FABLE XXXIV
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
A deer ran fast in the forest. Dogs chased the deer. The deer was scared. He ran and ran. He wanted to be safe. He needed a good hiding place.
The deer saw a farm house. He ran to a big barn. The barn door was open. He quickly went inside. He saw a big pile of yellow straw. He hid under the straw. He hoped to be safe there.
An ox looked at the deer. "You are not safe here," said the ox. "The farmer will see you. This is a bad place. He felt scared." But he thought, "I will leave soon. I will run away fast."
A man came into the barn. He gave food to the ox. He did not see the deer. Other people came too. They walked past the straw. They did not see the deer.
The deer felt happy. "I am safe!" he thought. He thanked the ox. "Thank you for the hiding place," he said. "You are very kind."
The ox looked sad. "Wait," said the ox. "The farmer is coming. He sees everything. He has very good eyes. He sees all small things. He will find you soon."
Soon, the farmer came home. He went to the barn. He looked at his ox. He cared for his animals. He wanted them to be well. He looked very carefully.
The farmer checked the food. He checked the straw. He looked at the floor. He looked at the walls. He saw everything. He wanted all to be good. He was a very careful man.
The farmer looked at the big straw pile. He looked very close now. He saw something strange there. Two horns stuck out. They were the deer's horns. The farmer saw the deer.
The farmer called for help. "Look here!" he shouted. Other people came fast. They found the big deer. The deer could not run away. The farmer then caught the deer.
This story tells us: Do your work well. A good farmer sees everything.
Original Story
FABLE XXXIV.
THE STAG IN THE OX-STALL.
A Stag, roused from his thick covert in the midst of the forest, and driven hard by the hounds, made towards a farm-house, and, seeing the door of an ox-stall open, entered therein, and hid himself under a heap of straw. One of the oxen, turning his head about, asked him what he meant by venturing himself in such a place, where he was sure to meet his doom. "Ah!" said the Stag, "if you will but be so good as to favour me with your concealment, I hope I shall do well enough; I intend to make off again the first opportunity."
Well, he stayed there till towards night; in came the ox-man with a bundle of fodder, and never saw him. In short, all the servants of the farm came and went, and not one of them suspected anything of the matter. Nay, the bailiff himself came, according to form, and looked in, but walked away, no wiser than the rest. Upon this the Stag, ready to jump out of his skin for joy, began to return thanks to the good-natured Oxen, protesting that they were the most obliging people he had ever met with in his life.
After he had done his compliments, one of them answered him, gravely, "Indeed, we desire nothing more than to have it in our power to contribute to your escape, but there is a certain person you little think of who has a hundred eyes; if he should happen to come, I would not give this straw for your life."
In the meanwhile, home comes the master himself from a neighbour's, where he had been invited to dinner; and, because he had observed the cattle not look well of late, he went up to the rack, and asked why they did not give them more fodder; then, casting his eyes downward, "Heydey!" says he, "why so sparing of your litter? pray scatter a little more here. And these cobwebs—But I have spoken so often that, unless I do it myself—" Thus, as he went on, prying into everything, he chanced to look where the Stag's horns lay sticking out of the straw; upon which he raised a hue and cry, called his people about him, killed the Stag, and made a prize of him.
MORAL.
For a work to be done thoroughly, it ought to be done by oneself; the eye of a master is keener than that of a servant.
Story DNA
Moral
For a work to be done thoroughly, it ought to be done by oneself; the eye of a master is keener than that of a servant.
Plot Summary
A Stag, fleeing hounds, hides in a farm's ox-stall, believing himself safe after several servants fail to notice him. Despite an ox's warning about a more observant 'person,' the Stag rejoices prematurely. When the master of the farm returns, he meticulously inspects the stall, discovers the Stag's horns protruding from the straw, and has the animal killed. The fable concludes with the moral that a master's keen eye ensures thorough work.
Themes
Emotional Arc
hope to despair
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables often reflect common societal structures and wisdom of their time, emphasizing practical lessons.
Plot Beats (10)
- A Stag is hunted by hounds in the forest.
- He flees to a farm-house and hides in an ox-stall under a heap of straw.
- An ox warns him of the danger, but the Stag hopes to escape at the first opportunity.
- The ox-man, other servants, and even the bailiff come and go without noticing the Stag.
- The Stag, believing himself safe, thanks the oxen profusely.
- One of the oxen gravely warns him about a 'certain person' with 'a hundred eyes' who could still discover him.
- The master of the farm returns home, concerned about his cattle's well-being.
- He meticulously inspects the stall, checking fodder and litter, and noticing cobwebs.
- While prying into everything, the master spots the Stag's horns sticking out of the straw.
- He raises an alarm, and the Stag is killed.
Characters
The Stag
A large, agile male deer, likely a red deer given the European context, with a muscular build and long, slender legs. His coat is a rich reddish-brown, sleek and well-maintained from his life in the forest. He is clearly exhausted and panting from being pursued.
Attire: None (animal)
Wants: To escape the hounds and survive.
Flaw: Overconfidence and a lack of understanding of human nature, specifically the master's keen eye. His large antlers, while a symbol of strength, also betray his hiding spot.
He goes from desperate fear to premature relief and gratitude, only to be discovered and killed, learning too late that true safety requires more than superficial concealment.
Fearful, desperate, naive, grateful (prematurely), somewhat boastful.
The Oxen
Large, powerful draft animals, likely a common European breed for farm work, with broad shoulders and strong legs. Their coats are a sturdy, earthy color, perhaps brown or black, and they appear well-fed but perhaps a bit neglected in terms of their stall's cleanliness.
Attire: None (animal), though they might have simple leather yokes or harnesses nearby, indicating their working role.
Wants: To live their quiet lives, and to offer honest, albeit grim, advice when asked.
Flaw: Their inability to directly intervene or change their circumstances, limited to offering warnings.
They remain consistent, serving as a voice of experience and a harbinger of the Stag's fate.
Cautious, observant, wise, grave, empathetic but realistic.
The Master
A man of sturdy build, likely middle-aged, with a practical and observant demeanor. His hands might be calloused from farm work, and his posture suggests a man used to overseeing operations.
Attire: Practical, sturdy clothing suitable for a farm owner in a European setting, perhaps a thick wool tunic or jerkin over a linen shirt, sturdy breeches, and leather boots. The colors would be muted earth tones, reflecting his working environment.
Wants: To ensure his farm is run efficiently and his property is well-maintained and productive.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, as his diligence is his strength in this fable.
He remains consistent, embodying the moral of the story: the keen eye of the master.
Diligent, observant, meticulous, authoritative, practical, sharp-eyed.
Locations
Thick Covert in the Forest
A dense, secluded part of a temperate forest, likely with thick undergrowth and mature trees providing deep shade and concealment.
Mood: Initially peaceful, then suddenly chaotic and dangerous.
The Stag is roused from his hiding place and begins his flight from the hounds.
Ox-Stall in a Farm-House
A rustic, functional stable for oxen, part of a European farm-house complex. It contains stalls, feeding racks, and a large pile of straw for bedding. The interior is likely dim, with cobwebs indicating a lack of thorough cleaning by servants.
Mood: Initially a place of desperate refuge and false security, later becoming a trap.
The Stag hides here, evades detection by servants, but is ultimately discovered by the master.