FABLE XXIX
by John Gay · from Fables of John Gay (Somewhat Altered)
Adapted Version
An old Father Fox was in his den. The bed had soft leaves and grass. He was very old and very, very tired. His bones ached. Seven little foxes sat around his bed. Their eyes were big and sad. Their tummies rumbled loudly. They were so hungry.
Father Fox looked at his hungry sons. His voice was quiet and weak. "Listen to me, my sons," he whispered. "I have not always been a good fox. I was naughty. I was greedy." He sighed a long sigh. "I snuck into the farm every night. I caught too many chickens. One chicken is enough, but I always took two. Do not be greedy like me."
The Little Foxes looked at each other. Their tummies felt so empty. One little fox whimpered, "But we are so hungry, Dad." Another one said, "My tummy is making funny noises." A third one added, "Just one little chick would be so nice." They all nodded. Their tummies rumbled again, even louder this time.
"No!" Father Fox said. His voice was a little stronger. "You must not think about chicks! Do not be greedy," he said again. "The farmer has a big farm. But he counts his chickens every day. If he sees one is gone, he gets very angry. An angry farmer is bad for foxes. He will come with his big, loud dog."
He coughed and lay back on his leafy bed. "We must be good foxes now," he said softly. "Good foxes eat berries from the bush. Good foxes eat mice from the field. If we are good, maybe the farmer will be our friend. Then everyone will like us. We must be good."
The smallest little fox, who was very clever, tilted his head. He was confused. "But Dad," he said. "We are foxes. Our fur is red. Our tails are bushy. And foxes catch chickens. That is what foxes do. People will always think we are naughty. We can't eat berries all day."
Father Fox listened to his clever son. A tear rolled down his furry cheek. He knew it was true. "You are right, my son," he sighed sadly. Just then, a sound came from outside the den.
Cluck, cluck, cluck!
It was a fat hen, wandering near their home. Father Fox's sadness vanished. His pointy ears shot straight up. His tired eyes opened wide. They shone in the dim light.
He sat up in his bed. He was not tired at all now! His voice was a loud, excited bark. "Quick!" said Father Fox. "What are you waiting for? Go get that silly chicken! Be quiet! Be fast!" he shouted. "But remember," he added, his eyes twinkling, "Just get one! And bring it right back here to me!"
Original Story
FABLE XXIX.
The Dying Fox.
A fox was dying, and he lay
In all the weakness of decay.
A numerous progeny, with groans,
Attended to his feeble tones:
"My crimes lie heavy on my soul;
My sons, my sons, your raids control!
Ah, how the shrieks of murdered fowl
Environ me with stunning howl!"
The hungry foxes in a ring
Looked round, but saw there no such thing:
"This is an ecstasy of brain:
We fast, dear sir, and wish in vain."
"Gluttons! restrain such wish," replied
The dying fox; "be such defied;
Inordinate desires deplore;
The more you win, you grieve the more.
Do not the dogs betray our pace,
And gins and guns destroy our race?
Old age—which few of us attain—
Now puts a period to my pain.
Would you the good name lost redeem?
Live, then, in credit and esteem."
"Good counsel, marry!" said a fox;
"And quit our mountain-dens and rocks!
But if we quit our native place,
We bear the name that marks our race;
And what our ancestry have done
Descends to us from sire to son.
Though we should feed like harmless lambs,
We should regarded be as shams;
The change would never be believed;
A name lost cannot be retrieved."
The Sire replied: "Too true; but then—
Hark! that's the cackle of a hen.
Go, but be moderate, spare the brood:
One chicken, one, might do me good."
Story DNA
Moral
It is difficult to change one's inherent nature or escape a reputation, and even those who preach virtue may succumb to their true desires.
Plot Summary
A dying fox, surrounded by his hungry sons, preaches a sermon of repentance for his past predatory life, urging them to live virtuously and redeem their family's lost good name. His sons are skeptical, arguing that their nature and reputation are unchangeable. However, when the dying fox hears a hen cackle, he immediately abandons his moralizing and instructs his sons to fetch him a single chicken, revealing his inherent, unyielding predatory nature.
Themes
Emotional Arc
false repentance to cynical resignation
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist, known for his fables which often satirized human behavior and societal norms of his time.
Plot Beats (8)
- A dying fox, weak and surrounded by his groaning progeny, begins to speak.
- The dying fox expresses heavy guilt over his past crimes, specifically murdering fowl, and advises his sons to control their raids.
- His hungry sons look around, seeing no evidence of the 'shrieks' their father describes, and suggest he is delirious from fasting.
