FABLE XLII
by John Gay · from Fables of John Gay (Somewhat Altered)
Adapted Version
A juggler walks into a sunny town. Bells on his shoes jingle with each step. He wears a funny, tall hat. He wants to do a fun show. He stands in the middle of the town. He waves to all the people. He makes the children smile and laugh. They clap their hands. The people are happy to see him.
A magic woman watches his fun show. She wears a long, blue cloak. She has a warm smile and kind eyes. She waits for a quiet moment. She walks to the juggler. "Your tricks are fun!" she says. "Let's show our best tricks. You can go first." The Juggler says, "Yes! A great idea!"
The Juggler smiles a big smile. He takes out three red balls. He throws them up, up, up. They dance in the air. He catches them all. Then, he throws one red ball high. The ball does not fall down. It floats high in the air. Like a little red moon. The people gasp. He takes off his big hat. He shows them it is empty. He reaches inside. He pulls out a yellow flower. Wow! The people clap and cheer.
The Juggler bows to the happy crowd. Now it is her turn. The magic woman smiles kindly. Her eyes sparkle. "Now, watch me!" she says. She claps her hands once. Blue dust glitters in the air.
The magic woman sees a sad boy. His toy car is broken. One wheel has come off. She kneels and waves her hands. A soft blue light covers the toy. The toy car is new again! The boy laughs and plays. Vroom, vroom! Then she sees thirsty birds. The sun is very hot. She finds an empty bowl. She fills it with cool water. The happy birds splash and drink. Then she finds a tiny seed. She puts it in the dirt. A big tree grows fast! It has many red apples. Anyone hungry can take one.
The Juggler watches her work. His eyes are wide. He is not sad at all. He is amazed. His tricks are fun. But her magic is different. Her magic helps people and animals. It is kind and good. He says, "My tricks are for fun. Your tricks are for helping. Your magic is so good!" The magic woman smiles. "Your fun helps, too," she says. They become good friends. They do a show together. The juggler juggles her red apples. She makes his flower grow into a field of flowers for everyone.
Original Story
FABLE XLII.
Juggler and Vice.
A juggler once had travelled thorough
Each city, market-town, and borough;
You'd think, so far his art transcended,
Old Nick upon his fingers tended.
Vice heard his name: she read his bill,
And sought his booth—defied his skill.
The juggler, willing, laid a wager,
Not yet by losses rendered sager;
He played his tricks of high emprize,—
Confounding touch, deluding eyes.
Then cards obeyed his will, and gold
From empty bags in torrents rolled!
He showed an ivory egg: and then
Hatched and brought forth the mother-hen!
Vice then stepped forth, with look serene
Enough to stir a juggler's spleen:
She passed a magic looking-glass,
Which pleased alike dame, lad, and lass;
Whilst she, a senator addressing,
Said: "See this bank-note—lo! a blessing—
Breathe on it—Presto! hey! 'tis gone!"
And on his lips a padlock shone.
"Hey, presto!" and another puff,
It went, and he spoke well enough!
She placed twelve bottles on the board,
They were with some enchantment stored;
"Hey, presto!" and they disappear—
A pair of bloody swords were there.
She showed a purse unto a thief,
His fingers closed on it in brief;
"Hey, presto!" and—the treasure fled—
He grasped a halter, noosed, instead.
Ambition held a courtier's wand,
It turned a hatchet in his hand.
A box for charities, she drew;
"Blow here!" and a churchwarden blew—
"Hey, presto, open!" Opened, in her,
For gold was a parochial dinner!
Vice shook the dice, she smote the board,
And filled all pockets from her hoard.
A counter, in a miser's hand,
Grew twenty guineas at command;
She bade a rake to grasp them, fain—
They turned a counter back again.
The transmutations of a guinea
Made every one stare like a ninny;
But fair was false, and false was fair,
By which Vice cheated eye and ear.
The juggler, though with grief at heart,
In recognition of her art,
Said: "Now and then I cheat the throng,
You every day—and all day long!"
Story DNA
Moral
While a juggler's tricks are temporary deceptions, Vice's illusions are constant, pervasive, and far more dangerous, affecting all aspects of society.
Plot Summary
A highly skilled juggler, famous for his impressive illusions, is challenged by Vice. The juggler performs his best tricks, making objects appear and disappear. Vice then steps forward and demonstrates her own 'magic,' which involves not just illusion but also corruption and negative consequences for various societal figures, such as silencing a senator, turning bottles into swords, and a thief's purse into a halter. Witnessing the pervasive and harmful nature of Vice's deceptions, the juggler concedes, acknowledging that while he cheats occasionally, Vice cheats everyone, all the time.
Themes
Emotional Arc
confidence to humility
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
John Gay's fables often satirized contemporary English society and politics, using animal characters or allegorical figures to critique human vices and follies. This fable directly personifies 'Vice' to highlight its pervasive influence.
Plot Beats (13)
- A famous juggler travels through cities, performing incredible, seemingly magical feats.
- Vice learns of the juggler's reputation and challenges him to a contest of skill.
- The juggler confidently accepts the wager and performs his most impressive illusions: controlling cards, producing gold, and hatching a hen from an egg.
- Vice then steps forward, unfazed, and begins her own demonstration.
