MERCURY and the WOODMAN
by Aesop · from Aesop's Fables; a new translation
Adapted Version
A woodman worked by a river every day. He cut a big tree. His axe slipped. The axe fell into the water. It sank deep.
The Woodman stood by the river. He was very sad. He lost his axe. He could not work now.
Mercury (the god) came. He saw the sad Woodman. "Why are you sad?" he asked. The Woodman told him. Mercury wanted to help. He dived into the water.
Mercury came up from the water. He held a golden axe. It was shiny and very bright. "Is this your axe?" Mercury asked. The Woodman looked at the golden axe. "No," he said. "That is not my axe."
Mercury dived into the water again. He came up with a silver axe. It was shiny, too. "Is this your axe?" Mercury asked the Woodman. The Woodman looked at the silver axe. "No," he said. "That is not my axe either."
Mercury dived a third time. He brought up a plain axe. It was the Woodman's axe. The Woodman was very happy. "Yes! That is my axe!" he cried.
Mercury was happy. The Woodman was honest. Mercury gave him a gift. He gave him all three axes. The golden, the silver, and his own.
The Woodman went home. He told his friends. He told them his story. His friends heard his good luck.
One friend was not good. He was a Greedy Man. He wanted golden axes. He wanted silver axes. He made a bad plan.
The Greedy Man went to the river. He began to cut a tree. He dropped his axe. He dropped it on purpose. Mercury (the god) came again.
Mercury dived into the water. He came up with a golden axe. It was very shiny and bright.
The Greedy Man saw the golden axe. He did not wait for Mercury to ask. "That is mine!" he shouted loudly. He shouted and reached for the axe. He wanted the golden axe.
Mercury was very angry. The Greedy Man told a big lie. Mercury did not give him the golden axe. He did not get his own axe back. The Greedy Man lost everything that day. He went home with nothing.
So, the greedy man lost everything. Honesty is always the best way.
Original Story
MERCURY AND THE WOODMAN
A Woodman was felling a tree on the bank of a river, when his axe, glancing off the trunk, flew out of his hands and fell into the water. As he stood by the water's edge lamenting his loss, Mercury appeared and asked him the reason for his grief; and on learning what had happened, out of pity for his distress he dived into the river and, bringing up a golden axe, asked him if that was the one he had lost. The Woodman replied that it was not, and Mercury then dived a second time, and, bringing up a silver axe, asked if that was his. "No, that is not mine either," said the Woodman. Once more Mercury dived into the river, and brought up the missing axe. The Woodman was overjoyed at recovering his property, and thanked his benefactor warmly; and the latter was so pleased with his honesty that he made him a present of the other two axes. When the Woodman told the story to his companions, one of these was filled with envy of his good fortune and determined to try his luck for himself. So he went and began to fell a tree at the edge of the river, and presently contrived to let his axe drop into the water. Mercury appeared as before, and, on learning that his axe had fallen in, he dived and brought up a golden axe, as he had done on the previous occasion. Without waiting to be asked whether it was his or not the fellow cried, "That's mine, that's mine," and stretched out his hand eagerly for the prize: but Mercury was so disgusted at his dishonesty that he not only declined to give him the golden axe, but also refused to recover for him the one he had let fall into the stream.
Honesty is the best policy.
Story DNA
Moral
Honesty is the best policy, and greed leads to loss.
Plot Summary
A poor woodman loses his axe in a river. The god Mercury appears and, testing his honesty, offers him a golden axe, then a silver axe, both of which the woodman refuses. Pleased, Mercury returns his original axe and gifts him the precious ones. An envious companion, hearing this, intentionally drops his axe, but when Mercury offers a golden axe, the greedy man falsely claims it. Disgusted by his dishonesty, Mercury punishes him by refusing to return any axe, leaving him with nothing.
Themes
Emotional Arc
distress to reward for the honest woodman; envy to loss for the dishonest woodman
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Aesop's Fables are a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a slave and storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. They are characterized by animal characters and a clear moral lesson.
