THE DEBTOR and HIS SOW
by Aesop · from Aesop's Fables; a new translation
Adapted Version
Once there was a farmer. He lived in a small town. He needed money very much. He owed money to a rich man. The farmer did not have the money. He felt very sad. He had no money at all. He did not know what to do. He worried very much.
The Rich Man came to see him. He knocked on the door. "Pay me now!" he said in a loud voice. The farmer asked for more time. "No!" said the Rich Man. "I want my money today! I will not wait!" He was very angry.
The farmer had one pig left. It was his only pig. He loved his pig. But he needed money. He took the pig to the market. He hoped to sell it there. He needed money for the Rich Man. The pig walked slowly beside him.
At the market, the farmer looked around. His heart beat fast. Oh no! The Rich Man was there. He walked near the market stalls. The farmer felt very worried. He felt very scared. He tried to hide.
Then, a man came to the farmer. He wanted to buy the pig. "Does this pig have good babies?" he asked. The farmer smiled. A clever idea came to his mind. He thought of a plan.
"Oh yes!" said the farmer. "This pig is very special. She has many good baby pigs. They are very strong. Sometimes she has girl pigs. This happens when the moon is full. Other times she has boy pigs. This happens when the sun is bright. It is a very clever pig. You will like her very much. He smiled big. He felt very clever."
The Rich Man stood close by. He heard the farmer's funny story. He listened carefully. He gave a big, loud laugh. "Don't be surprised, sir!" he said. "This pig is even better! She has baby goats!" Everyone heard him. All the people at the market started to laugh. The farmer's face turned red. The Rich Man knew the pig very well! The farmer was very clever. He showed the Rich Man was not honest.
In trouble, a smart idea helps. Or it shows others are not honest.
Original Story
THE DEBTOR AND HIS SOW
A Man of Athens fell into debt and was pressed for the money by his creditor; but he had no means of paying at the time, so he begged for delay. But the creditor refused and said he must pay at once. Then the Debtor fetched a Sow—the only one he had—and took her to market to offer her for sale. It happened that his creditor was there too. Presently a buyer came along and asked if the Sow produced good litters. "Yes," said the Debtor, "very fine ones; and the remarkable thing is that she produces females at the Mysteries and males at the Panathenea." (Festivals these were: and the Athenians always sacrifice a sow at one, and a boar at the other; while at the Dionysia they sacrifice a kid.) At that the creditor, who was standing by, put in, "Don't be surprised, sir; why, still better, at the Dionysia this Sow has kids!"
Story DNA
Moral
Even in dire circumstances, a quick wit can turn the tables or expose hypocrisy.
Plot Summary
A man in Athens, unable to pay his debt, is forced to sell his only sow. At the market, his creditor is present. When a buyer asks about the sow's litters, the debtor invents a fantastical story about her producing female piglets at one festival and male piglets at another. The creditor, overhearing, sarcastically adds that the sow also produces kids at a third festival, inadvertently exposing his own intimate knowledge of the animal and implying a deeper involvement than just being a creditor.
Themes
Emotional Arc
desperation to cleverness to exposed hypocrisy
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The festivals mentioned (Mysteries, Panathenea, Dionysia) were significant religious and civic events in ancient Athens, each associated with specific rituals and sacrifices. The humor relies on the audience's knowledge of these traditions.
Plot Beats (7)
- A man in Athens owes money to a creditor but cannot pay.
- The creditor refuses any delay and demands immediate payment.
- The debtor, having only a sow, takes her to the market to sell.
- The creditor happens to be at the market as well.
- A buyer asks the debtor if the sow produces good litters.
- The debtor fabricates a story, claiming the sow produces female piglets at the Mysteries and male piglets at the Panathenea.
- The creditor, standing nearby, interjects with a sarcastic remark, stating the sow also produces kids at the Dionysia.
Characters
★
The Debtor
A man of average height and build, likely showing signs of worry and hardship on his face. His hands might be calloused from work, but his overall appearance suggests a man struggling to maintain his livelihood.
Attire: Simple, practical chiton made of undyed linen, reaching to his knees, cinched at the waist with a leather belt. He wears sturdy leather sandals. His clothing is clean but well-worn, reflecting his modest status and current financial distress.
Wants: To pay off his debt and avoid further harassment from his creditor, thereby preserving his remaining assets and reputation.
Flaw: His desperation leads him to exaggerate and fabricate, which can be easily exposed.
He attempts to resolve his debt through a clever, albeit dishonest, scheme. His plan is quickly foiled, but the story doesn't explicitly state his ultimate fate, implying he remains in debt.
Resourceful, quick-witted, desperate, somewhat deceptive, under pressure.
⚔
The Creditor
A well-dressed Athenian man, likely of a more prosperous build than the Debtor, suggesting a comfortable lifestyle. He carries himself with an air of authority and impatience.
Attire: A finely woven chiton of a richer color, perhaps deep blue or purple, made of good quality linen or light wool, draped elegantly and secured with a more ornate fibula at the shoulder. He wears well-made leather sandals. His attire signifies his higher social and economic standing.
Wants: To recover the money owed to him by the Debtor as quickly as possible.
Flaw: His impatience and perhaps a touch of arrogance make him quick to expose the Debtor's lie rather than letting him continue.
He remains consistent in his demand for payment and his shrewdness, effectively thwarting the Debtor's attempt to sell his sow under false pretenses.
Impatient, shrewd, observant, unyielding, sarcastic, quick-witted.
○
The Sow
A large, robust adult sow, indicating she is a good breeder, though perhaps a bit muddy or dusty from being led to market. Her skin is a mottled pinkish-grey, with coarse bristles.
Attire: None, as she is an animal.
Wants: Basic animal instincts: to eat, rest, and potentially breed.
Flaw: Her inability to speak or defend herself, making her a passive object in the human transaction.
She remains a passive object throughout the story, her fate (whether sold or not) is left ambiguous.
Docile, unwitting, a valuable commodity.
Locations
Debtor's Home (Athens)
A simple, likely modest Athenian home, possibly with a small courtyard where the sow might be kept, reflecting the common architecture of a citizen who has fallen into debt.
Mood: Anxious, desperate, reflecting the debtor's predicament.
The debtor is pressed for payment by his creditor and decides to sell his only sow.
Athenian Agora (Marketplace)
A bustling public square in ancient Athens, filled with vendors, buyers, and citizens. Stalls would be set up, likely under awnings, displaying various goods. The ground would be well-trodden earth or packed dirt, surrounded by stoas and public buildings.
Mood: Lively, noisy, public, with an underlying tension for the debtor.
The debtor attempts to sell his sow, and the creditor publicly exposes his deceit.