Section 123
The Sheep, the Wolf, and the Stag explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
A Stag once asked a Sheep to lend him a measure of wheat, saying that his friend the Wolf would be his surety. The Sheep, however, was afraid that they meant to cheat her; so she excused herself, saying, "The Wolf is in the habit of seizing what he wants and running off with it without paying, and...
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Public-domain original
A Stag once asked a Sheep to lend him a measure of wheat, saying that
his friend the Wolf would be his surety. The Sheep, however, was
afraid that they meant to cheat her; so she excused herself, saying,
"The Wolf is in the habit of seizing what he wants and running off
with it without paying, and you, too, can run much faster than I. So
how shall I be able to come up with either of you when the debt falls
due?"
Two blacks do not make a white.
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A stag asks a sheep for grain with a wolf as guarantor, but the sheep distrusts both.
Why this scene matters
This fable teaches caution when a risky borrower brings an even riskier backer.
Characters in this scene
- Sheep: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
- the Wolf: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
- the Stag: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
Simple story version
The stag wants grain and says the wolf will guarantee payment. The sheep refuses because both animals are dangerous.