FABLE XV
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
It was a very hot day. Goat was very hot. Goat looked for shade. He saw a big Vine. The Vine had many leaves. The leaves made good shade. Goat went under the Vine. It was cool there. The Vine helped Goat. Goat liked the cool shade. It was a good place.
Goat was hungry now. He looked at the leaves. The Vine gave him shade. But Goat ate the leaves. He bit the green leaves. He ate many leaves. This was not kind. The Vine helped Goat. Goat hurt the Vine. This was not good. He ate more leaves. The Vine moved a little. He kept eating the leaves.
Hunters walked nearby. They heard a sound. The Vine leaves moved. Rustle, rustle, rustle. Goat ate the leaves. This made the sound. The sound was loud. Hunters looked at the big Vine. They saw the leaves move. They stopped walking. They listened carefully.
Hunters did not see Goat. They saw only the moving leaves. They thought a big animal was there. A wild animal hid in the Vine. Maybe it was a big beast. Hunters were ready now. They had bows. They had arrows. They wanted to catch it. They looked at the Vine. They waited for the animal. They aimed their bows. They were very quiet.
Hunters shot their arrows. Whizz! went the arrows. Many arrows flew fast. They went into the Vine. Goat was still under the Vine. Goat was hit by an arrow. Goat fell down. Goat was hurt very much. Goat could not move. Goat was gone. The Hunters did not know this. They thought it was a big beast. But it was only Goat. Goat was very sad. Goat was very still. Goat was not alive now.
Goat lay on the ground. He thought about the Vine. The Vine gave him shade. It helped him from the hot sun. Goat ate its leaves. He hurt the good Vine. "Oh no," thought Goat. "I was not kind." "I hurt my friend." "This is fair now." "I was not good." "I hurt the one who helped me."
It is not good to hurt someone who helps you.
Original Story
FABLE XV.
THE VINE AND THE GOAT.
A Goat having taken shelter from the heat of the sun under the broad leaves of a shady-spreading vine, began to crop and eat them; by this means, the branches being put into a rustling motion, he drew the eyes of some hunters who were passing that way, and, seeing the vine stir, thought some wild beast had taken covert there; they shot their arrows at a venture, and killed the Goat, who, before he expired, uttered his dying words to this purpose: "Ah! I suffer justly for my ingratitude, who could not forbear doing an injury to the vine that had so kindly afforded me shelter."
MORAL.
Ingratitude is a great crime, and from which we should seek earnestly to be preserved. He that is capable of injuring his benefactor, what would he scruple to do towards another?
THE VINE AND THE GOAT.
Story DNA
Moral
Ingratitude is a great crime, and those capable of injuring a benefactor would scruple at nothing towards others.
Plot Summary
A Goat seeks refuge from the sun under a generous vine but ungratefully begins to eat its leaves. The rustling branches attract hunters, who, mistaking the movement for a wild beast, shoot and kill the Goat. In its dying moments, the Goat acknowledges that its demise is a just punishment for its ingratitude towards the vine that offered it shelter.
Themes
Emotional Arc
comfort to suffering
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables often served as moral instruction, particularly in pre-modern societies, using simple narratives and animal characters to convey ethical lessons.
Plot Beats (6)
- A Goat finds shelter from the sun under a large, shady vine.
- The Goat ungratefully begins to eat the leaves of the vine that is sheltering it.
- The rustling of the vine's branches draws the attention of passing hunters.
- The hunters, seeing the movement, mistakenly believe a wild beast is hiding in the vine.
- The hunters shoot arrows into the vine, striking and killing the Goat.
- As it dies, the Goat expresses its understanding that its death is a just punishment for its ingratitude towards the vine.
Characters
The Goat
A sturdy, medium-sized goat with a thick, shaggy coat of mottled brown and white fur. He has strong, muscular legs and cloven hooves, indicating a creature accustomed to rough terrain. His body is well-fed, suggesting a life of grazing.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To satisfy his immediate hunger and seek comfort from the sun.
Flaw: His ingratitude and lack of foresight, leading him to harm his benefactor for a momentary pleasure.
He begins as an ungrateful creature, focused only on his immediate desires. He ends with a moment of profound realization and regret about his actions, learning the hard lesson of ingratitude through his own suffering.
Ungrateful, opportunistic, self-serving, short-sighted.
The Vine
A mature, broad-leaved vine, likely a grape vine, with thick, woody stems and numerous tendrils. Its leaves are large, dark green, and abundant, forming a dense canopy that provides ample shade. The branches are flexible but strong, capable of rustling noticeably when disturbed.
Attire: None, as it is a plant.
Wants: To grow and provide natural shelter, fulfilling its botanical purpose.
Flaw: Its inability to defend itself from harm or express its distress beyond rustling.
The Vine remains unchanged, serving as a symbol of selfless generosity that is exploited.
Generous, passive, benevolent.
The Hunters
Two or three lean, sun-weathered men, likely of average height, with strong, practical builds from a life of hunting and outdoor activity. Their skin is tanned from exposure to the sun.
Attire: Simple, durable clothing suitable for hunting in a warm climate. Perhaps tunics made of coarse linen or wool, leather breeches, and sturdy sandals or boots. Earth-toned colors like browns, greens, and grays to blend with the environment.
Wants: To hunt wild game for sustenance or sport.
Flaw: Their assumption that any rustling in the bushes indicates a wild beast, leading to an indiscriminate shot.
They serve as a catalyst for the Goat's demise and remain unchanged, unaware of the moral implications of their actions.
Observant, pragmatic, decisive, focused on their task.
Locations
Shady-spreading Vine
A large, mature vine with broad, dense leaves creating a significant canopy, offering deep shade from the intense sun.
Mood: Initially peaceful and sheltering, becoming tense and dangerous.
The Goat seeks shelter here, then begins to eat the leaves, leading to its discovery and death.
Hunter's Path
A path or trail, likely through a natural, wild area, where hunters are passing by, close enough to observe movement in the vine.
Mood: Observational, then suddenly violent and fatal.
Hunters pass by, notice the rustling vine, and shoot their arrows, killing the Goat.