FABLE XLVI
by John Gay
The Noisy Dog
This is a dog. His name is Snarl. Snarl has a loud bark. He is a very noisy dog. He likes to bark all the time. He barks in the morning. He barks in the afternoon. He never stops barking.
Snarl thinks his bark is a song. He thinks it is a good song. "Woof, woof, woof!" sings Snarl. "My song is very good!" he thinks. He sings a happy song. He is a noisy dog. He wags his tail. He barks his happy song again. "Woof, woof, woof!"
Snarl sits by the big road. He watches the people go by. A little cat goes by. The cat says, "Meow." Snarl does not like it. "Woof, woof!" barks Snarl. The cat runs away. A tall man goes by. The man has a big hat. "Woof, woof, woof!" barks Snarl. The man walks faster. Snarl barks at everyone. He barks at everything.
Then, a big horse comes. The horse is brown and strong. It pulls a big green cart. Snarl sees the big horse. He runs to the big horse. He is very noisy. "Woof, woof, woof!" he barks. He runs around the horse's feet.
The big horse is not happy. The horse stops. Snarl's noise is not a nice song. The horse wants quiet. It looks down at the road. The horse sees a big puddle. The puddle is full of water. It is full of brown mud. The horse has an idea. It lifts its big foot. It stomps its foot in the water.
Splash! A big wave of mud flies up. Brown mud goes up in the air. Then it comes down. The mud goes everywhere. It goes all over Snarl. Snarl is brown from head to tail. He has mud in his eyes. He has mud in his ears. The big horse is quiet now. It walks slowly away.
Snarl is covered in brown mud. He does not feel happy. He is a sad, muddy dog. He does not want to bark. He is not noisy anymore. He is a very quiet dog. He sits by the road. A wise old dog walks by. The wise dog sees muddy Snarl. The wise dog speaks. "It is not nice to be noisy." Snarl looks at his paws. They are muddy. He has learned his lesson. Snarl is not a noisy dog now. He is a very quiet dog.
Original Story
FABLE XLVI.
Cur, Horse, and Shepherd's Dog.
The lad of mediocre spirit Blurs not with modesty his merit. On all exerting wit and tongue, His rattling jokes, at random flung, Bespatter widely friend and foe. Too late the forward boy will know That jokes are often paid in kind, Or rankle longer in the mind.
A village cur, with treble throat, Thought he owned music's purest note, And on the highway lay, to show it Or to philosopher or poet. Soon as a roadster's trot was heard, He rose, with nose and ears upreared; As he passed by assailed his heels, Nor left him till they reached the fields.
But, as it happened once, a pad, Assailed by Master Snarl, like mad, Flung out, and knocked him in the mire; Nor did he stop to care, inquire, If he had hurt him. On his way Pad passed, and puppy bleeding lay.
A shepherd's dog, who saw him bleed, Who hated Snarl and all his breed, Said, "This was brought about by prate, Which horses—even horses—hate!"
Moral of the Story
Those who thoughtlessly mock and insult others will eventually suffer similar treatment.
Characters
The Village Cur (Master Snarl) ★ protagonist
A small, scruffy village dog, likely a mongrel, with a lean build and quick movements. His fur is probably a common, muted color like brown or grey, often matted with dirt from his roadside antics. He has a wiry frame, built for quick bursts of barking and chasing.
Attire: None, as he is an animal. His 'attire' is his natural fur coat.
Wants: To show off his 'musical' barking, to assert his perceived dominance over passersby, and to annoy others.
Flaw: His excessive pride and tendency to provoke others without considering the consequences.
He begins as an arrogant, taunting dog and ends up injured and humbled by the horse's retaliation, learning a painful lesson about provoking others.
Arrogant, boastful, irritating, lacking self-awareness, prone to taunting.
The Horse (Pad) ◆ supporting
A sturdy roadster horse, likely a working breed, with strong legs and a powerful build. His coat would be a practical color like bay, brown, or black, well-muscled from travel. He is large and imposing compared to the small cur.
Attire: Likely wears a simple bridle and saddle, indicating he is a ridden or working horse, but no specific details are given.
Wants: To travel along the highway unmolested.
Flaw: His patience has a limit, leading to a violent reaction when pushed too far.
Remains largely unchanged, serving as the instrument of the Cur's comeuppance.
Patient (initially), tolerant (to a point), decisive, unconcerned with the fate of his tormentor.
The Shepherd's Dog ◆ supporting
A robust and watchful shepherd's dog, likely a larger breed known for guarding flocks. His fur would be thick and practical, perhaps a shaggy coat in shades of white, grey, or black, built for outdoor life. He has a more serious and observant demeanor than the cur.
Attire: None, as he is an animal. His 'attire' is his natural fur coat.
Wants: To offer a moral commentary on the events he witnesses.
Flaw: His disdain for the cur's 'breed' suggests a potential for prejudice.
Remains unchanged, serving as the voice of the fable's moral.
Observant, wise, disdainful of foolishness, moralistic.
Locations
The Highway
A well-traveled public road, likely unpaved and dusty, where the village cur habitually waits to bark at passersby.
Mood: Initially lively and boisterous due to the cur's antics, later becomes a scene of sudden violence and injury.
The cur's routine of barking at travelers, and the incident where he is kicked into the mire by the horse.
The Fields
Open agricultural land or pasture bordering the highway, where the cur would typically cease his pursuit of travelers.
Mood: More peaceful and natural than the highway, serving as a boundary for the cur's usual mischief.
The point where the cur's chase of the horse would normally end, and where the shepherd's dog observes the injured cur.
Story DNA
Moral
Those who thoughtlessly mock and insult others will eventually suffer similar treatment.
Plot Summary
A boastful village cur, Master Snarl, believes his incessant barking at travelers is a display of musical talent. He regularly harasses horses passing on the highway, chasing and barking at their heels. One day, he provokes a horse too much, and the horse retaliates by kicking him into the mud, leaving him bleeding. A shepherd's dog, observing the scene, remarks that the cur's own 'prate' brought about his injury, reinforcing the fable's opening moral about the consequences of thoughtless mockery.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to suffering
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
John Gay was a prominent English poet and dramatist known for his fables, which often satirized contemporary society and offered moral lessons.
Plot Beats (7)
- The narrator introduces the moral that those who mock others will face consequences.
- A village cur, Master Snarl, believes his barking is beautiful music.
- He habitually barks at every traveler, especially horses, chasing them down the road.
- One day, he barks at a particular horse, a 'pad'.
- The horse retaliates by kicking Master Snarl into the mud.
- The horse leaves, uncaring, while Master Snarl lies bleeding.
- A shepherd's dog, who dislikes Master Snarl, observes the scene and remarks that the cur's 'prate' (chatter/barking) brought about his injury.
