Erasmus and Aesop

Abstract

Erasmus was a fluent Aesopian. In books and letters he cited Aesop’s fables to explain, admonish, and insult. The Adagiorum Chiliades alludes to more than seventy different fables, including two adages about Aesop: “Ne Aesopum quidem trivisti” (2.6.27); and “Aesopicus sanguis” (2.6.63). The great adage “Scarabeus aquilam quaerit” (3.7.1) begins with Aesop’s fable. Erasmus’ own contributions to collections of fables were printed in Antwerp, Basel, Louvain, Strasbourg, Paris, and Venice. This paper examines Erasmus’ use of Aesop, identifies the fables Erasmus favored, and places his versions of fables in the history of Aesop transmission.