FABLE LXXXI
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, there was a woodman. He worked hard by the river.
The Honest Woodman cut a big tree. He worked by the river. His hatchet slipped. It fell into the water. The hatchet sank down.
The Honest Woodman was very sad. He lost his hatchet. He sat on the ground. He felt very sad. He cried.
A kind River Spirit came. He saw the woodman. The woodman told him. "My hatchet is gone." The Spirit went into the water.
The River Spirit came up. He held a gold hatchet. "Is this your hatchet?" he asked. The Honest Woodman said, "No. That is not mine."
The River Spirit went down again. He came up with a silver hatchet. "Is this your hatchet?" he asked. The Honest Woodman said, "No. That is not mine."
The River Spirit went down again. He came up with the old hatchet. "Yes! That is my hatchet!" he said. The Honest Woodman was very happy. He thanked the Spirit.
The River Spirit was happy. The woodman was honest. The Spirit gave him the gold hatchet. He gave him the silver hatchet. He gave him his own hatchet too.
The Honest Woodman told his friends. He told them his story. One friend heard the story. He was a greedy man. He went to the river. He dropped his hatchet.
The Greedy Man sat down. He pretended to cry. He wanted a gold hatchet. He wanted a silver hatchet. He was not truly sad.
The River Spirit came again. He saw the Greedy Man. The Spirit went into the water. He came up with a gold hatchet. "Is this your hatchet?" he asked.
The Greedy Man saw the gold. He said, "Yes! It is mine!" But it was not his hatchet. He wanted the gold.
The River Spirit was not happy. The Greedy Man was not honest. The Spirit did not give him the gold. He did not give him his own hatchet. The Greedy Man had no hatchet.
The greedy man had no hatchet. He learned a hard lesson. The honest woodman was happy. He had his hatchet and more! This story teaches us: Always be honest. Honesty makes good things happen. Greed makes bad things happen.
Original Story
FABLE LXXXI.
MERCURY AND THE WOODMAN.
A Man was felling a tree on the bank of a river, and by chance let his hatchet slip out of his hand, which dropped into the water, and immediately sunk to the bottom. Being, therefore, in great distress from the loss of his tool, he sat down and bemoaned himself most lamentably.
Upon this, Mercury appeared to him, and being informed of the cause of his complaint, dived to the bottom of the river, and, coming up again, showed the man a golden hatchet, demanding if that were his. He denied that it was; upon which Mercury dived a second time, and brought up a silver one. The Man refused it, alleging likewise that this was not his. He dived a third time, and fetched up the individual hatchet the man had lost; upon sight of which the poor fellow was overjoyed, and took it with all humility and thankfulness. Mercury was so pleased with the fellow's honesty, that he gave him the other two into the bargain, as a reward for his just dealing.
The man then went to his companions, and, giving them an account of what had happened, one of them went presently to the river side, and let his hatchet fall designedly into the stream. Then, sitting down upon the bank, he fell a-weeping and lamenting, as if he had been really and sorely afflicted. Mercury appeared as before, and, diving, brought him up a golden hatchet, asking if that was the one he had lost. Transported at the precious metal, he answered "Yes," and went to snatch it greedily. But the god, detesting his abominable impudence, not only refused to give him that, but would not so much as let him have his own hatchet again.
MORAL.
Honesty is the best policy; it has made many a man's fortune, being blessed by God, and highly valued by man.
Story DNA
Moral
Honesty is the best policy; it has made many a man's fortune, being blessed by God, and highly valued by man.
Plot Summary
A poor woodman accidentally loses his hatchet in a river. The god Mercury appears and, testing the woodman's honesty, offers him golden and silver hatchets before retrieving his own. Because of his truthfulness, Mercury rewards the woodman with all three hatchets. A greedy companion, hearing this, intentionally drops his own hatchet and lies to Mercury, claiming a golden hatchet. Mercury, disgusted by the man's deceit, punishes him by refusing to return any hatchet, including his own.
Themes
Emotional Arc
distress to reward | greed to punishment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This fable is attributed to Aesop, a legendary Greek fabulist, and reflects ancient Greek values of justice and honesty.
Plot Beats (12)
- A woodman is felling a tree by a river when his hatchet slips and sinks to the bottom.
- Distressed, the woodman sits down and laments his loss.
- Mercury appears, learns of the problem, and dives into the river.
- Mercury first brings up a golden hatchet, which the woodman honestly denies is his.
- Mercury then brings up a silver hatchet, which the woodman also denies.
- Mercury finally retrieves the woodman's own hatchet, which the woodman gratefully accepts.
- Pleased with the woodman's honesty, Mercury gives him all three hatchets as a reward.
- The woodman tells his companions about his good fortune.
- One greedy companion intentionally drops his hatchet into the river and pretends to weep.
- Mercury appears to the greedy man and brings up a golden hatchet.
- The greedy man falsely claims the golden hatchet.
- Mercury, disgusted by the man's impudence, refuses to give him any hatchet, not even his own.
Characters
The Woodman
A man of average height and build, with a sturdy, calloused physique indicative of manual labor. His hands are rough from years of felling trees. His skin is tanned from working outdoors.
Attire: Simple, practical peasant clothing suitable for manual labor in a temperate European climate. He wears a coarse, undyed linen tunic, possibly with a leather jerkin for protection, and sturdy wool trousers. His boots are well-worn leather, caked with mud and dirt from his work.
Wants: To provide for himself through honest labor; to retrieve his lost tool.
Flaw: His livelihood is dependent on a single, easily lost tool, making him vulnerable to misfortune.
He begins in distress over a lost tool but is rewarded for his honesty, gaining unexpected fortune.
Honest, humble, grateful, hardworking, distressed by loss.
Mercury
A youthful, athletic figure, slender yet muscular, with a divine grace. He appears to be in the prime of his life, radiating an ethereal glow.
Attire: Traditional Roman deity attire: a short, light chlamys (cloak) draped over one shoulder, typically made of fine, flowing fabric in a vibrant color like crimson or sky blue, fastened with a fibula. His sandals are winged, known as talaria.
Wants: To uphold justice and honesty among mortals; to test human character.
Flaw: None explicitly stated, as a god, he is powerful and just.
He serves as a divine judge, revealing the true character of mortals and dispensing justice accordingly.
Just, observant, swift, discerning, benevolent towards the honest, wrathful towards the deceitful.
The Greedy Companion
Similar in build to the Woodman, a common laborer, but perhaps with a slightly less honest or more cunning look in his eyes. His physique is also that of a working man.
Attire: Similar simple, coarse peasant clothing as the Woodman: a linen tunic, possibly a leather jerkin, and wool trousers, all well-worn from labor. His hatchet is also a simple iron tool.
Wants: To gain wealth through deception and trickery; to acquire the golden hatchet.
Flaw: His overwhelming greed and dishonesty, which lead to his downfall.
He attempts to replicate the Woodman's fortune through deceit but is exposed and punished, losing even what he originally possessed.
Greedy, deceitful, cunning, envious, impudent.
Locations
River Bank
The edge of a river where a woodman is felling a tree. The ground is likely earthy and potentially muddy near the water's edge, with vegetation typical of a riverside.
Mood: Initially distressed and sorrowful, later hopeful and then greedy.
The first woodman loses his hatchet, Mercury appears, and the second woodman attempts to trick Mercury.
River Bottom
The submerged bed of the river, where the hatchets come to rest. It is deep enough for objects to sink and be hidden.
Mood: Mysterious, hidden, where divine intervention occurs.
Mercury retrieves the hatchets from here, testing the woodmen's honesty.