miserable, but they may find others equally, or more wretched than themselves.
Fuente: Erasmo, 3278.
