FABLE LXIV
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
Once there was a farmer. He looked at his farm. He saw many good things. The Farmer walked in his yard. It was early morning. He stopped and looked around. He saw his good crops. He thought about next year. He was a wise man. He was happy.
A tall Barley Stack stood near. It felt very proud. It spoke to the Farmer. "Sir," said the Barley Stack. "You do not treat me right. You forget about me. This is not fair. I am needed here. I do good things for you. Why do you ignore me? I feel very bad. You treat me with no respect."
The Barley Stack boasted. "I give you much joy! I help you make food. I help you make good drink. People are happy because of me. I make good things for you. I make you rich. I am very helpful. I am the best thing here. You should be proud of me. I bring you much cheer."
"But look where I am!" Stack complained. "You put that dirty Compost Pile near me. This is a big shame. I feel insulted. I feel very bad. It is not fair to me. I am clean and good. That pile is not good. It makes me look bad. This is a disgrace. You should move it far away."
"That Compost Pile is just trash. It is very dirty. It smells so bad. It is a bad sight. It is not right here. It offends my eyes. You must take it away. Move it from my sight. It is a mean thing. It gives me much offense. It should not be here."
The humble Compost Pile spoke. It was very calm. "Your master hears you," it said. "He thinks your pride is silly. Do not be so proud. Do not insult small things. I am humble and low. But I am very needed. You do not know me well. Your master hears your words. He does not like your pride."
"Do not insult me," said the Compost Pile. "I am not a bad thing. Do not insult small things. I helped you grow big. I am your helper. I am your good friend. I gave you life. I gave you strength. You grew because of me. Know this truth. I am the one who helped you."
"My warm help gave you life. My good food made you big. You were a small seed. I helped you grow strong. Without me, you would die. You would stay in the earth. You would not be here now. I made you tall and golden. I helped you come
Original Story
FABLE LXIV.
THE BARLEY-MOW AND THE DUNGHILL.
As 'cross his yard, at early day,
A careful farmer took his way,
He stopped, and leaning on his fork,
Observed the flail's incessant work.
In thought he measured all his store;
His geese, his hogs, he numbered o'er;
In fancy weighed the fleeces shorn,
And multiplied the next year's corn.
A Barley-Mow, which stood beside,
Thus to its musing master cried:
"Say, good sir, is it fit or right,
To treat me with neglect and slight?
Me, who contribute to your cheer,
And raise your mirth with ale and beer!
Why thus insulted, thus disgraced,
And that vile Dunghill near me placed?
Are those poor sweepings of a groom,
That filthy sight, that nauseous fume,
Meet objects here? Command it hence:
A thing so mean must give offence."
The humble Dunghill thus replied:
"Thy master hears, and mocks thy pride.
Insult not thus the meek and low;
In me thy benefactor know:
My warm assistance gave thee birth,
Or thou hadst perished low in earth:
But upstarts, to support their station,
Cancel at once all obligation."
Story DNA
Moral
Those who rise to prominence should not forget or disdain the humble origins and support that enabled their success.
Plot Summary
A farmer observes his farm, including a proud Barley-Mow and a humble Dunghill. The Barley-Mow complains to the farmer about the Dunghill's offensive presence, boasting of its own value in producing ale and beer. The Dunghill, overhearing, rebukes the Barley-Mow's pride, reminding it that the Dunghill's 'warm assistance' was essential for the Barley-Mow's very growth and existence. The fable concludes with a moral about 'upstarts' forgetting their benefactors.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to rebuke
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables often reflect societal values and offer moral instruction, common in pre-modern educational contexts.
Plot Beats (9)
- A careful farmer surveys his yard, contemplating his wealth and future harvest.
- A Barley-Mow, standing proudly, addresses the farmer, complaining about being treated with neglect.
- The Barley-Mow boasts of its contribution to the farmer's cheer through ale and beer.
- It expresses insult and disgrace at being placed near the 'vile Dunghill'.
- The Barley-Mow describes the Dunghill as 'poor sweepings', 'filthy', and 'nauseous', demanding its removal.
- The humble Dunghill replies, stating the master hears and mocks the Barley-Mow's pride.
- The Dunghill advises against insulting the meek and low, identifying itself as the Barley-Mow's benefactor.
- It explains that its 'warm assistance' gave the Barley-Mow birth, without which it would have perished.
- The Dunghill concludes by noting that 'upstarts' often cancel all obligation to those who helped them rise.
Characters
The Farmer
A man of average height and sturdy build, with hands calloused from labor. His face is weathered by sun and wind, showing the lines of a life spent outdoors. He moves with a practical, unhurried pace.
Attire: Practical, durable clothing suitable for farm work in a temperate climate. He wears a sturdy, earth-toned linen or wool tunic, possibly a jerkin or waistcoat over it, and simple breeches or trousers. His boots are well-worn leather, and he might have a wide-brimmed hat to protect from the sun.
Wants: To ensure the prosperity and productivity of his farm and livestock.
Flaw: Can be perceived as detached or overly focused on material gains, potentially missing the deeper value of things.
Remains consistent, serving as the silent judge of the interaction between the Barley-Mow and the Dunghill.
Careful, observant, thoughtful, practical, calculating.
The Barley-Mow
A large, neatly stacked pile of dried barley stalks, golden in color, forming a substantial, imposing structure. It stands tall and proud, reflecting the bounty of a successful harvest.
Attire: Its 'clothing' is its own structure: tightly bound, golden barley stalks, perhaps with a few stray wisps at the edges, indicating its organic nature.
Wants: To be recognized for its perceived value and to distance itself from anything it considers 'mean' or 'vile'.
Flaw: Excessive pride and a lack of humility, which blinds it to its own origins and dependencies.
Remains unchanged in its pride, though its arrogance is challenged by the Dunghill's wisdom.
Proud, arrogant, disdainful, ungrateful, self-important.
The Dunghill
A humble, earthy mound of organic matter, dark and rich, with a subtle steam rising from it. It is not visually appealing but has a quiet, substantial presence.
Attire: Its 'clothing' is its own composition: dark, rich, decomposing organic matter, perhaps with a few stray bits of straw or leaves embedded within.
Wants: To provide nourishment and support for growth, and to teach humility.
Flaw: Often overlooked or disdained due to its appearance and smell.
Remains consistent in its wisdom, serving as the voice of reason and humility.
Humble, wise, patient, benevolent, resilient.
Locations
Farmer's Yard
A working farmyard at dawn, with a farmer observing his stores and the flail's work. It contains a large barley-mow and a dunghill in close proximity.
Mood: Busy, practical, slightly damp with morning dew, with an underlying tension between the two objects.
The farmer surveys his property, and the Barley-Mow complains about the Dunghill's proximity, leading to their philosophical debate.