A fresco depicting a pigeon in the Villa Poppaea, in what is now Torre Annunziata in Italy, a few miles south of Naples. Like the nearby towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii, the town of Oplontis was buried in the eruption of Vesuvius in 79, and one of the buildings preserved was a magnificent seaside villa thought to have belonged to Poppaea Sabina, second wife of Emperor Nero. The moral of our Fable is one the Romans struggled to learn, even though Emperors such as Nero should have been a constant reminder of it.
Introduction
This little Fable should hardly require explanation, yet the lesson it teaches is repeatedly forgotten. When we are bullied and badgered, it is easy to appease our tormentor in the hope that ready compliance will be rewarded with peace; but bullies don’t stop bullying, it’s what they do.
SOME Pigeons had long lived in fear of a Kite, but by being always alert, and keeping near their dove-cote, they had contrived hitherto to escape the attacks of the enemy. Finding his sallies unsuccessful, the Kite betook himself to craft: “Why,” said he, “do you prefer this life of continual anxiety, when, if you would only make me your king, I would secure you from every attack that could be made upon you?” The Pigeons, trusting to his professions, called him to the throne; but no sooner was he established there than he exercised his prerogative by devouring a pigeon a-day. Whereupon one that yet awaited his turn, said no more than “It serves us right.”
They who voluntarily put power into the hand of a tyrant or an enemy, must not wonder if it be at last turned against themselves.*
From ‘Aesop’s Fables: a New Version, Chiefly From the Original Sources’ (1911), by Thomas James (1809-1863).
* See also Adam Smith on Fit and Proper Persons.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
A fable tells of some pigeons who were so fearful of attack that they agreed to take a kite as their king, to defend the dovecote from predators. To one pigeon at least it came as no surprise that once the kite was snugly installed, he duly saw off his rivals — and took one pigeon daily for his trouble. (59 / 60 words)
A fable tells of some pigeons who were so fearful of attack that they agreed to take a kite as their king, to defend the dovecote from predators. To one pigeon at least it came as no surprise that once the kite was snugly installed, he duly saw off his rivals — and took one pigeon daily for his trouble.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, if, just, must, not, until, whereas.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 He. Whereupon. You.
2 Call. Exercise. Last.
3 Devour. Himself. Right.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1.
A lot.
Much.
2.
Apprise.
Alert.
3.
At last.
Lastly.
4.
Aware.
Alert.
5.
Can.
Could.
6.
Each.
Every.
7.
Enemy.
Enmity.
8.
Right.
Obligation.
9.
Throne.
Crown.
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Keep. 2. Last. 3. Long. 4. Found. 5. Right. 6. Serve. 7. Live.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
qt (6+1)
equate. quiet. quit. quite. quota. quote.
quoit.
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