KNAVE and FOOL
by Juliana Horatia Ewing · from Old-Fashioned Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Once there was a kind Fool. He met a clever Knave. The Fool was a good man. The Knave was not so good. They lived in one house. The Fool had money. The Knave had money too. The Knave said, "Use your money first." The Fool said, "Yes."
They lived well. The Fool's money went away. Then the Knave said, "Oh no! My money is gone!" He showed an empty bag. "A thief took it." The Fool was sad. He said, "No money now." "We must find work." The Knave smiled.
They walked and walked. They saw A Man. A Man had a big box. His wagon broke. He said, "Carry this box up the hill. I give you gold." The Fool and The Knave said, "Yes!" The Knave said, "You are strong, Fool." You carry the heavy end. The Fool carried the heavy end. It was hard. They got two gold coins. Each man got one coin.
They found another man. Another Man broke stones. He had porridge to eat. He said, "Break stones. Eat porridge." The Knave said, "I eat first. Then you eat." The Knave ate much porridge. The Fool ate little porridge. Then they broke stones. The Knave worked little. The Fool worked much. The Knave took the pot. He took the spoon. He hid them.
Next, they scared birds. The Fool shouted. He clapped his hands. The Knave slept. The Fool worked hard. The Knave did not work. They chose new work. They would watch sheep.
They watched the sheep. The Knave slept again. The sheep walked away. They went far. A dog found the sheep. The dog brought them back. The Fool came back. The Knave said, "I found them!" The Fool believed him.
They had no money. They decided to beg. The Knave said, "You go to the front door." "I go to the back door." The Fool asked for food. People gave him little. The Knave took food. The Fool felt sad.
The Fool said, "Let us change places." The Knave said, "Yes." The Fool went to the back door. A Woman said, "Go away!" She was angry. The Knave went to the front. He took food. He took bread. He ran away.
The Knave took a goose. He took some fruit. He saw A Farmer come. The Farmer was angry. The Knave ran to the Fool. He gave the goose to him. He gave the fruit to him. He said, "This is for you!" Then the Knave ran away fast. The Fool was alone.
A Farmer came. He saw the goose. He saw the fruit. He saw the Fool. A Farmer was very angry. He took the Fool away. A Woman came too. She saw the Fool. She said, "He was at my door!" The Fool had to sit. He sat in a special place. Everyone could see him. He felt very sad.
The Knave came back. He saw the Fool. He said, "Oh no! I help you, friend." "Give me your coat. Give me your hat." "Give me your boots. I will sell them." "I will get money for you." The Fool gave them. He thought the Knave would help.
The Knave took the clothes. He went away fast. He did not come back. The Fool was alone. He was sad. He had no clothes. He had no friend. He learned a hard lesson. It is best to choose kind friends.
Original Story
KNAVE AND FOOL.
A Fool and a Knave once set up house together; which shows what a fool the Fool was.
The Knave was delighted with the agreement; and the Fool thought himself most fortunate to have met with a companion who would supply his lack of mother-wit.
As neither of them liked work, the Knave proposed that they should live upon their joint savings as long as these should last; and, to avoid disputes, that they should use the Fool's share till it came to an end, and then begin upon the Knave's stocking.
So, for a short time, they lived in great comfort at the Fool's expense, and were very good company; for easy times make easy tempers.
Just when the store was exhausted, the Knave came running to the Fool with an empty bag and a wry face, crying, "Dear friend, what shall we do? This bag, which I had safely buried under a gooseberry-bush, has been taken up by some thief, and all my money stolen. My savings were twice as large as yours; but now that they are gone, and I can no longer perform my share of the bargain, I fear our partnership must be dissolved."
"Not so, dear friend," said the Fool, who was very good-natured; "we have shared good luck together, and now we will share poverty. But as nothing is left, I fear we must seek work."
"You speak very wisely," said the Knave, "And what, for instance, can you do?"
