apologue

[In Ger. apolog; Fr. apologue; Sp., Port., & Ital. apologo; Lat. apolog us; from Gr. ἀπόλογος ( apologos ) = (1) a long story, a tale; (2) a fable, like Æsop's; (3) an account: Gr. ἀπό ( αρο ) = from, and λόγος ( logos ) =. discourse; meaning that an apologue is a discourse drawn from (a fable).] A fable designed to convey to, and impre upon, the mind some moral truth. It resembles a parable, but differs in this respect, that, whereas the event narrated in the parable is within the limits of probability, and might have happened, if indeed it has not actually done so, the apologue is bound by no such restraints; it can draw for its speakers and actors on the brute creation, or even on inanimate nature. The prodigal son (Luke xv. 11-32) and the ewe lamb (2 Sam. xii. 1-14) are properly parables; whilst the story of the trees electing a king (Judg. ix. 7-20) is an apologue. "The Senate having decided in favour of a concilia tory course, co sent Menenius Agrippa as their ent envoy to the seceders, who addre es to them the celebrated apologue of the Belly and the Limbs."-Lewis: Early Rom. Hist ., ch. xii., pt. 1., § 16.