Section 241
The Ploughman and the Wolf explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
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A loosed his oxen from the plough, and led them away to the water to drink. While he was absent a half-starved Wolf appeared on the scene, and went up to the plough and began chewing the leather straps attached to the yoke. As he gnawed away desperately in the hope o...
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Public-domain original
A loosed his oxen from the plough, and led them away to the
water to drink. While he was absent a half-starved Wolf appeared on
the scene, and went up to the plough and began chewing the leather
straps attached to the yoke. As he gnawed away desperately in the hope
of satisfying his craving for food, he somehow got entangled in the
harness, and, taking fright, struggled to get free, tugging at the
traces as if he would drag the plough along with him. Just then the
Ploughman came back, and seeing what was happening, he cried, "Ah, you
old rascal, I wish you would give up thieving for good and take to
honest work instead."
Public-domain original text shown for study context. Underlined terms can be tapped for simple reader notes.
What happens here
A Ploughman loosed his oxen from the plough, and led them away to the water to drink.
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 Ploughman: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- The Wolf: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
A Ploughman loosed his oxen from the plough, and led them away to the water to drink. While he was absent a half-starved Wolf appeared on the scene, and went up to the plough and began chewing the leather straps attached to the yoke.