- She uses a magic looking-glass to please onlookers and makes a bank-note vanish, leaving a padlock on a senator's lips, which she then removes.
- Vice transforms twelve bottles into a pair of bloody swords.
- She shows a purse to a thief, which turns into a noosed halter in his hand.
- An ambitious courtier's wand transforms into a hatchet in his grasp.
- Vice uses a charity box to reveal a churchwarden's corruption, turning a donation into a parochial dinner for himself.
- She manipulates money, turning a counter into guineas for a miser, which then revert to a counter for a rake.
- Vice's deceptions are widespread and affect many different people, always involving some form of corruption or negative consequence.
- The juggler, despite his own skill, is disheartened and recognizes Vice's superior, constant, and more profound art of deception.
- The juggler admits that while he occasionally cheats the crowd, Vice cheats everyone, every day, all day long.
Characters
The Juggler ★ protagonist
A man of average height and build, with nimble fingers and quick movements. His face is expressive, often displaying a showman's grin or a look of intense concentration during his tricks. He likely has a lean, agile physique from constant travel and performance.
Attire: Practical, yet eye-catching attire suitable for a traveling showman in 18th-century England. He might wear a dark, fitted wool waistcoat over a simple linen shirt, sturdy breeches, and polished leather shoes. Perhaps a slightly worn but well-maintained dark broadcloth coat, possibly with some subtle, dark embroidery or trim to add a touch of flair without being overly ostentatious. His clothes allow for freedom of movement.
Wants: To entertain, to demonstrate his skill, and to earn a living through his art. He is driven by the challenge of performance and the admiration of the crowd.
Flaw: Overconfidence and a limited understanding of the true nature of deception. He believes his tricks are the pinnacle of illusion, making him vulnerable to Vice's more profound deceptions.
He begins as a confident, almost arrogant master of illusion, but through his encounter with Vice, he learns humility and recognizes that his deceptions are trivial compared to the pervasive and constant trickery of Vice.
Confident, skilled, somewhat naive (initially), observant, and ultimately humble in the face of superior trickery. He is proud of his craft but recognizes true mastery when he sees it.
Image Prompt & Upload
A male juggler, adult, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a lean, agile build, sharp, observant dark eyes, and short, dark hair. He wears a dark fitted wool waistcoat over a cream linen shirt, sturdy dark breeches, and polished brown leather shoes. His hands are in motion, one holding a deck of playing cards, the other gesturing as if performing a trick. He has a confident, slightly theatrical expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Vice ⚔ antagonist
An elegant and alluring figure, appearing outwardly serene and beautiful, yet possessing an unsettling aura of power and deception. Her movements are graceful and deliberate, designed to captivate and mislead.
Attire: Luxurious and flowing attire, suggesting wealth and influence, yet with a subtle, almost imperceptible hint of artifice. Perhaps a deep crimson or emerald green silk gown, richly embroidered, with long, flowing sleeves. The fabric would shimmer and shift, adding to her illusory nature. It would be a style that transcends specific eras, appearing both classic and eternally fashionable, perhaps with elements of 18th-century court dress but exaggerated for allegorical effect.
Wants: To demonstrate her superior power of deception, to expose the superficiality of other forms of trickery, and to perpetuate her influence over humanity.
Flaw: None explicitly stated; her nature is her strength, making her seemingly invincible within the fable's context.
She remains unchanged, serving as the ultimate embodiment of deception, proving her pervasive and constant influence over humanity.
Manipulative, cunning, pervasive, serene on the surface but deeply deceptive, powerful, and relentless. She embodies the essence of moral corruption and trickery.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elegant female figure, ageless, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a serene, beautiful face with captivating dark eyes and a subtle, knowing smile. Her dark hair is styled elegantly in an elaborate updo. She wears a flowing deep crimson silk gown with rich gold embroidery and long, wide sleeves. She holds a small, ornate magic looking-glass in one hand. Her posture is regal and composed. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Juggler's Booth
A temporary, enclosed structure set up for performances, likely bustling with an audience. The interior would be simple but designed to focus attention on the performer, possibly with a small stage or raised platform.
Mood: Lively, expectant, full of wonder and a touch of skepticism
The initial setting for the juggler's performance and where Vice challenges him.
Image Prompt & Upload
A bustling 18th-century English market booth interior, constructed from rough-hewn timber planks and canvas, with a small, elevated wooden stage at the back. Warm, directional light from an unseen opening illuminates a simple table laden with playing cards and a polished ivory egg. The ground is packed earth, and a few wooden benches are visible in the foreground, suggesting an audience. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Performance Area (within the booth)
The central space within the booth where both the Juggler and Vice perform their 'tricks'. It features a table or board for displaying items and a clear space for their actions.
Mood: Tense, competitive, astonishing, with moments of confusion and revelation
The main arena for the magical duel between the Juggler and Vice, showcasing their respective deceptions.
Image Prompt & Upload
A close-up of a sturdy, dark oak performance table within a dimly lit 18th-century English market booth. The table surface is worn smooth, reflecting the soft, warm glow of a hidden lantern. Scattered across it are various props: a polished brass padlock, a small, ornate looking-glass, a stack of twelve dark glass bottles, and a pair of gleaming, blood-red swords. The background is blurred, suggesting the rough timber walls of the booth. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
