Nugae circa Veritatem: Notes on Anton Francesco Doni

Abstract

Among the Arabic animal tales which are linked together by the story of the two jackals Kalilah and Dimnah 1 there is one entitled the Tale of the Unfaithful Friend. Kalilah learns how his brother Dimnah deceitfully maligned the Bull before their common master the Lion, thus causing the death of an unsuspecting and faithful servant. He brings Dimnah's despicable behaviour home to him by telling him the following exemplum :