GAY'S FABLES
by John Gay · from Fables of John Gay (Somewhat Altered)
Adapted Version
Old Tom lived on a big green hill. He had white hair and a big smile. He had many, many sheep. The sheep were soft and fluffy. The grass was green. The sky was blue. Old Tom was happy. He was very wise.
One day, a man came up the hill. He was the Book Man. He read many, many books. He read big books and small books. He was very smart. But he did not understand. How was Old Tom so wise? He had to find out.
"How did you get so wise?" he asked. "Did you read big books? Did you go far away? Did you talk to smart people?" The Book Man looked at Old Tom. He waited for an answer.
Old Tom shook his head. He smiled a big smile. "No," he said. "I did not read big books. Books are good. But I learned a new way. I learned from something very close."
Old Tom's eyes were bright. He pointed to the hill. "I watch the animals!" he said. "They show me how to be good. They show me how to be kind. Look at them! See? The animals are my best teachers."
"The busy bee works hard. So very hard. She makes sweet honey all day. The little ant saves food. She saves and saves. She is ready for winter. My old dog stays close. He is a true friend. So true. The dove is soft and gentle. She loves her family. The hen keeps her babies warm and safe."
"Some animals show what not to do." Old Tom shook his head and laughed. "See the rooster? He walks so proud. He thinks he is the best. That is not kind. And see the fat goose? He wants all the bread. He wants too much. That is not good."
"And see the grumpy cat?" Old Tom said. "She is mean to the other animals. She is cross and mad all day. She wants what others have. Do not be like her. Be kind and good. Be happy with what you have."
The Book Man's eyes went wide. "You are right!" he said. "Books are good. But animals teach us too!" He laughed. "I came to teach you. But you taught me!" Old Tom smiled. They sat on the green hill. The sheep went "baa" so soft. The sun was warm. And all was good.
Original Story
GAY'S FABLES.
INTRODUCTION.
Remote from cities dwelt a swain,
Unvexed by petty cares of gain;
His head was silvered, and by age
He had contented grown and sage;
In summer's heat and winter's cold
He fed his flock and penned his fold,
Devoid of envy or ambition,
So had he won a proud position.
A deep philosopher, whose rules
Of moral life were drawn from schools,
With wonder sought this shepherd's nest,
And his perplexity expressed:
"Whence is thy wisdom? Hath thy toil
O'er books consumed the midnight oil,
Communed o'er Greek and Roman pages,
With Plato, Socrates—those sages—
Or fathomed Tully,—or hast travelled
With wise Ulysses, and unravelled
Of customs half a mundane sphere?"
The shepherd answered him: "I ne'er
From books or from mankind sought learning,
For both will cheat the most discerning;
The more perplexed the more they view
In the wide fields of false and true.
"I draw from Nature all I know—
To virtue friend, to vice a foe.
The ceaseless labour of the bee
Prompted my soul to industry;
The wise provision of the ant
Made me for winter provident;
My trusty dog there showed the way,
And to be true I copy Tray.
Then for domestic hallowed love,
I learnt it of the cooing dove;
And love paternal followed, when
I marked devotion in the hen.
"Nature then prompted me to school
My tongue from scorn and ridicule,
And never with important mien
In conversation to o'erween.
I learnt some lessons from the fowls:
To shun solemnity, from owls;
Another lesson from the pie,—
Pert and pretentious, and as sly;
And to detest man's raids and mulctures,
From eagles, kites, goshawks, and vultures;
But most of all abhorrence take
From the base toad or viler snake,
With filthy venom in the bite,
Of envies, jealousies, and spite.
Thus from Dame Nature and Creation
Have I deduced my observation;
Nor found I ever thing so mean,
That gave no moral thence to glean."
Then the philosopher replied:
"Thy fame, re-echoed far and wide,
Is just and true: for books misguide,—
As full, as man himself, of pride;
But Nature, rightly studied, leads
To noble thoughts and worthy deeds."
Story DNA
Moral
True wisdom and virtue are best learned by observing nature, rather than solely through academic study or human society.
Plot Summary
A wise, contented shepherd, living remotely, is visited by a renowned philosopher who is perplexed by the source of his wisdom. The shepherd explains that he gained no knowledge from books or mankind, which he finds misleading. Instead, he learned all his virtues and vices by observing nature and animals, citing examples like the bee for industry and the snake for spite. The philosopher ultimately agrees, concluding that nature, when rightly studied, leads to noble thoughts and deeds.
Themes
Emotional Arc
perplexity to enlightenment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist, known for his fables which often satirized contemporary society and promoted moral lessons through animal allegories. This introduction sets up the premise for his collection of fables.
Plot Beats (9)
- A contented, aged shepherd lives remotely, free from worldly cares, having attained wisdom.
- A deep philosopher, puzzled by the shepherd's renowned wisdom, visits him.
- The philosopher asks if the shepherd's wisdom comes from studying classical texts or extensive travel.
- The shepherd replies that he learned nothing from books or mankind, as they often mislead.