"Very little," said the Fool; "but that little I do well."
"So do I," said the Knave. "Now can you plough, or sow, or feed cattle, or plant crops?"
"Farming is not my business," said the Fool.
"Nor mine," said the Knave; "but no doubt you are a handicraftsman. Are you clever at carpentry, mason's work, tailoring, or shoemaking?"
"I do not doubt that I should have been had I learned the trades," said the Fool, "but I never was bound apprentice."
"It is the same with myself," said the Knave; "but you may have finer talents. Can you paint, or play the fiddle?"
"I never tried," said the Fool; "so I don't know."
"Just my case," said the Knave. "And now, since we can't find work, I propose that we travel till work finds us."
The two comrades accordingly set forth, and they went on and on, till they came to the foot of a hill, where a merchantman was standing by his wagon, which had broken down.
"You seem two strong men," said he, as they advanced; "if you will carry this chest of valuables up to the top of the hill, and down to the bottom on the other side, where there is an inn, I will give you two gold pieces for your trouble."
The Knave and the Fool consented to this, saying, "Work has found us at last;" and they lifted the box on to their shoulders.
"Turn, and turn about," said the Knave; "but the best turn between friends is a good turn; so I will lead the way up-hill, which is the hardest kind of travelling, and you shall go first down-hill, the easy half of our journey."
The Fool thought this proposal a very generous one, and, not knowing that the lower end of their burden was the heavy one, he carried it all the way. When they got to the inn, the merchant gave each of them a gold piece, and, as the accommodation was good, they remained where they were till their money was spent. After this, they lived there awhile on credit; and when that was exhausted, they rose one morning whilst the landlord was still in bed, and pursued their journey, leaving old scores behind them.
They had been a long time without work or food, when they came upon a man who sat by the roadside breaking stones, with a quart of porridge and a spoon in a tin pot beside him.
"You look hungry, friends," said he, "and I, for my part, want to get away. If you will break up this heap, you shall have the porridge for supper. But when you have eaten it, put the pot and spoon under the hedge, that I may find them when I return."
"If we eat first, we shall have strength for our work," said the Knave; "and as there is only one spoon, we must eat by turns. But fairly divide, friendly abide. As you went first the latter part of our journey, I will begin on this occasion. When I stop, you fall to, and eat as many spoonfuls as I ate. Then I will follow you in like fashion, and so on till the pot is empty."
"Nothing could be fairer," said the Fool; and the Knave began to eat, and went on till he had eaten a third of the porridge. The Fool, who had counted every spoonful, now took his turn, and ate precisely as much as his comrade. The Knave then began again, and was exact to a mouthful; but it emptied the pot. Thus the Knave had twice as much as the Fool, who could not see where he had been cheated.
They then set to work.
"As there is only one hammer," said the Knave, "we must work, as we supped, by turns; and as I began last time, you shall begin this. After you have worked awhile, I will take the hammer from you, and do as much myself whilst you rest. Then you shall take it up again, and so on till the heap is finished."
"It is not every one who is as just as you," said the Fool; and taking up the hammer, he set to work with a will.
The Knave took care to let him go on till he had broken a third of the stones, and then he did as good a share himself; after which the Fool began again, and finished the heap.
By this means the Fool did twice as much work as the Knave, and yet he could not complain.
As they moved on again, the Fool perceived that the Knave was taking the can and the spoon with him.
"I am sorry to see you do that, friend," said he.
"It's a very small theft," said the Knave. "The can cannot have cost more than sixpence when new."
"That was not what I meant," said the Fool, "so much as that I fear the owner will find it out."
"He will only think the things have been stolen by some vagrant," said the Knave—"which, indeed, they would be if we left them. But as you seem to have a tender conscience, I will keep them myself."
After a while they met with a farmer, who offered to give them supper and a night's lodging, if they would scare the birds from a field of corn for him till sunset.
