Looking Backwards

Aesop, Fables 380 Perry (tr. Laura Gibbs, with her note): Xanthus, Aesop's master, said to him, 'Can you tell me why we sometimes look at our own shit after we go to the bathroom?' Aesop replied, 'A long time ago the son of a king indulged in all kinds of luxurious foods. As a result, he spent a lot of time in the bathroom. And once he spent such a long time sitting there that he forgot what he was doing and crapped his own guts out. Ever since, anyone taking a crap bends over to make sure he hasn't done the same thing. But you don't have to worry about that, since you don't have any guts to begin with!' Note: This fable depends on a distinctly Greek understanding of human anatomy: the 'guts' are actually the seat of intelligence (English 'brains') rather than a sign of courage. By saying that his master has no 'guts', Aesop means that his master is an idiot, not that he is a coward. Ὁ Ξάνθος αὐτῷ· "δύνασαί μοι εἰπεῖν διὰ ποίαν αἰτίαν, ἐπὰν χέζωμεν, πυκνὰ εἰς τὸ ἀφόδευμα ἑαυτῶν…