Section 218
The Rivers and the Sea explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
Once upon a time all the Rivers combined to protest against the action of the Sea in making their waters salt. "When we come to you," said they to the Sea, "we are sweet and drinkable: but when once we have mingled with you, our waters become as briny and unpalatable as your o...
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Public-domain original
Once upon a time all the Rivers combined to protest against the action
of the Sea in making their waters salt. "When we come to you," said
they to the Sea, "we are sweet and drinkable: but when once we have
mingled with you, our waters become as briny and unpalatable as your
own." The Sea replied shortly, "Keep away from me and you'll remain
sweet."
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
Once upon a time all the Rivers combined to protest against the action of the Sea in making their waters salt.
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 Rivers: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
- The Sea: A figure in the fable whose choice helps reveal the lesson.
Simple story version
Once upon a time all the Rivers combined to protest against the action of the Sea in making their waters salt. "When we come to you," said they to the Sea, "we are sweet and drinkable: but when once we have mingled with you, our waters become as briny and unpalatable as your own." The Sea replied shortly, "Keep away from me and you'll remain sweet."