The Bustard by Tomás de Iriarte

Name: The Bustard
Author: Tomás de Iriarte

A satirical narrative describes a bird that, dissatisfied with its own offspring, deliberately undermines natural reproduction by stealing eggs from a variety of other birds. The creature gathers these eggs—all belonging to different species—and incubates them together in one nest, hoping that such a mixture will yield a brood of improved, lighter, or otherwise superior young. Despite the bird’s persistent efforts and long periods of incubation, only some of the eggs hatch properly, resulting in a brood that is heterogeneous in nature. The bird then summons a number of its peers for an exhibition of its supposedly novel progeny. In a twist that underscores the absurdity of the enterprise, each visiting bird retrieves its own offspring from the communal nest, leaving the original bird with no true offspring of its own. This outcome critically highlights the futility of attempting to manufacture greatness by artificially combining elements that inherently belong to others. The work uses this farcical episode to provide a broader commentary on the impracticality and inherent risks of borrowing or misappropriating ideas, qualities, or accomplishments from various sources with the aim of creating something deemed superior. Through vivid imagery and biting irony, the narrative mocks the pretense of originality and the vanity involved in claiming superiority over naturally authentic or established works. The failure of the bird’s misguided strategy serves as a symbolic critique of any practice that relies on the superficial amalgamation of external elements rather than cultivating genuine, original qualities. In sum, the narrative is a biting allegory that warns against the dangers of imitating or misappropriating the creations of others. It underscores that true merit is not achieved through the patchwork of others’ works but through authentic, original creation, and that attempts to fabricate excellence in this way are doomed to fail.

By Tomás de Iriarte · First published 1782 · Genre: Satire, Fable, Allegory · 236 words

First lines

The sluggish Bustard, in her foolish pate, / Vexed with her young ones' awkward flight, / Purposed to raise a brood more light, / Even though 't were illegitimate.

For this end many an egg she stole / From Partridge, Pigeon and the Kite, / And sundry birds of easy flight; / And in her nest mixed up the whole.

Long while and patiently she sat upon them; / Though some proved addled, yet, in time, the rest / With a fine brood of nurslings filled the nest; / And many a kind, of course, was found among them.

A host of birds collects, at her request, / To admire her progeny, so rare and new; / But each away with his own offspring flew, / And left poor Bustard with an empty nest.

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The Bustard is listed on Textopian as a fable by Tomás de Iriarte, dated 1782 CE.

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Work type: Fable
Author: Tomás de Iriarte
Date: 1782 CE
Language: English
Genres: Satire, Fable, Allegory, Humorous Poetry
Length: 236 words
Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Genres

Satire — The poem employs wit and irony to critique the folly of its characters using animal allegory.
Fable — It uses anthropomorphic animals to convey a moral lesson, aligning with traditional fable characteristics.
Allegory — The narrative symbolically reflects on broader human behaviors and societal norms.
Humorous Poetry — Its playful structure and absurd scenario contribute to a distinctive humorous tone.