FABLE XXXVI
by John Gay · from Fables of John Gay (Somewhat Altered)
Adapted Version
A kind man went for a walk. His name was Leo. The sky was blue. White clouds floated by. Leo saw a big, green farm. The sun was bright. The grass was green. Flowers grew by the path. Red flowers and yellow flowers. Leo was happy.
He walked to the big farm. He saw a farmer. The farmer looked at a bird. The bird was in a big, soft net. It was a kite. The kite was beautiful. It had brown and white feathers. It was not hurt. It looked with its sad eyes. The kite did not move. It just watched the farmer. The farmer looked at the kite.
Leo said, "Why is the kite sad?" The farmer looked at Leo. The farmer looked stern. "This is a naughty kite," he said. "It is a bad bird." He shook his head. "It wanted my best chicken." "It tried to take my chicken." The farmer pointed to a big cage. "The cage will be its home." "I will put the kite in it."
Leo looked at the farmer. He looked at the chicken coop. The farmer would eat a chicken. Leo pointed to the chicken. Then he pointed to the farmer. "You eat chickens," Leo said. "The kite wants to eat one." He asked a simple question. "Should you go in the cage, too?"
The farmer was not angry. He was very confused. "What?" the farmer asked. He put his hands on his hips. He looked at Leo. He looked at the cage. He looked at his own dinner. "But I am a farmer," he said. "The kite is just a bird." He did not understand. He scratched his head.
"The kite is hungry," Leo said. "You are hungry, too." His voice was very kind. "It is not fair," Leo said. "It is not fair to punish it." The farmer looked at the sad kite. He saw Leo's kind face. He looked at his chicken. He thought for a moment. "You are right," he said. "It is not fair." The farmer opened the net. The kite flew out. It flew high in the sky. It was free!
The farmer smiled a big smile. Leo smiled too. "I will build a new fence," he said. "A strong fence for my chickens." He waved at the free kite. "Goodbye, kite!" he said.
Original Story
FABLE XXXVI.
Pythagoras and Countryman.
Pythagoras, at daybreak drawn
To meditate on dewy lawn,
To breathe the fragrance of the morning,
And, like philosophers, all scorning
To think or care where he was bound,
Fell on a farm. A hammer's sound
Arrested then his thoughts and ear:
"My man, what are you doing there?"
The clown stood on a ladder's rung,
And answered him with rudish tongue:
"I've caught the villain—this here kite
Kept my hens ever in a fright;
I've nailed he here to my barn-door,
Him shan't steal turkey-pouts no more."
And lo! upon the door displayed,
The caitiff kite his forfeit paid.
"Friend," said Pythagoras, "'tis right
To murder a marauding kite;
But, by analogy, that glutton—
That man who feasts on beef and mutton—
I say,—that by analogy,—
The man who eats a chick should die.
'Tis insolence of power and might
When man, the glutton, kills the kite."
The clown, who heard Pythagoras,
Waxed in a rage, called him an ass;
Said man was lord of all creation.
"Man," the sage answered, sans sensation,
"You murder hawks and kites, lest they
Should rob you of your fatted prey;
And that great rogues may hold their state,
The petty rascal meets his fate."
Story DNA
Moral
Those who condemn others for lesser transgressions while committing greater ones are hypocrites.
Plot Summary
Pythagoras, while meditating, encounters a countryman who has nailed a kite to his barn door for preying on his hens. Pythagoras agrees it's right to kill a marauding kite but then uses an analogy, arguing that by the same logic, humans who eat meat should also die, calling it an 'insolence of power'. The countryman, enraged, asserts man's dominion over creation. Pythagoras concludes by stating that humans punish 'petty rascals' like kites to protect their own 'fatted prey', highlighting the hypocrisy of those in power.
Themes
Emotional Arc
calm observation to heated debate
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist known for his fables, which often satirized society and human nature. Pythagoras was an ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician, famously associated with vegetarianism and the transmigration of souls, making him a fitting character for this fable's argument.
Plot Beats (7)
- Pythagoras is meditating outdoors at dawn and wanders onto a farm.
- He hears a hammer and asks a countryman what he is doing.
- The countryman, on a ladder, explains he has nailed a kite to the barn door for preying on his hens.
- Pythagoras acknowledges the rightness of killing a marauding kite.
- Pythagoras then uses an analogy, stating that by the same logic, a man who eats a chicken should also die, calling it 'insolence of power and might'.
