They date back to the sixth century B.C. However, it was not until the late 1600s that English-language versions appeared: In 1692 a complete translation of the stories, which are believed to have been written by a Greek slave, were published in London by Sir Roger L’Estrange (1616–1704). The short, moralistic tales, which were handed down through the oral tradition, include the well-known story of the tortoise and the hare (which teaches the lesson slow and steady wins the race) and the one about a wolf in sheep’s clothing (people are not always what they seem). Since some of the timeless fables have been traced to earlier literature, many believe it is almost certain that Aesop is a legendary figure.