FABLE XXVIII
by John Gay · from Fables of John Gay (Somewhat Altered)
Adapted Version
Once, there was a big, yellow Sun. A man looked at the happy Sun. The Sun was high in the sky. The man was happy. The Sun made him feel warm. He liked the big, yellow Sun. The man smiled at the Sun. He said, "Hello, Sun. You are bright."
Then a cloud came by. It was a big, dark cloud. It floated in front of the Sun. Now the sky was dark. The man could not see the Sun. The cloud had a loud voice. "I can hide the Sun," it said. "I am big. I am strong." The cloud was not kind.
The proud cloud spoke again. Its voice was loud and deep. "Look at me," it boomed. "Do not look for the Sun. The Sun is gone. I am here. I am bigger than the Sun. I am stronger than the Sun. You must watch me now."
The man was not happy. He did not like the dark cloud. He liked the warm, yellow Sun. The man looked at the big cloud. "You are not the boss," he said. "The Sun is the real boss. The Sun is good. The Sun is kind. You are just a big, dark cloud." "Go away, loud cloud!" he said. "I want to see the Sun."
Suddenly, a big wind came. The wind was strong and fast. It blew a mighty "Whoosh!". It pushed the proud, dark cloud. The cloud could not fight the wind. The wind was much too strong. It blew the cloud across the sky. The cloud got smaller and smaller. The wind blew until it was gone. The big, dark cloud was all gone.
The dark cloud was gone. The big wind was gone too. The sky was clear and blue. The big, yellow Sun was back. It was in the middle of the sky. The Sun was bright and beautiful. It shone its light everywhere. The man was happy again. He felt the warm Sun on his face. Everything was bright and good. The man smiled a big smile. The world was happy again. The end.
Original Story
FABLE XXVIII.
The Persian, the Sun, and the Cloud.
Lives there a bard for genius famed
Whom Envy's tongue hath not declaimed?
Her hissing snakes proclaim her spite;
She summons up the fiends of night;
Hatred and malice by her stand,
And prompt to do what she command.
As prostrate to the orb of day
A Persian, invocating, lay:
"Parent of light, whose rays dispense
The various gifts of Providence,
Accept our praise, accept our prayer,
Smile on our fields, and bless our year."
A cloud passed by—a voice aloud,
Like Envy's, issued from that cloud:
"I can eclipse your gaudy orb,
And every ray you ask absorb.
Pray, then, to me—where praise is due—
And I will grant the rays to you."
The Persian answered in his wrath:
"He raised thee to that airy path;
A passing wind or puff of air
Will hurl thee to thy proper sphere."
The gale arose, the cloud was doomed,
The golden orb his reign resumed.
And as the sun above, so worth
Scatters the clouds of sons of earth.
Story DNA
Moral
True worth and power will always overcome temporary obstacles and envious boasts.
Plot Summary
A Persian man prays to the life-giving Sun, when an arrogant Cloud interrupts, boasting it can eclipse the Sun and demanding praise for itself. The Persian angrily reminds the Cloud of its fleeting nature. Soon after, a gale arises, dispersing the Cloud and allowing the Sun to shine unobstructed, illustrating that true worth always prevails over envious, temporary obstacles.
Themes
Emotional Arc
admiration to indignation to vindication
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 (8)
- The narrator introduces the concept of Envy attacking genius.
- A Persian man is shown prostrating and praying to the Sun, praising its life-giving light.
- A Cloud passes by and, with a voice like Envy, boasts that it can eclipse the Sun and absorb its rays.
- The Cloud demands the Persian pray to it instead, promising to grant the rays.
- The Persian responds angrily, reminding the Cloud that it was merely raised to its position and can be easily dispersed.
- A gale arises, fulfilling the Persian's words and scattering the Cloud.
- The Sun's golden orb resumes its clear reign.
- The narrator concludes by stating that true worth scatters the clouds of envious people.
Characters
The Persian ★ protagonist
A man of average height and build, with a sun-kissed complexion indicative of a life spent outdoors in a warm climate. His features are likely strong and defined, typical of ancient Persian ethnicity.
