FABLE XIII
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, there were many Frogs. They lived in a big, green pond. The pond was their home. They swam and played there. They were very happy.
The Frogs felt bored. Life was too easy. They wanted a new thing. They wanted a king. They wanted a leader. A king would help them. They asked Jupiter for a king. Jupiter was a big god. He lived in the sky.
Jupiter heard the Frogs. He thought it was funny. Jupiter smiled a little. He got a big Log. The Log was very big. He threw the Log down. It fell in the pond. It made a loud noise. Splash! Jupiter said, "This is your king!"
The Frogs were very scared. The big splash was loud. They hid under leaves. They did not move. They watched the Log. The Log did not move. It was just wood. It just floated there. The Log did nothing. The Frogs saw no danger.
The Frogs were not happy. This king was boring. The Log was a quiet king. It did not do anything. He gave no orders. They wanted a new king. Some Frogs went to Jupiter. They asked for a new king.
Jupiter was not happy. He sent a big bird. It was a Stork. The Stork was their new king.
The Stork came. It had a long beak. It looked for Frogs. It caught them. Frogs disappeared. They were scared. They hid.
The Frogs were scared. They wanted help. They found Mercury. They asked Mercury for help. "Please ask Jupiter," they said. "We want our old life back."
Mercury went to Jupiter. He told Jupiter about Frogs. Jupiter said, "No." Frogs made their choice. They must live with it. The Frogs were sad. Be happy with what you have.
Original Story
FABLE XIII.
THE FROGS DESIRING A KING.
The Frogs, living an easy, free life everywhere among the lakes and ponds, assembled together one day, in a very tumultuous manner, and petitioned Jupiter to let them have a king, who might inspect their morals, and make them live a little honester. Jupiter, being at that time in pretty good humour, was pleased to laugh heartily at their ridiculous request, and, throwing a little log down into the pool, cried, "There is a king for you!" The sudden splash which this made by its fall into the water, at first terrified them so exceedingly that they were afraid to come near it. But, in a little time, seeing it lie still without moving, they ventured, by degrees, to approach it; and at last, finding there was no danger, they leaped upon it, and, in short, treated it as familiarly as they pleased. But, not contented with so insipid a king as this was, they sent their deputies to petition again for another sort of one; for this they neither did nor could like. Upon that he sent them a Stork, who, without any ceremony, fell devouring and eating them up, one after another, as fast as he could. Then they applied themselves privately to Mercury, and got him to speak to Jupiter in their behalf, that he would be so good as to bless them again with another king, or restore them to their former state. "No," says he; "since it was their own choice, let the obstinate wretches suffer the punishment due to their folly."
MORAL.
This fable teaches that it is better to be content with our present condition, however bad we may think it, than, by ambitious change, to risk making it worse.
Story DNA
Moral
It is better to be content with our present condition, however bad we may think it, than, by ambitious change, to risk making it worse.
Plot Summary
The Frogs, discontent with their free but unstructured lives, petition Jupiter for a king. Jupiter, amused, sends them a log, which they initially fear but soon despise for its inactivity. Still dissatisfied, they ask for another king, and Jupiter sends a Stork, who immediately begins to devour them. Terrified, the Frogs beg for help, but Jupiter refuses, stating they must suffer the consequences of their own foolish choices.
Themes
Emotional Arc
complacency to fear to despair
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Aesop's Fables are ancient Greek stories, often short, featuring animals, and conveying a moral lesson. They reflect common human follies and wisdom.
Plot Beats (10)
- The Frogs live a free and easy life in their pond.
- They become restless and petition Jupiter for a king to make them live more honestly.
- Jupiter, amused, throws a log into the pond, declaring it their king.
- The Frogs are initially terrified by the splash but soon realize the log is harmless.
- They grow contemptuous of the inactive log-king and treat it with disrespect.
- Dissatisfied, they send deputies to Jupiter to request a different, more active king.
