FABLE CII
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
Little Mouse is small. He lives with his mother. One day, he goes outside. It is his first time. The world is new. He sees many new things. He feels happy. He wants to explore. He walks a little way. He sees a big field. The sun is warm. He feels brave. He looks around.
Then Little Mouse sees a big thing. It is very loud. He feels scared. He runs very fast. He runs to his mother. He is safe now. He breathes fast. His heart beats fast. He hides behind her. He is very scared. He shakes a little.
"Oh, Mother!" Little Mouse says. "I saw a big monster! It has two legs. It has red parts on its head. It has red parts under its neck. It flaps its arms. It makes a loud noise. It looks very angry. It opens its mouth wide. I think it wants to eat me. I ran away fast. It was so big. It was so scary."
"But I saw one more thing," Little Mouse says. "It was very pretty. It has soft fur. Its fur is grey and black. It has a long tail. It looks very kind. It looks at me. I want to play with it. It looks so nice. I want to be its friend."
Mother Mouse smiles. "My dear child," she says. "That big monster was a bird. It is called The Big Bird. It will not hurt you. It is not harmful. It just makes noise. It does not eat mice. You were safe from it. It is a farm bird."
"But the pretty one," Mother Mouse says. "That was The Pretty Cat. The Pretty Cat looks nice. But it is not nice. It eats mice. It wants to catch us. It is very harmful. It looks kind. But it is not kind. It hides its true self. It is a big danger. You must stay away."
"So, Little Mouse," Mother Mouse says. "Learn this lesson. Do not trust only what you see. Things are not always what they seem. Look with care. Think about it. This is very big. Always know this. It keeps you safe."
Original Story
FABLE CII.
THE CAT, THE COCK, AND THE YOUNG MOUSE.
A Young Mouse, that had seen very little of the world, came running, one day, to his mother in great haste:—"Oh, mother!" said he, "I am frightened almost to death! I have seen the most extraordinary creature that ever was. He has a fierce, angry look, and struts about on two legs; a strange piece of flesh grows on his head, and another under his throat, as red as blood: he flapped his arms against his sides, as if he intended to rise into the air; and stretching out his head, he opened a sharp-pointed mouth so wide, that I thought he was preparing to swallow me up: then he roared at me so horribly, that I trembled in every joint, and was glad to run home as fast as I could. If I had not been frightened away by this terrible monster, I was just going to commence an acquaintance with the prettiest creature you ever saw. She had a soft fur skin, thicker than ours, and all beautifully streaked with black and grey; with a modest look, and a demeanour so humble and courteous, that methought I could have fallen in love with her. Then she had a fine, long tail, which she waved about so prettily, and looked so earnestly at me, that I do believe she was just going to speak to me, when the horrid monster frightened me away."
"Ah, my dear child!" said the mother, "you have escaped being devoured, but not by that monster you were so much afraid of; which, in truth, was only a bird, and would have done you no manner of harm. Whereas, the sweet creature, of whom you seem so fond, was no other than a Cat; who, under that hypocritical countenance, conceals the most inveterate hatred to all our race, and subsists entirely by devouring Mice. Learn from this incident, my dear, never, while you live, to rely on outward appearances."
MORAL.
Beneath a fair, alluring guise,
A hidden danger often lies.
Story DNA
Moral
Never rely on outward appearances, as hidden dangers often lie beneath an alluring guise.
Plot Summary
A young, inexperienced mouse returns home terrified after seeing a loud, aggressive creature (a cock), but also captivated by a seemingly gentle and beautiful one (a cat). The mouse describes its encounters to its mother, expressing fear of the cock and a desire to befriend the cat. The wise mother then reveals that the 'monster' was harmless, while the 'pretty' creature was a deadly predator, teaching her son a crucial lesson about the deceptive nature of outward appearances.
Themes
Emotional Arc
fear to understanding
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables like this were common moral instruction tools, often attributed to Aesop or similar traditions, emphasizing practical wisdom for daily life.
Plot Beats (7)
- A young, inexperienced mouse ventures out and sees two new creatures.
- The young mouse rushes home to its mother, terrified by one creature.
- The mouse describes the first creature as a fierce, angry, two-legged monster with red flesh on its head and throat, flapping its arms and roaring (a cock).
- The mouse then describes a second creature as pretty, soft-furred, modest, and humble, with a long tail, which it wished to befriend (a cat).
- The mother mouse explains that the 'monster' was just a harmless bird.
- The mother mouse reveals that the 'pretty' creature was a cat, an enemy that devours mice, concealing hatred under a hypocritical appearance.
- The mother concludes by teaching her son never to rely on outward appearances.
Characters
Young Mouse
Small, typical mouse size and build. Agile and quick, as evidenced by his hasty retreat.
Attire: None, as an animal.
Wants: To explore the world, to understand new creatures, and to find companionship.
Flaw: Naivety and inability to discern true danger, relying solely on outward appearances.
Learns a crucial lesson about not judging by outward appearances, though the lesson is delivered by his mother rather than self-discovery.
Naive, easily frightened, impressionable, curious, quick to judge based on superficial appearance.
Mother Mouse
Typical mouse size and build, likely slightly larger than her son. Appears calm and wise.
Attire: None, as an animal.
Wants: To educate and protect her son, to impart crucial life lessons.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, but her wisdom comes from past experiences, implying potential past dangers.
Remains a steady source of wisdom, her character does not change but serves as a guide.
Wise, experienced, protective, didactic, calm, discerning.
The Cock
Large bird, standing on two legs. Has a 'strange piece of flesh' (comb) on his head and another (wattle) under his throat, both 'as red as blood'. Flaps his 'arms' (wings) against his sides. Has a 'sharp-pointed mouth' (beak).
Attire: Covered in feathers, likely vibrant and iridescent, typical of a rooster.
Wants: To assert his presence, to crow, to move about his territory.
Flaw: None relevant to the story, as he poses no actual threat.
Does not change; serves as a visual foil and a source of misinterpretation for the Young Mouse.
Loud, imposing, territorial, perhaps aggressive in appearance but harmless to mice.
The Cat
Soft fur skin, thicker than a mouse's, beautifully streaked with black and grey. Has a fine, long tail.
Attire: Covered in fur.
Wants: To hunt and devour mice for subsistence.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, her deception is her strength.
Does not change; serves as the hidden danger and the object of the story's moral.
Hypocritical, cunning, predatory, patient, deceptive, inveterately hateful towards mice.
Locations
The Farmyard Exterior
A bustling, open farmyard area, likely with scattered straw, dirt paths, and various farm animals. The young mouse encounters the rooster and cat here.
Mood: initially curious and lively, then terrifying for the young mouse
The young mouse's first encounter with the rooster and the cat, leading to his misinterpretation of danger.
The Mouse's Burrow/Home
A small, cozy, and safe underground burrow, likely with soft bedding and a sense of security, where the young mouse recounts his adventure to his mother.
Mood: safe, comforting, intimate
The young mouse seeks refuge and shares his frightening experience, receiving a life lesson from his mother.