The Fox, the Wolf, and the Horse

Name: The Fox, the Wolf, and the Horse
Author: Jean de La Fontaine

A young fox tells an inexperienced wolf that he has seen a magnificent horse grazing in the meadow. Curious and hopeful that the animal may become prey, the two approach it. The horse, wary of them, prepares to flee, but the fox politely asks its name. The horse replies that its name is written around its heel by its shoer. Claiming ignorance because of his poor upbringing, the fox flatters the college-educated wolf into reading it. The wolf moves close to inspect the horse’s hoof and is struck down, losing four teeth. The fox tells him that the blow has confirmed a lesson: wise creatures mistrust all unknown things.

By Jean de La Fontaine · First published 1694 · Genre: Fable, Animal Tale, Didactic Literature · 477 words

First lines

A fox, though young, by no means raw, / Had seen a horse, the first he ever saw: / 'Ho! neighbour wolf,' said he to one quite green, / 'A creature in our meadow I have seen, -- / Sleek, grand! I seem to see him yet, -- / The finest beast I ever met. ' / 'Is he a stouter one than we? ' / The wolf demanded, eagerly; / 'Some picture of him let me see. ' / 'If I could paint,' said fox, 'I should delight / T' anticipate your pleasure at the sight; / But come; who knows? perhaps it is a prey / By fortune offer'd in our way. ' / They went. The horse, turn'd loose to graze, / Not liking much their looks or ways, / Was just about to gallop off. / 'Sir,' said the fox, 'your humble servants, we / Make bold to ask you what your name may be. ' / The horse, an animal with brains enough, / Replied, 'Sirs, you yourselves may read my name; / My shoer round my heel hath writ the same. ' / The fox excus'd himself for want of knowledge: / 'Me, sir, my parents did not educate, -- / So poor, a hole was their entire estate. / My friend, the wolf, however, taught at college, / Could read it were it even Greek. ' / The wolf, to flattery weak, / Approach'd to verify the boast; / For which four teeth he lost. / The high raised hoof came down with such a blow, / As laid him bleeding on the ground full low. / 'My brother,' said the fox, 'this shows how just / What once was taught me by a fox of wit, -- / Which on thy jaws this animal hath writ, -- / "All unknown things the wise mistrust. "[1]

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Similar titles

Genres

Fable — The work uses talking animals, a compact illustrative plot, and an explicit moral: wise people mistrust what they do not know.
Animal Tale — A fox, wolf, and horse act as the central characters, with animal behavior serving as a vehicle for human social traits.
Didactic Literature — Its primary purpose is instruction, warning readers against gullibility, vanity, and uncritical confidence.
Moral Tale — The wolf's injury results directly from his weakness for flattery, and the ending states the lesson drawn from his mistake.

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The Fox, the Wolf, and the Horse is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jean de La Fontaine, dated 1694 CE.

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Work type: Fable
Author: Jean de La Fontaine
Date: 1694 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fable, Animal Tale, Didactic Literature, Moral Tale, Allegory
Length: 477 words
Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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