"I will go into the outlying fields," said the Knave, "and as I see the birds coming, I will turn them back. You, dear friend, remain in the corn, and scare away the few that may escape me."
But whilst the Fool clapped and shouted till he was tired, the Knave went to the other side of the hedge, and lay down for a nap.
As they sat together at supper, the Fool said, "Dear friend, this is laborious work. I propose that we ask the farmer to let us tend sheep, instead. That is a very different affair. One lies on the hillside all day. The birds do not steal sheep; and all this shouting and clapping is saved."
The Knave very willingly agreed, and next morning the two friends drove a flock of sheep on to the downs. The sheep at once began to nibble, the dog sat with his tongue out, panting, and the Knave and Fool lay down on their backs, and covered their faces with their hats to shield them from the sun.
Thus they lay till evening, when, the sun being down, they uncovered their faces, and found that the sheep had all strayed away, and the dog after them.
"The only plan for us is to go separate ways in search of the flock," said the Knave; "only let us agree to meet here again." They accordingly started in opposite directions; but when the Fool was fairly off, the Knave returned to his place, and lay down as before.
By and by the dog brought the sheep back; so that, when the Fool returned, the Knave got the credit of having found them; for the dog scorned to explain his part in the matter.
As they sat together at supper, the Fool said, "The work is not so easy as I thought. Could we not find a better trade yet?"
"Can you beg?" said the Knave. "A beggar's trade is both easy and profitable. Nothing is required but walking and talking. Then one walks at his own pace, for there is no hurry, and no master, and the same tale does for every door. And, that all may be fair and equal, you shall beg at the front door, whilst I ask an alms at the back."
To this the Fool gladly agreed; and as he was as lean as a hunted cat, charitable people gave him a penny or two from time to time. Meanwhile, the Knave went round to the back yard, where he picked up a fowl, or turkey, or anything that he could lay his hands upon.
When he returned to the Fool, he would say, "See what has been given to me, whilst you have only got a few pence."
At last this made the Fool discontented, and he said, "I should like now to exchange with you. I will go to the back doors, and you to the front."
The Knave consented, and at the next house the Fool went to the back door; but the mistress of the farm only rated him, and sent him away. Meanwhile, the Knave, from the front, had watched her leave the parlour, and slipping in through the window, he took a ham and a couple of new loaves from the table, and so made off.
When the friends met, the Fool was crestfallen at his ill luck, and the Knave complained that all the burden of their support fell upon him. "See," said he, "what they give me, where you get only a mouthful of abuse!" And he dined heartily on what he had stolen; but the Fool only had bits of the breadcrust, and the parings of the ham.
At the next place the Fool went to the front door as before, and the Knave secured a fat goose and some plums in the back yard, which he popped under his cloak. The Fool came away with empty hands, and the Knave scolded him, saying, "Do you suppose that I mean to share this fat goose with a lazy beggar like you? Go on, and find for yourself." With which he sat down and began to eat the plums, whilst the Fool walked on alone.
After a while, however, the Knave saw a stir in the direction of the farm they had left, and he quickly perceived that the loss of the goose was known, and that the farmer and his men were in pursuit of the thief. So, hastily picking up the goose, he overtook the Fool, and pressed it into his arms, saying, "Dear friend, pardon a passing ill humour, of which I sincerely repent. Are we not partners in good luck and ill? I was wrong, dear friend; and, in token of my penitence, the goose shall be yours alone. And here are a few plums with which you may refresh yourself by the wayside. As for me, I will hasten on to the next farm, and see if I can beg a bottle of wine to wash down the dinner, and drink to our good-fellowship." And before the Fool could thank him, the Knave was off like the wind.
By and by the farmer and his men came up, and found the Fool eating the plums, with the goose on the grass beside him.
They hurried him off to the justice, where his own story met with no credit. The woman of the next farm came up also, and recognized him for the man who had begged at her door the day she lost a ham and two new loaves. In vain he said that these things also had been given to his friend. The friend never appeared; and the poor Fool was whipped and put in the stocks.