- The shepherd explains that he draws all his knowledge from nature, which teaches him virtue and warns against vice.
- He cites the bee for industry, the ant for providence, his dog for loyalty, and the dove and hen for love.
- He further explains how fowls taught him to avoid scorn and pretentiousness, and birds of prey taught him to detest human greed.
- He concludes by stating that the toad and snake taught him to abhor envy, jealousy, and spite.
- The philosopher agrees, affirming that books can be prideful and misleading, but nature, when properly observed, inspires noble thoughts and deeds.
Characters
The Swain ★ protagonist
An elderly man of medium height and sturdy build, accustomed to outdoor life. His face is weathered with sun and age, showing a lifetime of contentment and hard work. He moves with the steady, unhurried pace of one who has spent years tending flocks.
Attire: Simple, practical shepherd's attire suitable for all seasons in a rural English setting of the 18th century. Likely wears sturdy wool trousers, a linen or wool shirt, and a practical, perhaps homespun, tunic or smock. A heavy cloak or coat for winter, and a wide-brimmed hat to shield from sun and rain. Colors would be earthy and natural.
Wants: To live a life guided by nature's lessons, free from the complexities and vices of human society, and to find peace and wisdom through simple observation.
Flaw: Perhaps a certain naivete regarding human society, having lived 'remote from cities' and believing books and mankind 'will cheat the most discerning.'
He serves as a static character, a paragon of wisdom and virtue from the outset, whose role is to impart his philosophy to the visiting philosopher.
Contented, sage, industrious, provident, true, loving, observant, humble, virtuous.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly man standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a silvered head of short, practical grey hair, a weathered and serene face with kind, observant eyes, and a tanned complexion. He wears a sturdy, homespun wool tunic in earthy brown, practical linen trousers, and worn leather boots. A wide-brimmed, dark felt hat is on his head, and he holds a simple wooden shepherd's crook in his right hand. He has a calm, contented expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Philosopher ◆ supporting
A man of scholarly appearance, likely of average height and build, perhaps slightly stooped from years of study. His demeanor suggests intellectual curiosity and a mind accustomed to deep thought.
Attire: Formal academic or gentleman's attire of the 18th century, indicating his status and profession. This would include a powdered wig (or his own hair styled similarly), a tailored frock coat (perhaps in dark wool or velvet), a waistcoat, breeches, silk stockings, and buckled shoes. His clothing would be of finer fabric and cut than the shepherd's.
Wants: To understand the source of the shepherd's renowned wisdom, having found his own scholarly pursuits insufficient for true understanding.
Flaw: His reliance on traditional book-learning and academic schools of thought, which initially blind him to the wisdom found in nature.
He begins perplexed and seeking answers from traditional sources but ends by acknowledging the superior wisdom derived from nature, thus undergoing a shift in his understanding of true knowledge.
Intellectual, curious, perplexed, open-minded, appreciative of wisdom.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult man standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a pale complexion, a thoughtful expression, and wears a powdered wig with curls framing his face. He is dressed in a dark blue wool frock coat with silver buttons, a cream silk waistcoat, dark breeches, white silk stockings, and black buckled shoes. He holds a small, leather-bound book in his left hand. He has an inquisitive and slightly perplexed expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Shepherd's Remote Dwelling
A simple, unadorned dwelling, likely a small, rustic cottage or hut, serving as the shepherd's home, remote from any city.
Mood: Contented, humble, wise, a sanctuary of simple living.
The philosopher seeks out the shepherd here to understand the source of his wisdom.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, weathered stone cottage nestled into a gentle hillside, smoke curling from its chimney. The walls are rough-hewn, with a simple wooden door and a single small window. A few hardy wildflowers grow around the base. Inside, a warm, soft glow emanates from a crackling hearth, illuminating simple, sturdy wooden furniture. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Shepherd's Pasture and Fold
Expansive fields and meadows where the shepherd tends his flock, featuring a penned area for the sheep.
Mood: Peaceful, industrious, natural, a place of observation and learning.
The shepherd spends his days here, observing nature and deriving moral lessons from the animals.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vast, rolling pasture stretches under a wide, open sky, dotted with grazing sheep. A sturdy, low wooden sheepfold stands in the middle distance, surrounded by short, well-trodden grass. In the foreground, burdock leaves and wild grasses grow along the edge of a gentle slope. The light is bright and clear, casting soft shadows across the undulating terrain. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Wider Natural Landscape
The broader natural environment surrounding the shepherd's home and pastures, encompassing diverse habitats for various animals.
Mood: Instructive, wild, untamed, a living textbook of virtue and vice.
This entire landscape serves as the shepherd's 'school,' where he learns from the behaviors of all creatures.
Image Prompt & Upload
A diverse temperate landscape featuring a dense, ancient oak forest bordering a wide, sun-drenched meadow. In the distance, gentle hills rise, crowned with scattered pine trees. A clear stream meanders through the meadow, its banks lined with reeds and smooth river stones. The sky is a soft, clear blue, with a few wispy clouds. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
