Section 90
The Traveller and His Dog explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
Excerpt preview
A Traveller was about to start on a journey, and said to his Dog, who was stretching himself by the door, "Come, what are you yawning for? Hurry up and get ready: I mean you to go with me." But the Dog merely wagged his tail and said quietly, "I'm ready, master: it's you I'm waiting for."
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Public-domain original
A Traveller was about to start on a journey, and said to his Dog, who
was stretching himself by the door, "Come, what are you yawning for?
Hurry up and get ready: I mean you to go with me." But the Dog merely
wagged his tail and said quietly, "I'm ready, master: it's you I'm
waiting for."
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A traveler tells his dog to prepare, but the dog says the delay is the traveler’s fault.
Why this scene matters
This fable criticizes people who blame others for delays they create themselves.
Characters in this scene
- Traveller: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
- His Dog: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
Simple story version
A traveler is slow to leave and scolds his dog. The dog replies that he has been ready all along.