Towards evening the Knave hurried up to the village green, where his friend sat doing penance for the theft.
"My dear friend," said he, "what do I see? Is such cruelty possible? But I hear that the justice is not above a bribe, and we must at any cost obtain your release. I am going at once to pawn my own boots and cloak, and everything about me that I can spare, and if you have anything to add, this is no time to hesitate."
The poor Fool begged his friend to draw off his boots, and to take his hat and coat as well, and to make all speed on his charitable errand.
The Knave, took all that he could get, and, leaving his friend sitting in the stocks in his shirt-sleeves, he disappeared as swiftly as one could wish a man to carry a reprieve.
For those good folks to whom everything must be explained in full, it may be added that the Knave did not come back, and that he kept the clothes.
It was very hard on the Fool; but what can one expect if he keeps company with a Knave?
Story DNA
Moral
Associating with a dishonest person will inevitably lead to one's own downfall and suffering.
Plot Summary
A naive Fool and a cunning Knave become housemates, with the Knave immediately exploiting the Fool's good nature and resources. Through a series of elaborate deceptions, the Knave consistently tricks the Fool into doing more work, receiving less reward, and taking the blame for the Knave's thefts. Eventually, the Knave frames the Fool for stealing a goose, leading to the Fool's public punishment in the stocks. The Knave then returns, feigns sympathy, and convinces the Fool to give him his remaining clothes to 'pawn for a bribe,' only to abandon the Fool, leaving him to suffer the full consequences of their ill-fated partnership.
Themes
Emotional Arc
innocence to suffering
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects common punishments and social structures of pre-industrial Europe, where public humiliation and physical punishment were common for petty crimes, and vagrancy was a significant social issue.
Plot Beats (13)
- A Fool and a Knave agree to live together, with the Knave planning to use the Fool's money first.
- The Knave fakes the theft of his own savings, forcing them to live off the Fool's money and then seek work.
- They find work carrying a merchant's chest; the Knave tricks the Fool into carrying the heavier end uphill, but they split the payment equally.
- They run out of money and leave an inn without paying.
- They find a stone-breaker's job; the Knave tricks the Fool into eating less porridge and doing more work, then steals the pot and spoon.
- They take a job scaring birds; the Knave naps while the Fool works, then they agree to tend sheep.
- While tending sheep, the Knave naps again, and the sheep stray; the dog brings them back, but the Knave takes credit.
- They decide to beg; the Knave steals from back doors while the Fool honestly begs at front doors, making the Fool discontent.
- They switch roles; the Fool is scolded at the back door, while the Knave steals a ham and loaves from the front.
- The Knave steals a goose and plums, then, seeing pursuit, frames the Fool by giving him the stolen goods and fleeing.
- The Fool is caught with the stolen goose and plums, identified as a repeat offender, and sentenced to be whipped and put in the stocks.
- The Knave returns to the stocks, pretends sympathy, and convinces the Fool to give him his boots, hat, and coat to pawn for a bribe.
- The Knave takes the Fool's clothes and abandons him, leaving the Fool to his fate.
Characters
The Fool ★ protagonist
A man of average height and slender build, becoming increasingly lean and gaunt throughout the story due to lack of proper nourishment. His movements are earnest but often clumsy, reflecting his simple nature.
Attire: Initially, simple but decent peasant clothing, likely a coarse linen shirt, woolen breeches, and a plain jerkin in muted earth tones. As the story progresses, his clothes become worn, patched, and eventually he is stripped down to his shirt-sleeves in the stocks. He wears sturdy, well-worn boots and a simple hat.
Wants: To live comfortably and maintain his friendship/partnership, to be a good companion, and to contribute fairly.
Flaw: Extreme gullibility and a complete lack of suspicion or 'mother-wit', making him easily exploited.
