Section 259
The Fox and the Hedgehog explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
A Fox, in swimming across a rapid river, was swept away by the current and carried a long way downstream in spite of his struggles, until at last, bruised and exhausted, he managed to scramble on to dry ground from a backwater. As he lay there unable to move, a swarm of horsef...
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Public-domain original
A Fox, in swimming across a rapid river, was swept away by the current
and carried a long way downstream in spite of his struggles, until at
last, bruised and exhausted, he managed to scramble on to dry
ground from a backwater. As he lay there unable to move, a swarm of
horseflies settled on him and sucked his blood undisturbed, for he was
too weak even to shake them off. A Hedgehog saw him, and asked if he
should brush away the flies that were tormenting him; but the Fox
replied, "Oh, please, no, not on any account, for these flies have
sucked their fill and are taking very little from me now; but, if you
drive them off, another swarm of hungry ones will come and suck all
the blood I have left, and leave me without a drop in my veins."
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A short fable about The Fox and The Hedgehog shows how choices, assumptions, or desires can lead to consequences.
Why this scene matters
This fable matters because it turns a common human habit into a short lesson about judgment and consequences.
Characters in this scene
- The Fox: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- The Hedgehog: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
In simple terms, The Fox and The Hedgehog face a small situation that reveals a larger lesson about behavior and consequences.