FABLE XXXIII
by John Gay · from Fables of John Gay (Somewhat Altered)
Adapted Version
The Clever Man walks by the sea. The sea is big and blue. He is a little sad. He walks on the wet sand. The waves make a soft sound. Shhh. Shhh.
A magic man comes from the water. His name is Proteus. He has a long, white beard. He has a big, happy smile. He sees The Clever Man. "Hello," says Proteus.
The Clever Man looks at Proteus. "My friends played a trick," he says. "They hid from me. Now I am alone. So I am sad."
Proteus smiles a big smile. "A trick? I love tricks! I can do tricks, too! I can change my body. I can change what I look like. Look at me! Watch me change!"
Poof! Proteus changes. He is not a man now. He is a long, green snake. The snake moves on the sand. Hiss! Hiss! goes the snake.
The Clever Man is not scared. He laughs a little. "That is a good trick," he says. "A very good trick. But people can be tricky too. They do not change their bodies. No. They change their words. Their words can be like magic."
Proteus changes again. Poof! Now he is a big lion. The lion has yellow fur. Roar! goes the lion. Then, poof! He is a small bird. The bird flies in the sky. Tweet! Tweet! Then, poof! He is a little fish. He swims in the water. Splash! Splash!
The Clever Man watches the show. He claps his hands. "Wow!" he says. "You change your body so fast. You are a lion. You are a bird. You are a fish. That is a good trick. It is very fun to see."
The fish swims back to the sand. Poof! Proteus is a man again. He is laughing. The Clever Man is not sad now. He smiles a big smile. He runs to Proteus. He gives him a little tap on the arm. "Tag! You're it!"
"You change how you look," he says. "Your magic is for the eyes. People can change what they say. Their magic is for the ears. Being clever with words is magic, too."
Proteus, the magic man, smiled. He had a new friend. He learned a new thing today. There are many kinds of magic. The end.
Original Story
FABLE XXXIII.
Courtier and Proteus.
The country shelters the disgrace
Of every courtier out of place:
When, doomed to exercise and health,
O'er his estate he scatters wealth;
There he builds schemes for others' ruin,
As Philip's son of old was doing.
A wandless one, upon the strand,
Wandered with heavy hours on hand:
The murmuring waters ran and broke;
Proteus arose, and him bespoke:
"Come ye from court, I ask? Your mien
Is so importantly serene."
The courtier answered, friends had tricked him,
And that he was a party's victim.
Proteus replied: "I hold the skill
To change to any shape at will.
But I am told at court there be
Fellows who more than rival me.
Now see a form that I can take:"
And Proteus rolled a scaly snake.
The man replied: "Of reptile race
Is every courtier, whilst in place.
Yes, they can take the dragon form,
Bask in the sun, and flee the storm;
"With envy glare, with malice gloat,
And cast, like you your skin,—their coat!
And in a dunghill born and bred,
With new-born lustre rear the head."
Then Proteus as a lion stood,
And shook his mane and stirred the flood;
Then soused as waters, soared as fire,
Then as a tigress glared with ire.
"Such transformations might appal,
Had I not stood in regal hall.
We hunt the lion, utilise
The elements, without surprise.
Such forms indeed are things of prey,
And courtiers hunt them, though they bray.
They practise frauds in every shape,
Or as a lion or an ape."
So said, the courtier grasped the god,
Bound him with cords, dragged to the sod,
And said: "Now tell me, Proteus; tell,
Do men or ancient gods excel?
For you are bound to tell the truth,
Nor are your transformations sooth;
But courtiers are not bound by ties;
They consort not with truth, but lies;
Fix on him any form you will
A courtier finds evasion still."
Story DNA
Moral
The cunning and deceit of courtiers far surpass the transformative abilities of even a god, as they are bound by no truth or form.
Plot Summary
A disgraced courtier, wandering by the sea, encounters Proteus, the shapeshifting god. Proteus boasts of his transformative powers, demonstrating them by changing into various forms like a snake and a lion. However, the courtier remains unimpressed, cynically asserting that human courtiers are far more adept at changing their 'forms' (principles) and practicing deception. Ultimately, the courtier seizes and binds Proteus, declaring that while gods are bound by truth, courtiers are not, making their lies and evasions superior to any divine transformation.
Themes
Emotional Arc
disillusionment to cynical triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
John Gay's fables often satirized contemporary English society and politics, using classical figures or animals to comment on human vices, particularly those found in courtly life.