- The dying fox scolds them for their gluttonous desires, warning that more gain leads to more grief, and that their predatory lifestyle leads to destruction by humans.
- He urges them to redeem their lost good name by living in credit and esteem.
- One young fox dismisses the advice, arguing that their bad name is inherited and unchangeable, and that even if they acted like lambs, they would still be seen as shams.
- The dying fox concedes that this is 'too true' but then, hearing a hen cackle, his demeanor changes.
- He instructs his sons to go, but 'be moderate' and 'spare the brood', asking for 'one chicken, one' for himself.
Characters
The Dying Fox ★ protagonist
An old, emaciated red fox, his fur matted and dull with age and illness. His once sleek body is now gaunt, showing the prominent bones beneath his fur. He is of average fox size, but appears smaller due to his weakened state.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: Initially, to impart wisdom and perhaps find peace by confessing his 'sins'. Ultimately, his base instincts for survival and hunger override his moralizing.
Flaw: Hypocrisy and an inability to truly change his nature, even at death's door. His hunger and predatory instincts are too strong.
He attempts to undergo a moral transformation, reflecting on his past crimes and advising his sons to live virtuously. However, this arc is ultimately subverted when his predatory instincts resurface at the sound of a hen, revealing his true, unchanging nature.
Reflective, hypocritical, manipulative, remorseful (initially), pragmatic.
Image Prompt & Upload
An old, emaciated red fox lying on the ground, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. His fur is a dull, matted reddish-brown, with prominent grey around his muzzle. His eyes are clouded and weary. He is lying on his side, head slightly raised, looking weak and frail. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Hungry Foxes (Sons) ◆ supporting
Several sleek, healthy red foxes, smaller and more agile than their dying father. Their fur is vibrant and well-kept, indicative of their successful hunting.
Attire: None, as they are animals.
Wants: To survive and continue their family's way of life. They are driven by immediate hunger and a belief in their inherited nature.
Flaw: Unable to see beyond their immediate needs and inherited reputation. They lack foresight regarding the long-term consequences of their actions.
They remain largely unchanged, initially humoring their father's moralizing but quickly reverting to their natural instincts and questioning the practicality of his advice.
Pragmatic, skeptical, hungry, traditionalist, opportunistic.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young, healthy red fox standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. Its fur is a vibrant reddish-brown, with a bushy tail. Its eyes are sharp and alert, and its muzzle is clean and ungreyed. It stands with an attentive, slightly skeptical expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Fox's Den
A secluded, earthy den, likely dug into the side of a hill or beneath rocks, where the dying fox lies in his final moments, surrounded by his progeny.
Mood: Somber, reflective, with an underlying tension of hunger and moral conflict.
The dying fox delivers his final, hypocritical advice to his offspring.
Image Prompt & Upload
A cramped, subterranean fox den, carved into dark, damp earth. Exposed roots from overhead trees crisscross the ceiling, and the ground is a mix of packed soil and scattered dry leaves. A faint, cool light filters in from a narrow entrance, illuminating the huddled forms of several young foxes around a larger, emaciated elder fox. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Mountain Dens and Rocks
The natural, rugged habitat of the foxes, characterized by rocky outcrops and hidden dens, suggesting a wild and untamed environment.
Mood: Wild, untamed, and inherently dangerous, reflecting the foxes' predatory nature and the threats they face.
A young fox questions the possibility of changing their inherent nature and reputation if they abandon their traditional hunting grounds.
Image Prompt & Upload
A rugged mountain landscape dominated by massive, weathered granite rock formations, interspersed with patches of hardy, wind-stunted pine trees. Deep shadows cling to the crevices and overhangs, hinting at hidden dens. The ground is a mix of loose scree and tough, dry grasses. A vast, clear sky stretches overhead, suggesting a remote and wild environment. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Farmyard with Hens
A typical farmyard setting where hens cackle, representing the source of the foxes' prey and the temptation that overrides the dying fox's moralizing.
Mood: Tempting, lively, and ultimately dangerous for the foxes, representing the cycle of predator and prey.
The dying fox's final words are interrupted by the sound of hens, leading him to contradict his own advice.
Image Prompt & Upload
A rustic farmyard at midday, bathed in bright sunlight. Several plump hens with iridescent feathers peck at the dusty ground near a weathered wooden coop with a small, open door. Scattered straw and a few discarded feed sacks lie around. In the background, a low, stone wall separates the yard from a field of green, with a distant, simple farmhouse. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