He begins as a comfortable but naive man, is progressively exploited and impoverished by his 'friend', and ultimately suffers public humiliation and loss, learning a harsh lesson about choosing companions.
Good-natured, trusting, naive, hardworking, easily manipulated.
Image Prompt & Upload
A lean adult man of average height, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a round, open face with wide, trusting blue eyes and fair skin. His light brown hair is disheveled. He wears a patched, coarse linen shirt, worn woolen breeches, and a plain, faded jerkin. His sturdy brown boots are scuffed. He holds a simple, well-worn hat in his hands, looking slightly bewildered. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Knave ⚔ antagonist
A man of average height and build, appearing well-fed and comfortable throughout the story, contrasting with the Fool's increasing leanness. His movements are quick, sly, and efficient, betraying his cunning nature.
Attire: Initially, decent, if not overtly rich, clothing that suggests he has some means, perhaps a dark wool coat, a waistcoat, and well-fitting breeches. He maintains a presentable appearance, even when pawning items, to facilitate his deceptions. He wears sturdy boots and a cloak.
Wants: To live a life of ease and comfort without working, by exploiting others, particularly the Fool.
Flaw: His insatiable greed and complete lack of conscience, which ultimately leads him to abandon his 'friend' to suffer for his crimes.
He remains consistently deceitful and self-serving throughout the story, never changing, and successfully escapes all consequences of his actions, reinforcing his nature.
Cunning, deceitful, lazy, selfish, manipulative, quick-witted.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult man of average height and build, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a sharp, intelligent face with narrow, calculating dark eyes and fair skin. His dark hair is neatly combed. He wears a dark wool coat over a waistcoat, well-fitting dark breeches, and polished sturdy boots. A dark cloak is draped over one shoulder. He has a sly, self-satisfied smirk. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Merchantman ○ minor
A robust man, likely of middle age, with a practical and business-like demeanor. He appears strong enough to handle goods but prefers to hire help for heavy lifting.
Attire: Practical, sturdy traveling clothes suitable for a merchant, such as a thick wool tunic or coat, strong breeches, and stout leather boots. He might wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect from the sun.
Wants: To transport his goods efficiently and safely, and to conduct his business.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, but perhaps a slight overestimation of others' honesty.
A static character who serves to provide a temporary opportunity for the protagonists.
Practical, business-minded, fair (within his own terms), observant.
Image Prompt & Upload
A robust adult man of middle age, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a weathered face with a neatly trimmed dark beard and shrewd, dark eyes. He wears a thick, dark wool tunic, sturdy brown leather breeches, and stout leather boots. A wide-brimmed felt hat sits on his head. He gestures towards a large wooden chest. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Stone Breaker ○ minor
A working-class man, likely strong and calloused from manual labor. His clothes are simple and functional, showing signs of wear and tear.
Attire: Coarse linen shirt, sturdy trousers, and possibly a leather apron for protection. His clothes are practical and well-worn, in muted, earthy tones.
Wants: To complete his work and get away, offering a fair exchange for labor.
Flaw: His trust in strangers, which leads to the theft of his pot and spoon.
A static character who provides a temporary opportunity and is a victim of the Knave's petty theft.
Generous, trusting, hardworking, practical.
Image Prompt & Upload
A strong adult man with a sun-darkened, stubbled face, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has rough, calloused hands. He wears a coarse linen shirt, sturdy brown trousers, and a practical leather apron. He holds a heavy stone-breaking hammer in one hand, and a tin pot with a spoon sits on the ground beside him. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Farmer ○ minor
A sturdy, practical man, likely with a robust build from working the land. His appearance is honest and hardworking.
Attire: Practical, durable farm clothing: a homespun linen shirt, sturdy woolen breeches, and a practical waistcoat. He wears heavy, mud-splattered boots and a simple felt hat.
Wants: To protect his crops and livestock, and to maintain order on his farm.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, but perhaps a trust in the appearance of diligence.
