FABLE LXIX
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
One day, in the big forest, a Lion walked. A Bear walked too. They saw something on the ground. It was a small Fawn. The Fawn did not move. It was good food. The Lion wanted the Fawn. The Bear wanted the Fawn. They both wanted it very much.
The Lion growled loudly. He was very angry. The Bear roared loudly. He was very angry too. "This Fawn is mine!" said the Lion. "No, it is mine!" said the Bear. They stood close to the Fawn. They did not share the food. No, they did not share.
They started to fight for the Fawn. The Lion pushed the Bear. The Bear pushed the Lion. They growled and roared loudly. They fought very hard. They hit each other. They wanted the Fawn. Nobody would give up. The fight went on and on. It was a long fight.
The Lion fought. The Bear fought. They fought for a long, long time. They became very, very tired. Their bodies hurt. They could not stand up. They lay on the ground. They could not move. They breathed very hard. Their tongues hung out.
A clever Fox walked by. He saw the Lion. He saw the Bear. They lay still on the ground. The Fox saw the Fawn. It was good food. He watched them quietly. He thought, "This is good for me."
The Fox walked to the Fawn. He was very quick. He took the Fawn in his mouth. He did not ask the Lion. He did not ask the Bear. He did not wait for them. He ran away fast with the Fawn. The Fawn was his now. He was very happy.
The Lion watched the Fox go. The Bear watched the Fox go. They were very sad. They fought for nothing. They were too tired. They could not stop the Fox. They lost the Fawn. They had no food. They fought and fought. But they got nothing. The clever Fox took the food. It is not good to fight over things.
Original Story
FABLE LXIX.
THE LION, THE BEAR, AND THE FOX.
A Lion and a Bear quarrelling over the carcase of a Fawn, which they found in the forest, their title to him had to be decided by force of arms. The battle was severe and tough on both sides, and they fought it out, tearing and worrying one another so long, that, what with wounds and fatigue, they were so faint and weary, that they were not able to strike another stroke. Thus, while they lay upon the ground, panting and lolling out their tongues, a Fox chanced to pass by that way, who, perceiving how the case stood, very impudently stepped in between them, seized the booty which they had all this while been contending for, and carried it off. The two combatants, who lay and beheld all this, without having strength to stir and prevent it, were only wise enough to make this reflection:—"Behold the fruits of our strife and contention! That villain, the Fox, bears away the prize, and we ourselves have deprived each other of the power to recover it from him."
MORAL.
When fools quarrel, knaves get the prize of contention.
Story DNA
Moral
When fools quarrel, knaves get the prize of contention.
Plot Summary
A Lion and a Bear find a Fawn carcass and fiercely quarrel over it, escalating into a brutal fight. They battle until both are too wounded and exhausted to move. A passing Fox observes their incapacitated state, seizes the Fawn, and escapes with it. The two combatants, unable to prevent the theft, are left to reflect on how their senseless strife led to a cunning third party claiming their prize.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to humility
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables often served as moral instruction, particularly in pre-literate societies or for children.
Plot Beats (7)
- A Lion and a Bear find a Fawn carcass in the forest.
- They immediately begin to quarrel over ownership of the Fawn.
- Their dispute escalates into a violent and prolonged battle.
- Both animals fight until they are severely wounded, exhausted, and unable to move.
- A Fox happens upon the scene, observing the incapacitated combatants.
- The Fox impudently steps in, seizes the Fawn, and carries it away.
- The Lion and Bear, lying helpless, realize the futility of their conflict as the Fox escapes with their prize.
Characters
The Lion
A large, powerful male lion with a muscular build, tawny-gold fur, and impressive size, showing signs of recent battle with numerous scratches and some blood matted into his fur. He is currently weak and panting from exertion.
Attire: None (animal)
Wants: To claim the fawn's carcass as his own and assert dominance.
Flaw: Overconfidence, pride, and an inability to compromise, leading to self-destructive conflict.
Starts as a dominant fighter, ends as a defeated and reflective observer, learning a lesson about the futility of excessive strife.
Aggressive, proud, territorial, strong-willed, but ultimately foolish in his stubbornness.
The Bear
A large, shaggy brown bear with powerful limbs and a stocky build, also showing significant wounds and fatigue from a brutal fight. His fur is matted with dirt and some blood.
Attire: None (animal)
Wants: To claim the fawn's carcass as his own and defend his perceived right.
Flaw: Stubbornness, a refusal to yield, and an inability to see the bigger picture beyond immediate conflict.
Starts as a fierce combatant, ends as a defeated and reflective observer, realizing the cost of his actions.
Aggressive, stubborn, territorial, strong, but ultimately foolish in his relentless contention.
The Fox
A sleek, agile fox with reddish-brown fur, a bushy tail, and a lean build. He appears cunning and observant, with no signs of injury.
Attire: None (animal)
Wants: To exploit the weakness of others for his own gain; to acquire the fawn's carcass without effort.
Flaw: Greed and a lack of empathy, though these are presented as strengths in the context of the fable's moral.
Remains unchanged, serving as the embodiment of the 'knave' who profits from others' folly.
Cunning, opportunistic, intelligent, impudent, and self-serving.
The Fawn Carcass
The lifeless body of a young deer, small and delicate, with soft brown fur, now torn and mangled from the fight between the lion and the bear. It is the object of contention.
Attire: None (animal)
Wants: None (inanimate object)
Flaw: None (inanimate object)
Remains an object, its fate determined by the actions of others.
None (inanimate object)
Locations
Forest Clearing
A natural clearing within a dense, ancient forest, likely in a temperate region, where the ground is covered with fallen leaves and sparse undergrowth. The air is still and carries the scent of damp earth and pine.
Mood: Initially tense and aggressive, later desolate and weary.
The Lion and the Bear discover the fawn, engage in a fierce battle, and ultimately collapse from exhaustion, allowing the Fox to steal their prize.