FABLE LXXXVIII
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
High on a mountain, two springs flowed. One spring was fast and loud. The Fast Spring rushed down the mountain. The other spring was quiet and gentle. The Quiet Spring moved slowly. They both started from the same place.
The Fast Spring spoke to The Quiet Spring. "You are very slow," it said. "You will dry up soon. You will be small." "I will be a big river. I will be strong." "I will go to the big ocean. I will be great." "I will carry many things. I will be important." "I know this for sure. You will disappear."
"Goodbye, slow sister!" it said. The Fast Spring felt very proud. It thought it was the best. It did not need help.
The Quiet Spring did not speak. It did not say a word. It just flowed calmly. It went down to the green fields. It moved gently and slowly.
The Quiet Spring met many small streams. These little streams joined its water. The Quiet Spring collected them all. It grew bigger and bigger. Its water became wide and deep. It moved steadily onward. It grew stronger each day.
Soon, The Quiet Spring was big. It was a strong river now. It was not small anymore. It flowed like a true river.
But The Fast Spring stayed small. It was still a shallow brook. It was proud of itself. It did not join other streams. It only used its own water. It did not grow big. It thought it was enough. Its water was not deep.
The Fast Spring needed help. It could not go to the ocean alone. It had to join The Quiet Spring. The big river helped it. The Fast Spring was not proud now. It joined its sister's river. It needed its sister. The small spring flowed into the big river.
Quiet and steady is better than loud.
Original Story
FABLE LXXXVIII.
THE TWO SPRINGS.
Two springs, which issued from the same mountain, began their course together: one of them took her way in a silent and gentle stream, while the other rushed along with a sounding and rapid current. "Sister," said the latter, "at the rate you move, you will probably be dried up, before you advance much farther; whereas, for myself, I will venture a wager, that, within two or three hundred furlongs, I shall become navigable; and, after distributing commerce and wealth wherever I flow, I shall majestically proceed to pay my tribute to the ocean. So, farewell, dear sister! and patiently submit to your fate."
Her sister made no reply; but, calmly descending to the meadows below, increased her stream by numberless little rills which she collected in her progress, till, at length, she was enabled to rise into a considerable river; whilst the proud stream, who had the vanity to depend solely upon her own sufficiency, continued a shallow brook; and was glad, at last, to be helped forward, by throwing herself into the arms of her despised sister.
MORAL.
His strength in words the blusterer vainly spends, While steadiness in quiet gains its ends.
Story DNA
Moral
Quiet persistence and steady growth are more effective than boastful, rapid starts that lack substance.
Plot Summary
Two springs emerge from a mountain, one rapid and boastful, the other quiet and gentle. The rapid spring mocks its sister, predicting its own grand future as a navigable river while the slow one will dry up. However, the quiet spring steadily gathers smaller rills and grows into a mighty river, while the proud spring, relying solely on its initial force, remains a shallow brook. Ultimately, the shallow brook is forced to humbly join the powerful river formed by its once-despised sister.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to humility
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables often served as moral instruction, particularly for children, using simple allegories.
Plot Beats (8)
- Two springs originate from the same mountain, one flowing silently and gently, the other rushing loudly and rapidly.
- The rapid spring boasts to its sister that it will quickly become a navigable river, distributing wealth and reaching the ocean, while the slow spring will dry up.
- The rapid spring bids farewell, confident in its own sufficiency.
- The silent spring makes no reply but calmly flows to the meadows below.
- The silent spring steadily increases its volume by collecting numerous small rills.
- The silent spring eventually grows into a considerable river.
- Meanwhile, the proud, rapid spring, relying only on its initial strength, remains a shallow brook.
- The shallow brook is ultimately forced to join its once-despised sister's river to continue its journey.
Characters
The Rapid Spring
A dynamic and forceful body of water, characterized by its swift, turbulent movement. It appears wide and boisterous at its origin, creating a strong visual impression of power and speed.
Attire: Not applicable, as it is a spring. Its 'attire' is its own rushing water, perhaps adorned with whitecaps and foam.
Wants: To achieve greatness and become a navigable river solely through its own inherent force and speed, proving its superiority over its sister.
Flaw: Overconfidence and vanity, leading it to underestimate the value of patience and collaboration. It depends solely on its own sufficiency.
Starts as a proud, rapid stream, confident in its own power. It fails to grow significantly and eventually becomes a shallow brook, forced to merge with its despised sister to continue its journey.
Boastful, arrogant, overconfident, dismissive, vain.
The Gentle Spring
A calm and steady body of water, characterized by its silent and gentle flow. It appears modest and unassuming at its origin, gradually widening and deepening.
Attire: Not applicable, as it is a spring. Its 'attire' is its own clear, flowing water, perhaps adorned with reflections of the sky.
Wants: To grow into a considerable river by patiently collecting smaller rills, ultimately fulfilling its natural purpose.
Flaw: Initially appears slow and unassuming, which might be perceived as a lack of ambition or power by others.
Starts as a quiet, gentle stream, seemingly insignificant. Through patience and steady progress, it collects numerous rills and grows into a considerable river, ultimately becoming the dominant waterway.
Patient, humble, steady, wise, collaborative.
Locations
Mountain Source
The high, rocky origin point where two springs emerge, one flowing gently and the other rushing rapidly.
Mood: pristine, energetic, contrasting
The two springs begin their journey and the proud spring boasts about her future.
Meadows Below
Lush, green meadows at the base of the mountain where the gentle spring flows, collecting numerous small rills to grow into a considerable river.
Mood: serene, nurturing, expansive
The humble spring steadily grows into a river by collecting smaller streams.
Shallow Brook's Course
The path of the proud spring, which, despite its initial rush, becomes a shallow, struggling brook, meandering through less fertile ground, eventually merging with its sister.
Mood: struggling, diminished, humble
The proud spring diminishes and is forced to join her sister's larger stream.