FABLE XLVIII
by John Gay
The Man and the Pig
A man loved his garden. His garden had many flowers. The man had a friend. His friend was a pig. The pig was big and pink. The man and the pig were happy. They played each day. The pig was a good friend.
The man was kind to the pig. The pig could go to all places. He could go in the big house. He could go in the green garden. The man said, "You can eat food. Eat the yummy food." The pig ate peas. He ate carrots.
The man had one rule. He had pretty red flowers. The flowers were very special. He loved his red flowers. The man told the pig, "Please be good. Do not eat my pretty red flowers." The pig nodded.
The next morning, the pig was thirsty. He walked around the garden. He found a small brown bottle. Inside was sweet, fizzy juice. The pig drank all the juice. It was very sweet. The juice made the pig feel silly. He felt very dizzy.
The world spun around. The pig felt very silly. He waddled and wobbled. He was dizzy. The dizzy pig went to the garden. He was also very hungry. He wanted to find some yummy food. He wanted to eat.
The hungry pig smelled the dirt. He put his big nose down. He started to dig in the soft dirt. Dig, dig, dig went his nose. He found a thing to eat. They were roots. He ate the roots. The red flowers fell down.
Later, the man went to his garden. He wanted to see his flowers. He saw the red flowers. They were all on the ground. The flowers were broken. The man's heart was sad. He looked at the pig. He asked, "Why did you eat my flowers?"
The pig looked up at the man. His nose was dirty with dirt. The pig did not know. He was not sad. He said, "I was hungry. A hungry pig must eat. I dug for food. I found roots. I ate the roots. I did not eat the flowers."
The man looked at his pig. He was not mad now. He knew. A pig is a pig. Pigs love to dig for roots. So the man made a new plan. He built a special place for digging. Now the pig was happy. The man was happy. They stayed good friends.
Original Story
FABLE XLVIII.
Florist and Pig.
A florist—wit had run a rig— Had set his fancy on a pig; Which followed master like a dog, And petted was, although a hog.
The master thus addressed the swine: "My house and garden both be thine; Feast on potatoes as you please, And riot 'midst the beans and peas; Turnips and carrots, pig, devour, And broccoli and cauliflower; But spare my tulips—my delight, By which I fascinate my sight."
But Master Pig, next morning, roamed Where sweet wort in the coolers foamed. He sucked his fill; then munched some grains, And, whilst inebriated, gains The garden for some cooling fruits, And delved his snout for tulip-roots. He did, I tell you, much disaster; So thought, at any rate, his master: "My sole, my only, charge forgot, You drunken and ungrateful sot!"
"Drunken, yourself!" said Piggy-wiggy; "I ate the roots, not flowers, you priggy!"
The florist hit the pig a peg, And piggy turned and tore his leg.
"Fool that I was," the florist said, "To let that hog come near my bed! Who cherishes a brutal mate, Will mourn the folly, soon or late."
Moral of the Story
Do not expect a creature to act against its nature, especially when it is given too much freedom and trust.
Characters
The Florist ★ protagonist
A man of average height and build, likely with hands calloused from gardening. His movements might be precise and careful, reflecting his attention to delicate flowers.
Attire: Practical, sturdy clothing suitable for gardening in 18th-century England. This would include a linen or wool waistcoat, breeches, a simple shirt, and possibly a broad-brimmed hat to protect from the sun. Colors would be earthy and muted, like browns, greens, or undyed linen.
Wants: To cultivate and enjoy his beautiful tulips, and to find companionship, even in an unusual pet.
Flaw: His naivety and misplaced trust in the pig's ability to understand and respect his specific instructions; his quick temper.
He starts as a trusting and somewhat eccentric individual who believes he can tame a wild animal with kindness and instruction. He learns a harsh lesson about the true nature of 'brutal mates' and the folly of misplaced trust, ending with regret.
Fastidious, passionate (about tulips), trusting (initially), easily angered, regretful, somewhat naive.
The Pig ⚔ antagonist
A large, robust domestic pig, likely with a sturdy, barrel-shaped body, short legs, and a thick hide. Its snout would be prominent and strong, ideal for rooting.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To satisfy its immediate desires for food and drink, particularly anything appealing to its natural instincts.
Flaw: Its inability to understand or adhere to human rules and its overwhelming instinct for food and drink.
Remains true to its animalistic nature throughout the story. It does not change, but rather reveals its inherent wildness and instinctual drives, proving the Florist's folly.
Gluttonous, opportunistic, ungrateful, defiant, aggressive when provoked, driven by instinct.
Locations
Florist's House and Garden
A well-maintained domestic setting, featuring a house and an adjacent garden. The garden is lush with various vegetables like beans, peas, turnips, carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower, but its most prized possessions are the vibrant tulips.
Mood: Initially orderly and pleasant, later becomes chaotic and tense.
The florist gives the pig permission to roam and eat most garden produce, with the strict exception of the tulips.
Brewing Area/Cooler Room
An area within or near the florist's property where sweet wort is cooling, likely in large vats or barrels. The air is probably yeasty and warm.
Mood: Warm, yeasty, slightly intoxicating.
The pig drinks its fill of sweet wort and munches on grains, becoming inebriated before entering the garden.
Tulip Beds (After Destruction)
The once pristine tulip beds in the florist's garden, now churned up and damaged. The ground is disturbed, and tulip roots are exposed or eaten.
Mood: Desolate, ruined, filled with anger and regret.
The inebriated pig delves for and devours the tulip roots, causing significant damage and leading to a confrontation with the florist.
Story DNA
Moral
Do not expect a creature to act against its nature, especially when it is given too much freedom and trust.
Plot Summary
A florist, against better judgment, dotes on a pig and allows it free reign of his property, with the sole condition that it not harm his beloved tulips. One morning, the pig gets drunk on sweet wort, then proceeds to dig up and devour the tulip roots. When confronted, the pig argues it only ate the roots, not the flowers, leading to an altercation where the pig injures the florist. The florist, realizing his folly, laments his misplaced trust in a creature that acted according to its brutal nature.
Themes
Emotional Arc
hope to disappointment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
John Gay was a prominent English poet and fabulist known for his satirical works and fables, often critiquing human folly through animal characters.
Plot Beats (10)
- A florist, despite his wit, develops an unusual affection for a pig, treating it like a dog.
- The florist grants the pig full access to his house and garden, allowing it to eat various vegetables.
- He gives the pig one strict instruction: to spare his beloved tulips.
- The next morning, the pig discovers sweet wort, drinks it, and becomes drunk.
- In its inebriated state, the pig enters the garden, seeking cooling fruits.
- The pig then digs up and eats the tulip roots, destroying the florist's prized flowers.
- The florist discovers the damage and angrily confronts the pig, calling it a "drunken and ungrateful sot."
- The pig, unrepentant, argues that it only ate the roots, not the flowers, and calls the florist a "priggy."
- The florist hits the pig, and the pig retaliates by tearing the florist's leg.
- Injured, the florist realizes his mistake in trusting a "brutal mate" and laments his folly.