Attire: He wears a simple, yet dignified, tunic (perhaps a chiton or similar garment) made of light, breathable linen or cotton, likely in an earthy tone such as cream, beige, or light brown, suitable for the warm climate. It would be belted at the waist. He might wear simple sandals on his feet.
Wants: To show reverence to the Sun, the source of life and prosperity, and to defend its honor against false claims.
Flaw: His wrath can be easily provoked when something he holds sacred is disrespected.
He remains steadfast in his beliefs, serving as the voice of reason and truth against arrogance. He does not change but rather reaffirms his conviction.
Devout, respectful, quick-tempered, loyal, wise.
Image Prompt & Upload
A mature man of Persian ethnicity, standing upright and facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has dark, short curly hair and a neatly trimmed dark beard. His skin is a warm olive tone. He wears a simple, cream-colored linen tunic belted at the waist, and brown leather sandals. His expression is one of firm conviction, with dark, intense eyes. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Sun ◆ supporting
A brilliant, radiant orb of golden light, immense and powerful, dominating the sky. It has no discernible human features but is personified as a benevolent, reigning entity.
Attire: N/A (its 'attire' is its own radiant light).
Wants: To dispense light and gifts of Providence to the earth.
Flaw: None explicitly stated; its power is absolute in its domain.
Remains constant, its power temporarily obscured but ultimately restored, symbolizing enduring worth.
Benevolent, powerful, constant, just, patient.
Image Prompt & Upload
A massive, brilliant golden orb radiating intense light, positioned centrally in the frame. The light emanates outwards in strong, visible rays. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Cloud ⚔ antagonist
A dark, ominous cloud, capable of obscuring the sun. It is not a fluffy white cloud but one that suggests a temporary, imposing presence, perhaps with a hint of stormy grey or purple within its mass.
Attire: N/A (its 'attire' is its own misty form).
Wants: To usurp the praise and power of the Sun, driven by envy.
Flaw: Its transient nature and dependence on external forces (the wind) for its existence and movement.
Rises in arrogance, attempts to overshadow the Sun, and is ultimately dispersed, symbolizing the fleeting nature of false pride.
Arrogant, envious, boastful, deluded.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, dark grey cloud, with hints of purple, positioned centrally and obscuring a portion of a bright golden orb. The cloud appears dense and somewhat ominous. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Open Field in Persia
A sun-drenched, open agricultural field in ancient Persia, likely with cultivated crops or dry grasses, under a vast, clear sky. The ground is warm and dusty, characteristic of a semi-arid region.
Mood: Devotional, peaceful, then briefly interrupted by a sense of arrogance and anger, before returning to serenity.
A Persian man offers prayers to the Sun, and a passing cloud challenges the Sun's authority.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, sun-drenched agricultural field in ancient Persia, stretching towards a distant horizon under a clear, brilliant blue sky. The ground is a mosaic of dry, golden grasses and tilled earth, with a few low-lying, hardy shrubs. Golden light from a high morning sun bathes the entire landscape, casting short, crisp shadows. In the foreground, a lone figure is prostrate on the warm, dusty ground. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Sky Above Persia
The expansive sky above the Persian landscape, initially clear and bright, then briefly dominated by a large, dark cloud that obscures the sun, before clearing again.
Mood: Majestic, powerful, then briefly ominous and arrogant, finally returning to clear dominance.
The Cloud asserts its power over the Sun, but is then dispersed by the wind, allowing the Sun to resume its full glory.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vast, deep blue sky over a distant, sun-drenched Persian landscape, seen from an elevated perspective. Initially, a brilliant, golden sun dominates the upper center, radiating intense light. Then, a large, dark, and somewhat menacing cumulus cloud drifts across, briefly obscuring the sun and casting a temporary shadow. Soon after, the cloud begins to dissipate into wisps, revealing the full, radiant sun once more, with subtle indications of wind currents in the sky. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
