Section 83
The Lion and the Boar explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
One hot and thirsty day in the height of summer a Lion and a Boar came down to a little spring at the same moment to drink. In a trice they were quarrelling as to who should drink first. The quarrel soon became a fight and they attacked one another with the utmost fury. Presently, stopping for a...
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Public-domain original
One hot and thirsty day in the height of summer a Lion and a Boar came
down to a little spring at the same moment to drink. In a trice they
were quarrelling as to who should drink first. The quarrel soon became
a fight and they attacked one another with the utmost fury. Presently,
stopping for a moment to take breath, they saw some vultures seated on
a rock above evidently waiting for one of them to be killed, when they
would fly down and feed upon the carcase. The sight sobered them at
once, and they made up their quarrel, saying, "We had much better be
friends than fight and be eaten by vultures."
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A lion and boar stop fighting when they see vultures waiting for the loser.
Why this scene matters
This fable teaches that enemies may need to stop before outsiders benefit from their conflict.
Characters in this scene
- Lion: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
- the Boar: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
Simple story version
A lion and boar fight over water. Seeing scavengers waiting, they decide peace is wiser.