based on The Fables of Bidpai late 6th century

The Heron and the Crab

An ageing Heron finds himself a little too stiff to fish for himself, so he thinks of a way to get the fish to do it for him.

Introduction

The Fables of Bidpai are morality tales similar to the animal fables of Aesop, with a touch of the Arabian Nights. They were first published in England in 1570, but originated in India, and spread to the West from an Arabic translation made by Ibn al-Muqaffaʻ (724-?759) of Basra. In this tale, retold for the sake of brevity, a Heron finds that dastardly plans have a way of backfiring.

based on The Fables of Bidpai late 6th century

ONCE upon a time an aged Heron,* who had lived all his days beside a lake teeming with fish, was compelled to admit he was getting a little too stiff in the joints to catch his own meals. After thinking it over, he wandered across to a Crab, and sighed heavily.

‘What ails you, Heron?’ inquired the Crab.

‘Alas,’ the bird wept, ‘I heard two Fishermen say, that there were many good fish in this lake, and that when they had fished their own lake till naught was left, they would come hither, and fish this one. All the dear little fishes will die; and I (who have not taken above two fish in a day, and done no real harm) will starve!’

Seeing that the Crab was much distressed by this news, the Heron hurried on. ‘But fear not! There is another lake, beautiful as the dawn, so clear that the bird aloft may count the grains of sand upon the floor. No net is cast there, neither is there line nor lure. I will take the little fishes there myself, by two and by two. It is a great labour, but I must bear it.’

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* This story is told within another, the Fable of The Raven and the Snake.

Précis

An ageing Heron (so the fable goes) devised a cunning plan to get the fish to serve themselves up as food without any effort on his part. He told an influential Crab that fishermen were poised to catch all the fish, and that he was willing to transport them to another lake, a place of heavenly peace and safety.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

A heron was getting old. He found it hard to catch fish. He thought he had a solution.

See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.

IAge. IIEasy. IIIProblem.

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