Section 229
The Ploughman, the Ass, and the Ox explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
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A yoked his Ox and his together, and set to work to plough his field. It was a poor makeshift of a team, but it was the best he could do, as he had but a single Ox. At the end of the day, when the beasts were loosed from the yoke, the Ass said to the Ox, "Well, w...
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Public-domain original
A yoked his Ox and his together, and set to work to
plough his field. It was a poor makeshift of a team, but it was the
best he could do, as he had but a single Ox. At the end of the day,
when the beasts were loosed from the yoke, the Ass said to the Ox,
"Well, we've had a hard day: which of us is to carry the master home?"
The Ox looked surprised at the question. "Why," said he, "you, to be
sure, as usual."
Public-domain original text shown for study context. Underlined terms can be tapped for simple reader notes.
What happens here
A Ploughman yoked his Ox and his Ass together, and set to work to plough his field.
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 Ass: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- The Ox: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
A Ploughman yoked his Ox and his Ass together, and set to work to plough his field. It was a poor makeshift of a team, but it was the best he could do, as he had but a single Ox.