FABLE XXXVII
by John Gay · from Fables of John Gay (Somewhat Altered)
Adapted Version
Anna was worried. She saw a black bird. The bird sat in a tree. It was a big black bird. "Oh no," said Anna. "That is a bad sign." She felt scared. She wanted to go to the market. But she was very worried.
Anna had fresh eggs. She had good milk. The eggs were in her basket. The milk was in a big jug. She wanted to sell them at the market. But she was scared. The black bird was a bad sign. "My trip will be bad," she said.
Anna had a horse. The horse's name was Old Joe. Old Joe was her market horse. She put the eggs on the horse. She put the milk on the horse. Then Anna got on the horse. They went down the road.
Soon, Anna saw the raven again. The raven was in a big tree. The raven looked down. It said, "Caw! Caw!" Anna got very scared. "Oh no!" she said. "There is the bad bird. It is a bad sign." She did not feel happy now.
Old Joe was an old horse. He was very slow. His legs were not strong. The road went down a hill. Old Joe tripped on a little rock. He fell down. The basket fell. Crack! All the eggs broke. The jug fell. Splash! The milk was all gone. Anna fell down too.
Anna sat on the dusty ground. She was very sad. Her dress was dirty. Her eggs were gone. Her milk was gone. She looked up at the tree. She saw the raven. She was angry. "This is your fault!" she said. "You are a bad bird!"
The raven was not a bad bird. He was a smart bird. He flew down from the tree. He sat on a fence post near Anna. He looked at her. "Be quiet," the raven said. "It was not me. I did not make you fall down. I just sat in the tree and watched."
"Your horse is old," the raven said. "Your horse is slow. You fell because the horse is not strong. It was the horse, not the bird." Anna looked at her slow horse. Old Joe was very old. She looked at the strong raven. The raven was right.
Original Story
FABLE XXXVII.
Farmer's Wife and Raven.
"Why are those tears? Why droops your head?
Say is your swain or husband dead?"
The farmer's wife said: "You know well
The salt was spilt,—to me it fell;
And then to add loss unto loss,
The knife and fork were laid across.
On Friday evening, 'tis too true,
Bounce in my lap a coffin flew.
Some dire misfortune it portends:
I tremble for my absent friends."
"Dame," said the neighbour, "tremble not:
Be all these prodigies forgot;
The while, at least, you eat your dinner
Bid the foul fiend avaunt—the sinner!
And soon as Betty clears the table
For a dessert, I'll read a fable.
"Betwixt her panniers rocked, on Dobbin
A matron rode to market bobbing,
Indulging in a trancelike dream
Of money for her eggs and cream;
When direful clamour from her broke:
'A raven on the left-hand oak!
His horrid croak bodes me some ill.'
Here Dobbin stumbled; 'twas down-hill,
And somehow he with failing legs
Fell, and down fell the cream and eggs.
She, sprawling, said, 'You rascal craven!
You—nasty—filthy—dirty—raven!'
'Goody,' said raven, 'spare your clamour,
There nothing here was done by glamour;
Get up again and wipe your gown,
It was not I who threw you down;
For had you laid your market ware
On Dun—the old sure-footed mare—
Though all the ravens in the Hundred
Had croaked till all the Hundred wondered,
Sure-footed Dun had kept her legs,
And you, good woman, saved your eggs.'"
Story DNA
Moral
Superstition often blinds us to the true causes of misfortune, which are usually rooted in our own poor choices or lack of foresight.
Plot Summary
A farmer's wife is consumed by fear after experiencing several bad omens, believing they portend misfortune for her friends. A neighbor attempts to soothe her by recounting a fable about a matron who blames a raven's croak for her horse's stumble and the subsequent loss of her market goods. The raven then speaks, explaining that the matron's misfortune was not due to an omen, but rather her poor choice of an unreliable horse, emphasizing that better planning would have prevented the accident.
Themes
Emotional Arc
anxiety to ironic realization
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
John Gay's fables were popular in 18th-century England, often satirizing human follies and societal norms through animal characters.
Plot Beats (9)
- A farmer's wife is found weeping, distressed by several bad omens: spilt salt, crossed knife and fork, and a coffin-shaped object falling into her lap.
- She expresses fear for her absent friends, believing these omens portend dire misfortune.
- A neighbor dismisses her fears, advising her to forget the 'prodigies' and enjoy her dinner, promising to read a fable for dessert.
- The fable begins with a matron riding her horse, Dobbin, to market, dreaming of profits.
- She spots a raven on her left, whose croak she interprets as a sign of ill omen, and expresses her dread.
