FABLE XLIV
by John Gay
Ringo the Noisy Pup
The sun is bright today. All the puppies run outside. They are so happy. It is time for a game. They see The Teacher. He smiles. Ringo is a small puppy. He wags his tail very fast. The big dogs are ready to play.
The Teacher points to the woods. "Go find the path!" he says. The puppies must go sniff. They must find the right way. The big dogs are very quiet. They put their noses to the ground. They start to sniff. Sniff, sniff, sniff.
Ringo is a young pup. He is very excited. He does not sniff quietly. He runs ahead. He barks a loud bark. "Woof! Woof!" But Ringo was wrong. It was not the path. The big dogs stop. They look at noisy Ringo.
Ringo barks again. His bark is very loud. "Woof! WOOF!" The Teacher hears the loud bark. He is not happy. He walks over to Ringo.
The Teacher looks at Ringo. His voice is not loud. But it is very firm. "No, Ringo. Be quiet now." Ringo stops barking right away. He feels very sad. His happy tail goes down.
Ringo makes a small, sad sound. He does not understand. Why is The Teacher not happy? He puts his head down low. His floppy ears feel heavy. He looks at his paws. He feels very confused.
The Teacher sits with Ringo. He speaks in a soft voice. "Ringo, you must be quiet. This is a sniffing game. The game is to sniff. Not to bark." He points to the other dogs. "When you bark, they cannot sniff. You must wait for your turn."
The Teacher pats Ringo's head. "Be patient, little Ringo. Soon you will be a big dog. Then you can lead the game." Ringo understands. He is quiet. He watches the big dogs. The Teacher smiles. "Good boy, Ringo. Soon it will be your turn."
Original Story
FABLE XLIV.
Hound and Huntsman.
Seeing yourselves are wise, ye smile On fools and folly for a while; But water wears the rocks, and sense Is wearied by impertinence.
The wind was southerly, the sky Proclaimed that a good scent would lie— Forth from the kennel burst the hounds, As schoolboys sally out of bounds. They hailed the huntsman; he by name Greeted each dog, who thought it fame. See them obey command: when bade, They scattered thro' the copse and glade; They snuffed the scent upon the gale, And sought the remnant of a trail.
Ringwood, a pup, on the alert, Was very young and very pert; He opened—from exuberant spirit— But old dogs heard the puppy in it; But when his note of "Full-cry" rose, The huntsman to the puppy goes,— Down falls the lash,—up rose the yelp, And murmured thus the puppy whelp:
"Why lash me? Are you malcontent That I possess superior scent?"
The huntsman answered: "Puppy slips Must be restrained by lash of whips; Puppies our scorn, not envy, raise— For envy is akin to praise. Had not that forward noisy tongue The patience of your elders wrung, You might have hunted with the pack; But now the whip assails your back: You must be taught to know your ground, And from a puppy grow a hound."
Moral of the Story
Youthful arrogance and impetuosity, unchecked by discipline, can lead to punishment and hinder true growth.
Characters
The Huntsman ◆ supporting
A man of sturdy build, accustomed to outdoor life, with a weathered complexion from sun and wind. Likely of average height, with strong hands capable of wielding a whip and managing a pack of hounds.
Attire: Dressed in practical 18th-century English hunting attire: a sturdy wool or fustian coat in a muted color like forest green or brown, possibly with brass buttons, a waistcoat, breeches, and tall leather riding boots. He would wear a tricorn hat or a simpler cap to protect from the elements.
Wants: To maintain order and discipline within his hunting pack, to train young dogs correctly, and to have a successful hunt.
Flaw: Can be stern and quick to discipline, perhaps lacking a softer touch in his teaching methods.
Remains consistent as the wise disciplinarian, serving as a mentor figure to the young pup.
Authoritative, disciplined, experienced, patient (to a point), firm, wise.
Ringwood ★ protagonist
A young, energetic hound pup, smaller and less developed than the older dogs, with a lean, agile build typical of a hunting dog breed like a Foxhound or Beagle. His coat would be short and smooth.
Attire: No clothing, but a simple leather collar around his neck.
Wants: To prove himself a capable hunter, to be part of the pack, driven by youthful enthusiasm.
Flaw: Impulsiveness, overconfidence, lack of patience, tendency to speak (bark) before thinking.
Starts as an overconfident, noisy pup and learns a lesson in humility and patience through discipline.
Pert, exuberant, overconfident, impulsive, quick to bark, initially defiant, later chastened.
The Old Dogs ○ minor
Mature, experienced hunting hounds, larger and more muscular than Ringwood, with well-defined musculature from years of hunting. Their coats might show some signs of age or wear.
Attire: No clothing, but simple leather collars.
Wants: To successfully hunt, to follow the huntsman's commands, to maintain the pack's order.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but perhaps a tendency to be set in their ways or less tolerant of disruption.
Remain consistent as the standard of experienced hunting dogs.
Experienced, patient, discerning, perhaps a bit world-weary or tolerant of youthful folly.
Locations
The Kennel Entrance
The hounds burst forth from their kennel, eager for the hunt, greeting the huntsman.
Mood: Excited, energetic, anticipatory.
The hounds are released and greet the huntsman before the hunt begins.
The Copse and Glade
A varied woodland area where the hounds scatter to sniff out a trail, featuring dense thickets (copse) and open grassy clearings (glade).
Mood: Active, natural, focused, with a hint of tension as the hunt progresses.
The hounds begin their hunt, searching for a trail, and Ringwood, the pup, gives a false 'full-cry'.
Story DNA
Moral
Youthful arrogance and impetuosity, unchecked by discipline, can lead to punishment and hinder true growth.
Plot Summary
A pack of hounds sets out for a hunt, led by their huntsman. A young, overzealous pup named Ringwood barks loudly and prematurely, believing he has superior scent. The huntsman, annoyed by his impertinence, lashes the pup. When Ringwood questions the punishment, the huntsman explains that his forwardness and lack of patience earned him the whip, and he must learn humility to become a true hound.
Themes
Emotional Arc
excitement to humiliation
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist, known for his fables which often satirized contemporary society and offered moral lessons.
Plot Beats (9)
- The narrator introduces the idea that even wise individuals can be wearied by impertinence.
- The weather is good for hunting, and the hounds burst from the kennel, greeting their huntsman.
- The hounds obey commands, scattering to sniff out a trail.
- Ringwood, a young and pert pup, barks exuberantly, but old dogs dismiss it as puppy noise.
- Ringwood's 'Full-cry' rises, prompting the huntsman to approach him.
- The huntsman lashes Ringwood, who yelps in pain.
- Ringwood questions why he was lashed, believing he has superior scent.
- The huntsman explains that puppies must be restrained and that Ringwood's noisy tongue prevented him from hunting with the pack.
- The huntsman concludes that Ringwood must be taught to know his ground and grow from a puppy into a hound.
