FABLE XCVIII
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
Once, a Fox was very hungry. He had not eaten all day. He lay on the ground. He looked like he was dead. He wanted to catch some birds.
The Raven flew high above him. She saw the Fox breathe. She knew it was a trick. She told all the other birds. "Do not go near!" she cried. The Fox did not get any food.
The Fox was still hungry. He found a hollow tree. A kind Dove lived there. She had small baby birds. She had eggs too. The Fox asked for her eggs. He asked for her young birds.
The Dove was very sad. Her heart was heavy. She gave him her eggs. She gave him her young birds. She did this for some time.
One day, the Raven came to the tree. She sat on a branch. The Dove told her sad story. "The Fox takes my babies," she whispered. "He takes my eggs."
The Raven gave good advice. "The Fox cannot climb the tree," she said. "His paws are not good. Tell him no. He cannot reach you here. You are safe."
The Fox came again. The Dove said, "No!" She was not scared now. She felt brave. The Fox was angry. He went away hungry again.
The Fox knew the Raven helped the Dove. He was very mad. He wanted to get even. He wanted to trick the Raven back.
Soon, the Fox saw The Raven. She sat on a tall tree. The Fox smiled a sly smile. "You fly so well!" he said. "Your walk is grand! You are the best bird."
The Raven felt very proud. She loved his words. She flew down to the ground. She walked with great pride.
The Fox asked a tricky question. "How do you see in strong wind?" he said. "Can you hide your head? Can you put it under your wing? Show me!"
The Raven wanted to show him. She put her head under her wing. She could not see anything now. All was dark.
The Fox quickly ran to her. He moved very fast. He caught The Raven. She could not see him. He won the game.
The Fox won. The Raven learned a sad lesson. She was wise for others. She gave good advice. But she was not wise for herself. Be careful of flattery! It tricks you.
Original Story
FABLE XCVIII.
THE FOX, THE RAVEN, AND THE DOVE.
A Fox, who was half-starved with hunger, stretched himself all along upon the ground, and lay as if he were dead, that he might entice the harmless birds to come within his reach, and then leap of a sudden upon them, and make them his prey; but it happened that a Raven, who was hovering near him, observed that he fetched his breath; and, by consequence, found it to be only a trick in him to catch the birds. She, therefore, instantly gave them notice of it; and forewarned them, as they valued their own lives, not to come within reach of the Fox, who only feigned himself to be dead.
The Fox, finding his plot to be discovered, was obliged to go away hungry; but soon bethought himself of another invention: which was, to go and kennel himself in a hollow tree, upon which a Dove had her nest, and was breeding up her young ones. Having done this, he called to her, that, unless she would throw down to him sometimes one of her eggs, and sometimes one of her young ones, he would climb up the tree, take away all her eggs, kill both her and her young, and break her nest to pieces.
The harmless Dove, thinking of two ills to choose the least, did as the Fox required her; and threw him down now one of her eggs, and then one of her young ones. Having done so, for some time, with a great deal of grief and sorrow, and the Fox continuing still to demand it of her, she, at last, made her complaint to the Raven, who chanced to come and perch herself on the same tree; grievously bemoaning her fate, that she, like a good mother, to provide for her children, was at last obliged to make them a sacrifice to such a villain. But the Raven, who was not so timorous as she, advised her, whenever the Fox threatened her again, that he would kill both her and her young, if she would not throw one of them down to him, to answer him roundly,—"If you could have flown or climbed up the tree, you would not have been so often contented with one of my eggs, or of my young; but would, long since, according to your ravenous and blood-thirsty nature, have devoured both me and them." In short, the next time the Fox came, and threatened her as before, she replied as the Raven had instructed her.
The Fox, hearing her answer, and knowing very well that she was not so wise and cunning of herself, resolved to find out the truth of the matter; and, at length, came to understand that it was the Raven who had been her counsellor. He, therefore, vowed to be revenged on her, who had now, the second time, hindered him from getting his prey. Not long after, he espied her sitting on a high thorn-tree; and, going to her, began to praise her at a mighty rate,—magnifying her good fortune above that of all beasts, who could neither fly like her, nor tread the ground with so majestical a gait: adding, withal, that it would be a great pleasure to him to see her lordly walk; that he might from thence, be certain whether she were indeed so divine and prophetic a bird as men had always held her to be.
The Raven, transported to hear herself thus praised to the skies, flew down; and, pitching upon the ground, walked to and fro, in mighty pomp and state. The Fox seemed highly delighted; and said, that he extremely wondered how the Raven could keep upon the ground, when the wind blew her feathers over her eyes, and hindered her sight; but chiefly when it blew before, behind, and on all sides of her. "I can very well provide against that," said the Raven; "for then I hide my head under my left wing." "How!" cried the Fox; "hide your head under your left wing! So wonderful a thing I can never believe, till I see it." Immediately the Raven put her head under her left wing, and held it there so long that the Fox caught hold of her and killed her for his prey.
