Section 36
The Dog, the Cock, and the Fox explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
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A Dog and a Cock became great friends, and agreed to travel together. At nightfall the Cock flew up into the branches of a tree to roost, while the Dog curled himself up inside the trunk, which was hollow. At break of day the Cock woke up and crew, as usual. A Fox heard, and, wishing to make...
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Public-domain original
A Dog and a Cock became great friends, and agreed to travel together.
At nightfall the Cock flew up into the branches of a tree to roost,
while the Dog curled himself up inside the trunk, which was hollow. At
break of day the Cock woke up and crew, as usual. A Fox heard, and,
wishing to make a breakfast of him, came and stood under the tree and
begged him to come down. "I should so like," said he, "to make the
acquaintance of one who has such a beautiful voice." The Cock replied,
"Would you just wake my porter who sleeps at the foot of the tree?
He'll open the door and let you in." The Fox accordingly rapped on the
trunk, when out rushed the Dog and tore him in pieces.
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A fox tries to trick a cock, but the cock sends him toward a hidden dog.
Why this scene matters
This fable teaches that cleverness can defeat a flatterer’s trap.
Characters in this scene
- Dog: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
- the Cock: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
- the Fox: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
Simple story version
A fox praises the cock and asks him to come down. The cock tells him to wake the doorkeeper, who is actually a dog.