Section 206
The Crab and the Fox explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
A Crab once left the sea-shore and went and settled in a meadow some way inland, which looked very nice and green and seemed likely to be a good place to feed in. But a hungry Fox came along and spied the Crab and caught him. Just as he was going to be eaten up, the Crab said,...
Read full original text in reading mode
Public-domain original
A Crab once left the sea-shore and went and settled in a meadow some
way inland, which looked very nice and green and seemed likely to be a
good place to feed in. But a hungry Fox came along and spied the Crab
and caught him. Just as he was going to be eaten up, the Crab said,
"This is just what I deserve; for I had no business to leave my
natural home by the sea and settle here as though I belonged to the
land."
Be content with your lot.
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A Crab once left the sea-shore and went and settled in a meadow some way inland, which looked very nice and green and seemed likely to be a good place to feed in.
Why this scene matters
This fable matters because it turns the lesson “Be content with your lot.” into a compact story about everyday judgment.
Characters in this scene
- The Crab: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- The Fox: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
A Crab once left the sea-shore and went and settled in a meadow some way inland, which looked very nice and green and seemed likely to be a good place to feed in. But a hungry Fox came along and spied the Crab and caught him.