FABLE LXXXVI
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
A little Fox walked in the forest. He was not careful. Fox walked near a deep hole. He did not see the hole. The hole was dark. Fox fell down, down, down. Splash! Cold water was all around him. Fox was very scared. He did not like the cold water. It was very deep.
Fox was in the well. Water was very cold. His paws felt the cold. He held the rough wall with his paws. He used sharp claws to hold tight. His head stayed up above the water. He shivered a lot. He was very tired. He tried hard to stay up. He wanted help very much. He needed help fast.
A big Wolf walked by the well. He walked slowly. He heard a small sound coming from inside. The sound was faint. He looked into the well. He saw Fox in the cold water. Fox was wet and shivering. Wolf was surprised to see Fox there. Wolf looked down at Fox. Fox looked so small.
Fox looked up at Wolf. His voice was weak. "Wolf, please help me!" he said. "I need a long rope. Or a big, strong branch. Please, help me out of this well. I am so cold. I cannot stay here. My teeth chatter. I will get sick." Fox was very wet.
Wolf looked sad. He made a sad face. His eyes were wide. He shook his head. "Oh, poor Fox," he said. "I am so sorry for you. What a bad day! How did you fall in this deep well? You look so cold. It is so sad to see you there. This is very bad."
Fox was tired and not happy. He felt angry. He spoke to Wolf. His voice was sharp. "Do not just say sorry," Fox said. "Your words do not help me now. Talk does not save me. I need help now! Get a rope. Go find a rope! Please help me out of this cold water. I need real help. I am very cold."
Fox was still in the well. Fox felt alone. Wolf walked away. Wolf did not look back. It is good to help friends. Just saying 'sorry' is not enough. Real friends help you.
Original Story
FABLE LXXXVI.
THE FOX IN THE WELL.
A Fox, having fallen into a well, made a shift by sticking his claws into the sides to keep his head above water. Soon after a Wolf came and peeped over the brink, to whom the Fox applied very earnestly for assistance; entreating that he would help him to a rope, or something of the kind, which might favour his escape. The Wolf moved with compassion at his misfortune, could not forbear expressing his concern. "Ah, poor Reynard," says he, "I am sorry for you with all my heart; how could you possibly come into this melancholy condition?"
"Nay, pr'ythee, friend," replied the Fox, "if you wish me well, do not stand pitying me, but lend me some succour as fast as you can; for pity is but cold comfort when one is up to the chin in water, and within a hair's breadth of starving or drowning."
MORAL.
Mere expressions of pity, without a desire or attempt to alleviate suffering, are a mockery. He that would be truly a friend, will be ready to give his assistance when needed.
Story DNA
Moral
Mere expressions of pity, without a desire or attempt to alleviate suffering, are a mockery. He that would be truly a friend, will be ready to give his assistance when needed.
Plot Summary
A Fox falls into a well and struggles to stay afloat. A Wolf soon discovers him and, instead of offering practical help, expresses great pity and asks how he got into such a predicament. The Fox, frustrated, tells the Wolf that pity is useless when one is in danger and that true friendship means providing assistance when needed, leaving the Wolf to ponder his inaction.
Themes
Emotional Arc
distress to frustration
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables often served as moral instruction, particularly for children, using animal characters to simplify complex human behaviors.
Plot Beats (6)
- A Fox accidentally falls into a well.
- The Fox manages to keep his head above water by clinging to the well sides.
- A Wolf comes by and looks into the well, discovering the Fox.
- The Fox urgently pleads with the Wolf for help, asking for a rope or similar aid.
- The Wolf expresses deep sorrow and pity for the Fox's situation, asking how he fell in.
- The Fox, exasperated, tells the Wolf to stop pitying him and provide actual assistance, as pity is useless when one is in dire straits.
Characters
The Fox
A lean, agile fox of average size, with a lithe body built for cunning and quick movement. His fur is a vibrant reddish-orange, typical of a red fox, with a contrasting white belly and chest. His paws are slender, tipped with sharp, dark claws that are currently dug into the well's damp sides.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To escape the well and save his life.
Flaw: His cunning sometimes leads him into dangerous situations, and his current predicament highlights his physical vulnerability.
He remains in a state of desperation, his character arc is not fully resolved within this short fable, but he demonstrates his core personality traits under duress.
Cunning, pragmatic, desperate, direct, and quick-witted. He prioritizes immediate action over sentiment.
The Wolf
A large, imposing wolf with a powerful build, typical of a grey wolf. His fur is thick and coarse, a mix of grey, brown, and black tones, providing good camouflage. His legs are strong, and his paws are broad.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: Initially, to express sympathy for the Fox's plight. He seems driven by a desire to appear caring, but not by a genuine desire to act.
Flaw: His compassion is shallow and does not translate into action, making him ultimately unhelpful and a 'cold comfort'.
He serves as a foil to the Fox, highlighting the difference between superficial pity and genuine assistance. He does not change within the fable.
Compassionate (superficially), empathetic (verbally), unhelpful, and somewhat naive or self-absorbed. He expresses pity but lacks practical initiative.
Locations
The Well
A deep, dark well, likely constructed from rough-hewn stone or brick, with damp, mossy sides. The water level is high enough to immerse a fox up to its chin.
Mood: Desperate, confined, perilous, cold.
The Fox is trapped here, pleading for help from the Wolf.
Well's Brink
The edge of the well, likely surrounded by natural ground cover like grass, dirt, or perhaps some sparse undergrowth. It's where the Wolf peers down into the well.
Mood: Observational, slightly detached, natural.
The Wolf discovers the trapped Fox and offers hollow sympathy.