Section 54
The Thieves and the Cock explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
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Some Thieves broke into a house, and found nothing worth taking except a Cock, which they seized and carried off with them. When they were preparing their supper, one of them caught up the Cock, and was about to wring his neck, when he cried out for mercy and said, "Pray do not kill me: you will find...
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Public-domain original
Some Thieves broke into a house, and found nothing worth taking except
a Cock, which they seized and carried off with them. When they were
preparing their supper, one of them caught up the Cock, and was about
to wring his neck, when he cried out for mercy and said, "Pray do not
kill me: you will find me a most useful bird, for I rouse honest men
to their work in the morning by my crowing." But the Thief replied
with some heat, "Yes, I know you do, making it still harder for us to
get a livelihood. Into the pot you go!"
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
Thieves steal a cock, and the cock argues that he helps people by waking them.
Why this scene matters
This fable shows that usefulness does not always protect someone from those who want profit.
Characters in this scene
- Thieves: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
- the Cock: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
Simple story version
The cock begs thieves not to kill him because he wakes people for work. They say that is exactly why he bothers them.