Way did the other traveller lie with his face in the dust?
Answers
Explanation:
Two Travelers agreed to guard each other. A Bear rushed at both and one climbed a tree; the other played dead and the Bear told him to not trust the other.
Never trust a friend who leaves you when trouble approaches.
Courtesy of Jon Wilkins
Aesop For Children
Aesop For Children
Travelers and Bear
Milo Winter (1919)
Two Men were traveling in company through a forest, when, all at once, a huge Bear crashed out of the brush near them.
One of the Men, thinking of his own safety, climbed a tree.
The other, unable to fight the savage beast alone, threw himself on the ground and lay still, as if he were dead. He had heard that a Bear will not touch a dead body.
It must have been true, for the Bear snuffed at the Man’s head awhile, and then, seeming to be satisfied that he was dead, walked away.
The Man in the tree climbed down.
“It looked just as if that Bear whispered in your ear,” he said. “What did he tell you?”
“He said,” answered the other, “that it was not at all wise to keep company with a fellow who would desert his friend in a moment of danger.”
Moral
Misfortune is the test of true friendship.
Eliot-Jacobs
Eliot/Jacobs Version
Two Travelers were together in a wood, when a Bear rushed out upon them. One of the Travelers seized hold of the branch of a tree, and hid himself among the leaves. The other, seeing no help, threw himself flat upon the ground, with his face in the dust. The Bear, coming up to him, put his muzzle close to his ear, and sniffed and sniffed. But at last with a growl he shook his head and slouched off, for bears will not touch dead meat. Then the fellow in the tree came down to his comrade, and, laughing, said “What was it that Master Bruin whispered to you?” “He told me,” said the other, “Never trust a friend who deserts you in times of trouble.”
Samuel Croxall
Samuel Croxall (The Travellers and the Bear)
Croxall - Travelers and a Bear
TWO men being to travel through a forest together, mutually promised to stand by each other, in any danger they should meet upon the way. They had not gone far, before a Bear came rushing towards them out of a thicket; upon which, one being a light nimble fellow, got up into a tree; the other falling flat upon his face, and holding his breath, lay still, while the Bear came up and smelled at him; but that creature, supposing him to be a dead carcase, went back again into the wood, without doing him the least harm. When all was over, the spark who had climbed the tree came down to his companion, and with a pleasant smile asked him what the Bear said to him; for, says he, I took notice that he clapt his mouth very close to your ear. Why, replies the other, he charged me to take care for the future, not to put any confidence in such cowardly rascals as you are.
THE APPLICATION
Whittingham - Travelers and Bear
C. Whittingham (1814)
Though nothing is more common than to hear people profess services of friendship, where there is no occasion for them; yet scarce any thing is so hard to be found as a true friend, who will assist us in the time of danger and difficulty. All the declarations of kindness which are made to an experienced man, though accompanied by a squeeze of the hand, and a solemn asseveration, should leave no greater impression upon his mind, than the whistling of the hollow breeze which brushes one’s ear with an unmeaning salute, and is presently gone. He that succours our necessity by a well-timed assistance, though it were not ushered in by previous compliments, will ever after be looked upon as our friend and protector; and, in so much a greater degree, as the favour was unasked and unpromised; as it was not extorted by importunities on the one side, nor led in by a numerous attendance of promises on the other. Words are nothing, till they are fulfilled by actions; and therefore we should not suffer ourselves to be deluded by a vain hope, and reliance upon them.
Taylor Rhymes
Jefferys Taylor
Taylor - Travelers and Bear 0127
Two trav’llers one morning set out from their home,
It might be from Sparta, from Athens, or Rome;
It matters not which, but agreed, it is said,
Should danger arise, to lend each other aid.
But scarce was this done, when forth rushing amain,
Sprung a bear from a wood tow‘rds these travellers twain;
Then one of our heroes, with courage immense,
Climb’d into a tree, and there found his defence.
The other fell flat to the earth with his dread,
When the bear came and smelt him, and thought he was dead;
So not liking the carcase away trotted he,
When straight our brave. The man in the tree came clown, and rejoining his companion, asked him, with a mischievous secret that the Bear had whispered into his car. “Why,” replied the other sulkily, “he told me to take care for the future and not to put any confidence in such cowardly rascals as you are.”
Townsend Version
Townsend version