- The countryman becomes angry, calls Pythagoras an 'ass', and asserts that man is lord of all creation.
- Pythagoras responds by pointing out that humans kill hawks and kites to protect their 'fatted prey', implying that 'great rogues' (humans) punish 'petty rascals' (kites) to maintain their own power and consumption.
Characters
Pythagoras ★ protagonist
A man of average height and slender build, with a contemplative and perhaps slightly detached demeanor. His movements are likely deliberate and unhurried, reflecting his philosophical nature.
Attire: Simple, flowing robes typical of an ancient Greek philosopher, likely made of undyed or light-colored linen or wool, draped elegantly around his form, perhaps with a mantle or cloak for morning chill.
Wants: To understand and explain the moral order of the universe, to challenge conventional thinking, and to advocate for a more ethical treatment of all living beings.
Flaw: His abstract philosophical arguments may be lost on practical-minded individuals, leading to frustration or misunderstanding.
He remains consistent in his philosophical stance, using the encounter to illustrate his principles rather than changing his own views.
Philosophical, contemplative, didactic, observant, and somewhat detached from common concerns.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult male, slender build, average height, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a thoughtful face with a high forehead, long white hair and a matching beard, both well-maintained. He wears simple, flowing, undyed linen robes draped elegantly, with a matching mantle over one shoulder. His posture is composed and his expression is calm and intellectual. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Countryman ◆ supporting
A sturdy, robust man of the countryside, likely of medium height with a strong, muscular build from manual labor. His hands would be calloused and his face weathered from outdoor work.
Attire: Practical, durable working clothes typical of a 18th-century English farmer: a coarse linen or wool smock or shirt, sturdy breeches or trousers, and heavy leather boots. His clothes would be functional and possibly patched, showing signs of wear.
Wants: To protect his livelihood and property from pests, and to assert his perceived dominion over nature.
Flaw: Short temper and inability to grasp abstract philosophical concepts, leading him to dismiss arguments he doesn't understand.
He remains unchanged in his practical, utilitarian worldview, rejecting Pythagoras's philosophical arguments.
Practical, direct, easily angered, defensive, and traditional in his views.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy adult male, muscular build, medium height, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a sun-weathered, ruddy face, short-cropped brown hair, and a short, unkempt beard. He wears a coarse linen smock, sturdy brown breeches, and heavy leather boots. He holds a wooden hammer in his right hand. His posture is grounded and his expression is direct and slightly defiant. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Kite ○ minor
A large bird of prey, specifically a kite, with broad wings and a forked tail, likely with a wingspan indicative of its predatory nature. Its feathers would be a mix of browns, reds, and whites, typical of a raptor.
Attire: Natural plumage, no clothing.
Wants: To hunt and feed on poultry.
Flaw: Vulnerability to human traps and retribution.
Its life ends as a consequence of its predatory actions.
Predatory, opportunistic (as perceived by the Countryman).
Image Prompt & Upload
A large adult kite bird, with broad wings and a forked tail, its feathers a mix of browns, reds, and whites. It is depicted lifelessly, nailed to a rustic wooden barn door, its wings spread wide in a rigid posture. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Dewy Lawn at Daybreak
A wide, open expanse of grass, still covered in morning dew, bathed in the very first light of dawn. The air is fresh and fragrant.
Mood: Serene, contemplative, fresh, peaceful
Pythagoras begins his morning meditation and walk.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vast, verdant lawn stretching into the distance, heavily laden with glistening morning dew that reflects the soft, pale light of a rising sun. The sky above is a clear, gentle gradient of pre-dawn blues transitioning to faint pinks and golds on the horizon. A light mist might cling to the lowest parts of the grass, creating a sense of depth and tranquility. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Farmyard with Barn Door
A rustic farmyard, likely unpaved and possibly muddy, with a sturdy, weathered barn at its center. A wooden ladder leans against the barn door, which is made of rough-hewn planks.
Mood: Rural, industrious, somewhat harsh due to the nailed kite
Pythagoras encounters the countryman and the dead kite, leading to their philosophical debate.
Image Prompt & Upload
A rustic, unpaved farmyard in the early morning light, with a large, weathered barn constructed of rough timber planks. A sturdy wooden ladder leans against the barn's main door, which is made of dark, aged wood. Nailed prominently to the door is a large, lifeless kite with ruffled feathers. The ground is a mix of packed dirt and straw, with perhaps some burdock leaves growing along the edges of the barn. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