MORAL.
So must they fare who give good advice to others, but have not discretion enough to follow it themselves.
Story DNA
Moral
Those who give good advice to others but lack the discretion to follow it themselves will suffer the consequences.
Plot Summary
A hungry Fox attempts to trick birds by feigning death, but a wise Raven exposes his deception. The Fox then threatens a Dove to extort her eggs and young, which she provides until the Raven advises her to defy him. Thwarted a second time, the Fox vows revenge on the Raven. He flatters the Raven, convincing her to demonstrate a trick by hiding her head under her wing, at which point he seizes and kills her. The fable concludes with a moral about the danger of giving good advice without possessing the discretion to follow it oneself.
Themes
Emotional Arc
fear to relief to overconfidence to demise
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables often served as didactic tools, teaching moral lessons through allegorical animal stories, common across many ancient and medieval cultures.
Plot Beats (14)
- A hungry Fox pretends to be dead to catch birds.
- A Raven observes the Fox breathing and warns the other birds, foiling his plan.
- The Fox, still hungry, hides in a hollow tree and threatens a nesting Dove to force her to give him her eggs and young.
- The Dove, in sorrow, complies for a time.
- The Raven perches on the same tree and the Dove complains to her.
- The Raven advises the Dove to defy the Fox by pointing out his inability to climb the tree.
- The Dove follows the Raven's advice, and the Fox is thwarted again.
- The Fox realizes the Dove's change of heart was due to the Raven's counsel and vows revenge.
- The Fox finds the Raven and begins to flatter her excessively, praising her flight and majestic walk.
- The Raven, flattered, flies down to the ground to demonstrate her walk.
- The Fox feigns curiosity about how the Raven manages her sight in the wind, specifically asking about hiding her head under her wing.
- The Raven, eager to show off, puts her head under her wing.
- The Fox seizes the opportunity and kills the blinded Raven.
- The story concludes with a moral about giving good advice but failing to follow it oneself.
Characters
The Fox
A lean, agile fox, likely with a reddish-brown coat, slender build, and a long, bushy tail. His movements are quick and stealthy, reflecting his cunning nature.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: Driven by hunger and a desire for easy prey. Later, driven by revenge against the Raven.
Flaw: His overconfidence and desire for revenge ultimately lead him to reveal his true nature, though he succeeds in his final plot.
Remains consistently cunning and predatory, successfully outwitting his opponents through deception, culminating in his revenge on the Raven.
Cunning, manipulative, persistent, vengeful, and gluttonous.
The Raven
A large, intelligent raven with glossy black feathers, a sturdy build, and a powerful beak. Her wingspan is impressive when in flight.
Attire: None, as she is an animal.
Wants: Initially motivated to protect other birds. Later, motivated by her own pride and desire for recognition.
Flaw: Her vanity and susceptibility to flattery, which the Fox exploits.
Starts as a wise protector, but her pride leads to her downfall, demonstrating the moral of the fable.
Observant, wise, courageous, helpful, but ultimately vain and susceptible to flattery.
The Dove
A gentle, plump dove with soft grey-white feathers, a delicate build, and a small head.
Attire: None, as she is an animal.
Wants: To protect her young, even if it means making terrible sacrifices. Later, to seek help and escape the Fox's demands.
Flaw: Her timidity and fear, which make her vulnerable to the Fox's threats.
Starts as a victim, but gains courage and resolve through the Raven's advice, allowing her to stand up to the Fox.
Harmless, timid, sorrowful, maternal, and easily intimidated.
Locations
Open Ground near a Forest Edge
A patch of open, possibly grassy or dirt ground at the edge of a forest, where a fox can stretch out unnoticed. The ground is likely uneven, with some sparse vegetation or dry leaves.
Mood: Deceptive, initially peaceful but with an underlying threat
The Fox feigns death to lure birds, but is discovered by the Raven.
Hollow Tree with a Dove's Nest
A large, ancient tree with a significant hollow space at its base or within its trunk, providing a den for the fox. High up in its branches, a dove's nest is precariously built, holding eggs and young birds. The tree is likely sturdy and tall.
Mood: Tense, vulnerable, a place of forced sacrifice
The Fox blackmails the Dove for her eggs and young, and the Raven intervenes with advice.
High Thorn-Tree
A tall, thorny tree, possibly a hawthorn or similar species, with sharp, prominent thorns on its branches. It stands somewhat isolated, allowing the Raven to perch high and observe, and the Fox to approach from below.
Mood: Initially flattering, then treacherous and fatal
The Fox tricks the Raven into demonstrating her 'lordly walk' on the ground, leading to her capture.