FABLE XI
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
A shiny diamond lived in a small box. Next to it was a plain, grey stone.
Shiny Diamond lived in a box. It was very beautiful. Helpful Stone was also there. It was a plain, grey stone.
Shiny Diamond looked at Helpful Stone. Helpful Stone was not shiny. It looked like a common rock. Shiny Diamond did not like this. "Why are you here?" Shiny Diamond asked. "You are not pretty. Go away."
Shiny Diamond said, "You are a boring rock." "Stay far from me." "You are not special." "I am very bright." "You are just dull." "Go away now."
Helpful Stone was calm. It did not get angry. It said, "You see my outside." "You do not see my inside." "My work is important." "My inside is strong."
Helpful Stone said, "You sparkle." "You are very pretty." "People like to see you." "But are you helpful?" "What do you do?" "Do you help people?" "Do you make things better?" "Think about your use."
"I am not pretty outside," Helpful Stone said. "But I am very helpful inside." "My inner power is big." "It helps many people." "This is my true value."
"I help big boats find their way." "Boats go across the sea." "They find new places." "New lands are found." "People meet new people." "Far away lands come close." "I help the world connect." "People share many things." "They help each other now." "This makes life better."
"I help people learn new things." "They build many new things." "People share good ideas." "New ideas grow fast." "The world gets better now." "Many good things happen." "I help the world grow strong." "I help people be smart." "I help make life rich." "Knowledge makes us strong."
"I make a special tool." "It is called a compass." "A compass helps boats go." "It points the right way." "It shows true north." "All these good things come from me." "I am very important." "My inside is strong." "My outside is not important." "My power is real."
So, it is not about how you look. It is about what you do. It is about being helpful.
Original Story
FABLE XI.
THE DIAMOND AND THE LOADSTONE.
A Diamond, of great beauty and lustre, observing, not only many other gems of a lower class ranged together with himself in the same cabinet, but a Loadstone likewise placed not far from him, began to question the latter how he came there, and what pretensions he had to be ranked among the precious stones; he, who appeared to be no better than a mere flint, a sorry, coarse, rusty-looking pebble, without any the least shining quality to advance him to such an honour; and concluded with desiring him to keep his distance, and pay a proper respect to his superiors.
"I find," said the Loadstone, "you judge by external appearances, and condemn without due examination; but I will not act so ungenerously by you. I am willing to allow you your due praise: you are a pretty bauble; I am mightily delighted to see you glitter and sparkle; I look upon you with pleasure and surprise; but I must be convinced you are of some sort of use before I acknowledge that you have any real merit, or treat you with that respect which you seem to demand. With regard to myself, I confess my deficiency in outward beauty; but I may venture to say, that I make amends by my intrinsic qualities. The great improvement of navigation is entirely owing to me. By me the distant parts of the world have been made known and are accessible to each other; the remotest nations are connected together, and all, as it were, united into one common society; by a mutual intercourse they relieve one another's wants, and all enjoy the several blessings peculiar to each. The world is indebted to me for its wealth, its splendour, and its power; and the arts and sciences are, in a great measure, obliged to me for their improvements, and their continual increase. All these blessings I am the origin of; for by my aid it is that man is enable to construct that valuable instrument, the Mariner's Compass."
MORAL.
Let dazzling stones in splendour glare;
Utility's the gem for wear.
Story DNA
Moral
True worth lies in utility and intrinsic qualities, not in outward appearance or superficial splendor.
Plot Summary
A beautiful Diamond, proud of its luster, questions why a plain, coarse Loadstone is placed near it in a cabinet, demanding the Loadstone show respect. The Loadstone calmly responds, acknowledging the Diamond's beauty but challenging its actual usefulness. It then explains its own immense intrinsic value, detailing how it enables navigation, connects distant parts of the world, and contributes to global wealth, knowledge, and the advancement of arts and sciences through the Mariner's Compass, thus proving its superior worth despite its humble appearance.
Themes
Emotional Arc
arrogance to justification
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The fable reflects an era where scientific understanding (like magnetism's role in navigation) was increasingly valued, potentially contrasting with older aristocratic values of inherited status or superficial beauty.
Plot Beats (9)
- A beautiful, lustrous Diamond is kept in a cabinet with other gems and a Loadstone.
- The Diamond, observing the Loadstone's plain, coarse appearance, questions its right to be among precious stones.
- The Diamond dismisses the Loadstone as a mere flint and demands it show proper respect to its superiors.
- The Loadstone responds by stating that the Diamond judges by external appearances without examination.
- The Loadstone concedes the Diamond's beauty but questions its real merit if it lacks usefulness.
- The Loadstone then explains that despite its lack of outward beauty, its intrinsic qualities are invaluable.
- It details how it is essential for navigation, connecting distant parts of the world, and uniting nations.
- The Loadstone claims responsibility for global wealth, splendor, power, and the advancement of arts and sciences.
- It concludes by revealing that it enables the construction of the Mariner's Compass, the origin of all these blessings.
Characters
The Diamond
A small, multi-faceted, perfectly clear and colorless stone with exceptional brilliance and fire. It is cut with numerous precise facets that reflect and refract light, giving it a dazzling, sparkling appearance. Its surface is smooth and hard.
Attire: N/A (gemstone, though it is 'ranged together with himself in the same cabinet' suggesting it is displayed or set)
Wants: To maintain its perceived superior status and receive admiration based on its beauty.
Flaw: Its vanity and inability to see beyond superficial beauty, leading to a lack of understanding of true worth.
It begins as arrogant and dismissive but is challenged by the Loadstone's argument, though the story doesn't explicitly state a change in its perspective, only that it is presented with a counter-argument.
Arrogant, superficial, judgmental, proud, dismissive of others based on appearance.
The Loadstone
A rough, dark, and irregularly shaped stone, appearing like a 'mere flint' or a 'sorry, coarse, rusty-looking pebble.' It lacks any inherent shine or beauty, possibly with a dull, metallic sheen in places due to its iron content.
Attire: N/A (mineral)
Wants: To explain its true worth and utility, challenging superficial judgments.
Flaw: Its lack of outward beauty, which causes others to initially dismiss it.
It serves as the voice of reason and utility, educating the Diamond and the reader about true worth. It does not change itself but reveals its inherent value.
Humble, wise, patient, articulate, pragmatic, confident in its intrinsic value.
Locations
The Collector's Cabinet
A finely crafted display cabinet, likely made of polished dark wood, with glass panes allowing observation of its contents. It houses various precious gems and a loadstone.
Mood: static, formal, slightly tense due to the dialogue
The Diamond questions the Loadstone's presence and worth, leading to the Loadstone's eloquent defense of its utility.