An Athenian one day found Æsop entertaining himself with a company of
little Boys at their childish diversions, and began to jeer and laugh
at him for it. Æsop, who was too much a wag himself to suffer others to
ridicule him, took a bow unstrung, and laid it upon the ground. Then
calling the censorious Athenian, Now philosopher, says he, expound
the riddle if you can, and tell us what the unstrained bow implies.
The Man, after racking his brains a considerable time to no purpose,
at last gave it up, and declared he knew not what to make of it. Why,
says Æsop, smiling, if you keep a bow always bent, it will lose its
elasticity presently; but if you let it go slack, it will be fitter for
use when you want it.