- Jupiter, annoyed, sends a Stork to be their king.
- The Stork immediately begins to devour the Frogs.
- The terrified Frogs secretly appeal to Mercury to ask Jupiter for another king or to restore their former state.
- Jupiter refuses, stating they must endure the punishment for their own foolish choices.
Characters
The Frogs
Small, plump amphibians with smooth, moist, olive-green skin, mottled with darker brown spots. They have strong hind legs for leaping and webbed feet. Their bodies are somewhat squat, and they have prominent, bulging golden eyes.
Attire: None, they are wild frogs.
Wants: To have a king who will 'inspect their morals' and make them 'live a little honester,' driven by a desire for change and a perceived improvement in their social order.
Flaw: Their impulsiveness, lack of foresight, and inability to appreciate their current peaceful state. They are easily swayed by novelty and quickly grow bored.
They start in a state of contented freedom, become discontent and demand a king, then suffer the consequences of their poor choices, ending in a worse state than they began.
Fickle, discontent, easily terrified, foolish, ambitious, ungrateful.
Jupiter
A powerful, majestic deity of immense stature, with a commanding presence. His form is often depicted with strong, muscular build, reflecting his authority and strength. His skin is fair, radiating an ethereal glow.
Attire: Flowing, classical robes of deep purple or royal blue, made of fine, heavy fabric, draped elegantly over one shoulder, revealing a powerful physique. Adorned with subtle gold embroidery or a laurel wreath on his head.
Wants: To maintain cosmic order and, in this instance, to teach the Frogs a lesson about contentment and the consequences of foolish choices.
Flaw: Can be seen as indifferent or harsh in his justice, allowing suffering as a teaching tool.
Remains consistent as the powerful, lesson-imparting deity.
Amused, powerful, somewhat detached, just, ultimately unyielding, and prone to teaching lessons through consequences.
The Log
A small, rough, cylindrical piece of wood, likely a tree branch or trunk section, with bark still attached. It is heavy enough to make a splash when dropped but light enough to float. Its surface is uneven, with knots and splinters.
Attire: None.
Wants: To serve as Jupiter's initial, ironic answer to the Frogs' request.
Flaw: None, as it is an object.
Introduced as a 'king,' then dismissed by the Frogs for its inertness.
Passive, inert, harmless.
The Stork
A tall, elegant wading bird with long, slender legs and a long, pointed beak. Its plumage is predominantly white, with black flight feathers on its wings. Its legs are reddish-brown, and its beak is long and sharp, often reddish.
Attire: None, it is a wild bird.
Wants: To eat the Frogs, fulfilling its natural predatory instincts and Jupiter's decree.
Flaw: None, in the context of the story, it is a force of nature.
Introduced as the Frogs' new 'king,' it immediately begins to devour them, remaining consistent in its predatory role.
Predatory, efficient, indifferent, merciless.
Mercury
A youthful, agile deity with a slender, athletic build. He possesses a quick, nimble grace in his movements. His skin is fair and unblemished.
Attire: A short, light tunic, often in shades of blue or green, allowing for freedom of movement. He wears winged sandals (talaria) and carries a caduceus.
Wants: To carry messages and act as an intercessor, fulfilling his role as a divine messenger.
Flaw: Cannot overrule Jupiter's decisions.
Appears briefly as an intermediary, remaining consistent in his role.
Messenger, intermediary, persuasive, but ultimately bound by Jupiter's will.
Locations
The Frogs' Pond
A tranquil freshwater pond, likely surrounded by lush, green vegetation, where frogs live an easy, free life. The water is still and reflects the sky, with lily pads possibly dotting the surface. The banks are muddy and soft, ideal for amphibians.
Mood: Initially peaceful and carefree, becoming tumultuous with the frogs' assembly, then fearful, then contemptuous, and finally desperate.
The frogs assemble to petition Jupiter, receive the log-king, and later the stork-king, leading to their demise.