- Immediately after, Dobbin stumbles downhill, causing the matron and her eggs and cream to fall.
- The matron, sprawling on the ground, angrily blames and curses the raven for her misfortune.
- The raven speaks, telling the matron to spare her clamor and that no magic was involved in her fall.
- The raven explains that if she had used a sure-footed mare like Dun, she would not have fallen, regardless of any ravens croaking.
Characters
Farmer's Wife ★ protagonist
A woman of sturdy build, likely accustomed to manual labor on a farm. Her hands would be calloused, and her face weathered from sun and wind exposure. She is of average height for the period.
Attire: A practical, durable linen or wool dress in muted earth tones (brown, grey, forest green), possibly with a simple apron over it. Her clothing would be functional for farm life, not decorative, and perhaps a bit disheveled from her fall.
Wants: To avoid misfortune and protect her well-being and that of her friends; to successfully sell her goods at market.
Flaw: Her extreme superstition and tendency to attribute all bad luck to omens, rather than practical causes, which blinds her to her own poor judgment.
She begins in distress over omens. After her fall, she blames the raven, but the raven's retort offers her a chance to reflect on her own choices, though it's unclear if she fully accepts this lesson.
Superstitious, easily distressed, prone to dramatic reactions, quick to blame external forces for her misfortunes, somewhat short-tempered.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy adult woman of average height, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a round, worried face with wide, apprehensive eyes and fair, weathered skin. Her light brown hair is pulled back in a simple, slightly messy bun. She wears a practical, muted forest-green linen dress with a simple cream-colored apron over it. She is in the process of rising from a sprawl on the ground, with a spilled wicker basket of eggs and a ceramic jug of cream beside her. Her expression is a mix of distress and indignation. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Raven ◆ supporting
A large, sleek bird with glossy black feathers, a strong, sharp beak, and intelligent, dark eyes. Its wingspan would be impressive when in flight or perched.
Attire: Its natural plumage of deep, iridescent black feathers.
Wants: To correct human folly and offer a logical perspective.
Flaw: None explicitly shown; its strength is its logical detachment.
Remains consistent as a voice of reason.
Observant, logical, direct, unperturbed by human emotional outbursts, a teller of practical truths.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, sleek raven with glossy black feathers and intelligent dark eyes, perched confidently on a gnarled oak branch. Its head is slightly tilted as if observing something below. Its beak is sharp and black. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Neighbour ◆ supporting
A woman of similar age and background to the Farmer's Wife, perhaps slightly calmer in demeanor. Her build would also be sturdy, reflecting a life of rural work.
Attire: A practical, modest dress made of linen or wool in a muted color, similar to the Farmer's Wife but perhaps a bit tidier. She might wear a simple apron.
Wants: To console her friend and offer a more logical perspective on misfortune.
Flaw: None explicitly shown; her role is to be a voice of reason.
Remains consistent as a supportive and rational character.
Practical, comforting, rational, a good listener, and a dispenser of common-sense advice.
Image Prompt & Upload
A kind-faced adult woman of sturdy build, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a calm, reassuring expression, with empathetic eyes and fair skin. Her brown hair is neatly tucked under a simple white linen cap. She wears a practical, modest grey wool dress with a clean, light blue linen apron over it. Her posture is steady and comforting. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Farmer's Wife's Home
A humble, rustic interior of a farmer's home, likely with a simple wooden table where dinner is being served or has just concluded. The atmosphere is heavy with superstition and anxiety.
Mood: Anxious, superstitious, domestic, slightly melancholic.
The farmer's wife recounts a series of bad omens to her neighbor, expressing fear for her absent friends.
Image Prompt & Upload
A cozy, dimly lit interior of a 18th-century English farmer's cottage. A rough-hewn wooden table is partially cleared, with a few simple earthenware dishes remaining. Warm, flickering firelight from an unseen hearth casts long shadows across the timber-beamed ceiling and plaster walls. A small, leaded-pane window shows the deepening twilight outside. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Downhill Market Road
A winding, unpaved road descending a hill, likely muddy or uneven, leading towards a market town. The road is flanked by trees, including a prominent oak tree.
Mood: Initially hopeful, then suddenly chaotic and frustrating.
A matron riding to market on Dobbin encounters a raven, stumbles, and spills her goods, blaming the raven for her misfortune.
Image Prompt & Upload
A narrow, rutted dirt road descends gently down a grassy hill, flanked by mature, gnarled oak trees with rough bark. Sunlight filters through the sparse canopy, creating dappled patterns on the ground. In the foreground, the road is slightly muddy from recent dampness. A large, ancient oak stands prominently to the left of the path. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