Plot Beats (11)
- A disgraced courtier wanders by the sea, still harboring schemes for others' ruin.
- Proteus, the sea god, rises from the water and asks the courtier if he comes from court.
- The courtier explains he was betrayed by friends and was a victim of political machinations.
- Proteus boasts of his power to change into any shape at will, but admits he's heard courtiers rival him.
- Proteus demonstrates his power by transforming into a scaly snake.
- The courtier dismisses this, stating that all courtiers are like reptiles, able to take on dragon forms, bask in the sun, flee storms, and shed their 'coats' (principles) to rise again.
- Proteus then transforms into a lion, water, fire, and a tigress.
- The courtier remains unimpressed, stating he has seen such transformations in regal halls and that courtiers hunt such 'forms of prey' and practice frauds in every shape.
- The courtier then grasps Proteus, binds him with cords, and drags him to the ground.
- The courtier challenges Proteus to admit whether men or ancient gods excel, asserting that Proteus is bound to tell the truth and his transformations are not 'sooth' (true essence).
- The courtier concludes that courtiers are not bound by ties, consort with lies, and can evade any form or truth.
Characters
The Courtier ★ protagonist
A man of average height and build, showing signs of a life previously spent in comfort and perhaps some recent hardship. His posture, though currently somewhat dejected, still hints at a past of importance and self-assurance.
Attire: Though currently 'out of place' and wandering, his attire would still suggest his former status. He might wear a slightly worn but still fine wool coat in a muted color (e.g., dark blue or grey), a waistcoat, breeches, and stockings, perhaps with a simple cravat. The fabric would be of good quality, though perhaps a bit rumpled from his travels.
Wants: To regain his standing or at least to prove his intellectual superiority and cunning, perhaps to find a way back into power or to simply assert control over a situation.
Flaw: His cynicism and lack of moral bounds, which allow him to justify any deceit.
He begins as a disgraced wanderer and ends as a triumphant manipulator, proving his point about human (or rather, courtier) deceit being superior to even divine transformation.
Cunning, cynical, observant, resourceful, disillusioned, manipulative.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult male human standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a clean-shaven face with a sharp nose, thin lips, and keen, observant eyes. His hair is powdered and tied back in a queue, typical of an 18th-century English gentleman. He wears a slightly worn but well-tailored dark grey wool frock coat, a cream-colored waistcoat, dark breeches, white stockings, and buckled shoes. His posture is initially somewhat dejected but shifts to a cunning and determined stance. He has a cynical, knowing expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Proteus ◆ supporting
As a sea god, his natural form is likely robust and ancient, perhaps with features that hint at his aquatic domain. He is capable of changing into various animal and elemental forms.
Attire: As an ancient sea god, he would likely be depicted with minimal clothing, perhaps just a loincloth or draped fabric made of seaweed or shimmering scales, or simply appearing as if formed from the water itself.
Wants: To demonstrate his power and shapeshifting abilities, and to understand the nature of humans, particularly courtiers.
Flaw: His pride in his shapeshifting abilities and his susceptibility to being bound, which forces him to speak the truth.
He begins as a confident, powerful deity and ends up bound and forced to concede the superior cunning of humans (courtiers).
Proud, powerful, curious, somewhat naive about human deceit, easily provoked.
Image Prompt & Upload
An ageless male deity with a powerful, muscular build, emerging from the ocean. His skin is slightly greenish-blue, like deep sea water, and his long, flowing beard and hair resemble dark green seaweed. His eyes are deep blue, like the ocean. He is bare-chested, with a simple loincloth made of shimmering, dark green scales. His posture is majestic and commanding, with one arm raised as if addressing someone. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Seashore Strand
A desolate, open stretch of sandy or pebbly beach where the murmuring waters gently run and break against the shore. The air is likely cool and damp from the sea.
Mood: Initially melancholic and reflective due to the courtier's disgrace, then becomes tense and confrontational.
The disgraced courtier wanders here, encounters Proteus, and engages in a philosophical debate about transformation and deceit.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, windswept stretch of grey-brown sand and small pebbles meeting the gently lapping, foamy edge of a cool, steel-blue ocean under a vast, cloud-streaked sky. Sparse, dry sea grass might dot the higher parts of the beach. The light is diffused and even, suggesting an overcast day. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