Plot Beats (13)
- A woodman is felling a tree by a river when his axe slips and falls into the water.
- The woodman laments his loss by the river's edge.
- Mercury appears, learns of the woodman's distress, and dives into the river.
- Mercury brings up a golden axe and asks if it's the woodman's; the woodman honestly says no.
- Mercury dives again and brings up a silver axe; the woodman again honestly says no.
- Mercury dives a third time and retrieves the woodman's own axe, which the woodman joyfully accepts.
- Pleased with the woodman's honesty, Mercury gifts him all three axes.
- The woodman shares his good fortune with his companions.
- One envious companion decides to replicate the experience for himself.
- The envious companion goes to the river, deliberately drops his axe into the water, and Mercury appears.
- Mercury dives and brings up a golden axe.
- The greedy companion immediately claims the golden axe as his own, without being asked.
- Disgusted by the lie, Mercury refuses to give the greedy man the golden axe and also refuses to retrieve his original axe.
Characters
★
The Honest Woodman
A man of average height and sturdy, muscular build, accustomed to manual labor. His hands are calloused, and his face is weathered from working outdoors. He has a simple, unadorned appearance.
Attire: Simple, practical working clothes typical of a laborer in ancient Greece or Rome: a rough-spun tunic of undyed linen or wool, perhaps cinched at the waist with a leather belt. His legs might be bare or covered with simple leggings. Sturdy leather sandals on his feet.
Wants: To recover his lost axe, which is essential for his livelihood. Later, to provide for himself through honest labor.
Flaw: Vulnerable to misfortune (losing his axe).
Starts in despair, recovers his property through honesty, and is rewarded beyond expectation, reinforcing his virtuous nature.
Honest, hardworking, humble, grateful, distressed by loss.
◆
Mercury
A youthful, athletic, and graceful figure, embodying divine speed and agility. He appears as a young man, perfectly proportioned, with a radiant presence.
Attire: Classical Greek or Roman attire, but light and airy, emphasizing movement. A short, flowing chlamys (cloak) of vibrant blue or purple, draped over one shoulder, leaving much of his athletic physique visible. He wears winged sandals (talaria) and often carries a caduceus.
Wants: To test human character, to reward honesty, and to punish deceit.
Flaw: None apparent, as a god.
Remains consistent in his role as a divine judge of human character.
Observant, just, compassionate (initially), discerning, disgusted by dishonesty, benevolent to the virtuous.
⚔
The Dishonest Woodman
Similar in build to the Honest Woodman, but perhaps with a slightly shifty or greedy expression. His appearance might be less cared for, reflecting his inner character.
Attire: Similar simple working clothes as the Honest Woodman, but perhaps slightly more worn or carelessly put on, indicating a lack of respect for his possessions or himself. A rough-spun tunic and simple sandals.
Wants: To gain wealth quickly and easily through deception, driven by envy of the Honest Woodman's fortune.
Flaw: Overwhelming greed and dishonesty, which leads to his downfall.
Starts envious, attempts to deceive, and ends up losing everything due to his dishonesty, confirming his flawed character.
Envious, greedy, dishonest, deceitful, impatient, foolish.
Locations
River Bank
A verdant river bank, likely in ancient Greece or a Mediterranean climate, where a woodman is felling a tree. The ground is probably uneven, with exposed roots and loose soil near the water's edge. The river itself would be clear, perhaps with visible pebbles or smooth stones at the bottom near the bank.
Mood: initially industrious and peaceful, then shifts to despair, then relief and gratitude
The woodman loses his axe in the river and first encounters Mercury.
Depths of the River
The underwater environment of the river, where Mercury retrieves the axes. It would be clear enough to see the bottom, with light filtering down from the surface. The riverbed likely consists of smooth, water-worn stones and perhaps some aquatic plants.
Mood: mysterious, shimmering, magical
Mercury dives into the river to retrieve the axes, revealing the magical nature of the encounter.