A static character who serves as a victim of the Knave's theft and an agent of justice for the Fool.
Practical, observant, fair (in his own dealings), diligent, quick to anger when wronged.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy adult man with a sun-tanned face and a short, practical brown beard, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has observant, dark eyes. He wears a homespun linen shirt, sturdy woolen breeches, a practical brown waistcoat, and heavy, mud-splattered leather boots. A simple felt hat is on his head. He has a determined expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Mistress of the Farm ○ minor
A practical, no-nonsense woman, likely of sturdy build, accustomed to managing a household and farm. Her appearance is neat and efficient.
Attire: Practical, clean farm wife's attire: a long, durable linen or wool dress, a sturdy apron, and a cap covering her hair. Her clothes are functional and well-maintained.
Wants: To manage her household and protect her property from beggars and thieves.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, but her focus on the front door allows the Knave to exploit the back.
A static character who serves to highlight the Knave's cunning and the Fool's misfortune.
Stern, practical, discerning, protective of her property, quick to scold.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy adult woman with a firm, sensible face and a stern expression, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. Her brown hair is neatly pulled back and covered by a white linen cap. She wears a long, durable grey linen dress and a large, clean white apron tied at the waist. Her hands are on her hips. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Shared House
A simple, likely rustic dwelling where the Knave and Fool initially lived together, sustained by the Fool's savings. Implied to be a modest, comfortable space before their funds ran out.
Mood: Initially comfortable and easy-going, later becoming strained as resources dwindled.
The initial period of their partnership, where the Knave deceives the Fool about his savings.
Image Prompt & Upload
A cozy, small German half-timbered cottage interior, with a rough-hewn wooden table and two simple chairs. A small, unlit stone hearth is visible in the background. Soft, diffused daylight filters through a small, leaded-pane window, illuminating dust motes in the air. The floor is made of wide, worn wooden planks. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Foot of a Hill with Broken Wagon
The base of a significant hill where a merchant's wagon has broken down. The path is likely unpaved and uneven, leading up a slope.
Mood: Opportunity, a brief respite from their hunger.
The Knave and Fool find their first 'work' carrying a merchant's chest.
Image Prompt & Upload
A winding, rutted dirt track at the base of a moderately steep, grassy hill, dotted with scattered boulders and hardy scrub bushes. A sturdy, but broken-down wooden merchant's wagon with a snapped wheel lies askew on the path. The sky is a clear, bright blue with a few wispy clouds, and the sun casts strong, directional light, creating distinct shadows. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Roadside with Stone Breaker
A desolate stretch of road where a man is breaking stones, with a pile of raw stones and a tin pot of porridge nearby. Implies a rural, unkempt area.
Mood: Hardship, hunger, and the Knave's continued deception.
The Knave tricks the Fool into doing most of the work and eating less porridge.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dusty, unpaved country road stretching into the distance, flanked by overgrown hedgerows and wild grasses. A large, irregular pile of grey, rough-hewn stones sits beside the road, with a heavy, well-worn stone-breaking hammer resting on top. A dented tin pot and a simple spoon are placed on the ground near the hedge. The sun is low in the sky, casting long, warm shadows across the scene. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Village Green with Stocks
A central open grassy area in a village, featuring a set of wooden stocks. Surrounded by typical village buildings, possibly a church or inn.
Mood: Public humiliation, injustice, and the final abandonment of the Fool.
The Fool is publicly punished for the Knave's thefts, and then stripped of his remaining clothes.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, well-trodden village green, with patches of short, worn grass. In the center stands a sturdy, weathered wooden stocks, with the leg and arm holes clearly visible. In the background, quaint German Fachwerk houses with steep, tiled roofs and small, multi-paned windows line the edge of the green. The sky is a soft, twilight blue, and the last rays of the setting sun cast a gentle, melancholic glow over the scene. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
