Marriage and Love

12.
Aesop was 15 years in the house of Iadmon when the question of marriage came up. (482 BC.) Iadmon was enthusiastic about the idea. As he got older he wanted to see more order and happiness about him. He recalled his marriage was success. Once when he and his wife had time alone they sat together in the courtyard and talked of their early years. What struggle they had! So unlike and yet they thought nothing but the joy of sharing it all as one.
What she could not stop in her husband was his greed, she recalled. But she noted with satisfaction he did not bring that avarice into home. Looking at the old companion she noted he had totally put his incessant talk on money-grubbing behind. Thinking over it she asked, ”Where did our greed go to?”
Iadmon looked at her in surprise. “Greed? O dear!” he sighed, ”You meant to say my weakness? Did you not?”
She said patting his hand, ”When I married (*512 BC.), your greed also became mine. How I trembled to hear others speak ill of you. It was as if they cast it to spite me!”
“Where did our tears go to?”
“I suppose the same place where our fears, joys and dreams go to.” He looked at her and he thought he saw her as she was some thirty years ago with her youthfulness still so unforgettably etched in her face. “Can you love this old goat still dear?” “Oh yes,” she said with a chuckle, ”We loved each other in the strength of our youth. Didn’t we?” She continued, “Older and wiser what do we feel? Strength stronger than before.” Yes it was the truth of experience she meant. Truth that is collated from life shared with all life-beings on the earth, in her case living with Iadmon. Truth of action was in his learning to put a lid on the greed that made her feel humiliated.
“So we shall drink to Happiness?” She nodded. They did.
(Selected: The Life of Aesop Ch-7.12 pp 135-136)

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