THE TRAVELLER and FORTUNE
by Aesop · from Aesop's Fables; a new translation
Adapted Version
A man was very tired. He had walked a long, long way. His feet hurt. He felt very sleepy. His legs were heavy. He needed to rest now. He looked for a good place to sleep. He wanted to sleep for a while. The sun was warm on his face. A gentle breeze blew. He found a spot.
The man saw a deep well. It had cool water inside. He felt very tired. He sat down near the well. He was very close to its edge. This was a bad place to rest. The well was very deep. It was a big hole. He did not see the danger. He just wanted to sleep. He closed his eyes.
The man fell asleep fast. He slept very soundly. He did not know he was in danger. He was almost falling into the deep well. He slept like a baby. The ground was soft. He did not hear a thing around him. He did not feel a thing at all. He was truly lost in sleep.
Then, Lady Luck appeared. She was a kind lady. Her robes were flowing. They were bright and soft. She looked very wise. She saw the sleeping man. He was very near the well's edge. He was about to fall in. Lady Luck saw the great danger. Her heart felt worried. She knew she must help him right now.
Lady Luck touched his shoulder. Her touch was very gentle. It was a soft touch. The man opened his eyes. He woke up slowly. He looked around him. He saw Lady Luck standing there. He felt a little scared. He did not know this kind lady. He sat up slowly.
Lady Luck spoke to him. Her voice was soft. "Wake up, good sir," she said. "Please move away from the well. You were almost falling in. That would be very bad. If you fell in, people would blame me. They would say it was my fault. But it was your choice to sleep here. You chose this bad spot. You must be very smart with your choices. Your choices matter. Think before you act. Be smart!"
The man learned a lesson. He knew her words. It is good to be smart. Your choices are good. Always think first.
Original Story
THE TRAVELLER AND FORTUNE
A Traveller, exhausted with fatigue after a long journey, sank down at the very brink of a deep well and presently fell asleep. He was within an ace of falling in, when Dame Fortune appeared to him and touched him on the shoulder, cautioning him to move further away. "Wake up, good sir, I pray you," she said; "had you fallen into the well, the blame would have been thrown not on your own folly but on me, Fortune."
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Story DNA
Moral
People are often quick to blame external forces for misfortunes that are a result of their own carelessness.
Plot Summary
An exhausted traveler falls asleep dangerously close to a deep well. Just as he is about to fall in, Dame Fortune appears and wakes him. She cautions him to move away, explaining that if he had fallen, people would have blamed her for his misfortune, rather than his own carelessness in choosing such a perilous resting spot.
Themes
Emotional Arc
carelessness to realization
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Aesop's Fables originated in ancient Greece and are known for their brevity and moral lessons, often featuring anthropomorphic animals or personified concepts.
Plot Beats (6)
- A traveler, exhausted from a long journey, lies down to sleep.
- He chooses a dangerous spot, right at the edge of a deep well.
- He falls asleep, unaware of the imminent danger.
- Dame Fortune appears, seeing the traveler on the brink of falling.
- She touches him to wake him up.
- Fortune explains that if he had fallen, people would have blamed her, not his own carelessness.
Characters
★
The Traveller
A man of average height and build, showing signs of weariness from extensive travel. His skin is tanned from exposure to the sun, and his hands are calloused. He appears somewhat disheveled but not unkempt.
Attire: Simple, durable traveling clothes suitable for long journeys in an ancient Mediterranean setting. Perhaps a tunic of coarse linen or wool, cinched at the waist with a leather belt, and sturdy leather sandals. The fabric would be earth-toned, showing signs of dust and travel.
Wants: To reach his destination, whatever it may be, driven by the necessity of travel.
Flaw: Over-exhaustion leading to carelessness and vulnerability.
He is saved from potential disaster, learning (or being reminded) of the consequences of his own actions and the role of external forces.
Weary, perhaps a bit careless due to fatigue, but ultimately a survivor who undertakes long journeys.
◆
Dame Fortune
An ethereal and commanding female figure, embodying the abstract concept of luck or destiny. She would appear graceful and perhaps slightly imposing, with an aura of power.
Attire: Flowing, classical drapery in rich, perhaps shimmering fabrics, indicative of a deity or powerful entity in ancient Greek or Roman mythology. Colors might be gold, white, or deep blue, suggesting celestial or divine origin. Her attire would be elegant and timeless, not bound by mortal fashion.
Wants: To maintain the natural order and ensure that blame is correctly attributed, preventing her own name from being sullied by human folly.
Flaw: Her concern for her reputation, though not a true weakness, drives her actions.
She acts as a catalyst, preventing a disaster and delivering a moral lesson, but does not undergo a personal change.
Wise, cautionary, and somewhat detached, yet ultimately benevolent in this instance, intervening to prevent a needless tragedy.
Locations
The Deep Well's Brink
A dusty, sun-baked path leads to the edge of a deep, ancient well, likely made of rough-hewn stone or earth. The immediate area around the well is barren, with perhaps a few hardy weeds or dry grass. The well opening is dark and foreboding, hinting at great depth.
Mood: Tired, precarious, subtly dangerous, quiet.
A weary traveler falls asleep dangerously close to the edge of a deep well, nearly falling in, before being warned by Dame Fortune.