based on The Fables of Bidpai late 6th century

The Raven and the Snake

A harassed mother Raven vows bloody revenge on a venomous Snake, but the wily old Jackal has a better idea.

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 the tale below, retold for the sake of brevity, a distraught mother learns that justice doesn’t have to involve confrontation.

based on The Fables of Bidpai late 6th century

ONCE upon a time, a Raven lived upon a mountain-side, in the fissure of a rock. Nearby lived a venomous Snake, and this Snake would slither out of his den to snatch the poor Raven’s chicks and devour them, one by one. At last, the Raven vowed to put an end to the heartless tyrant, and after devising a plan she asked the Jackal what he thought of it. ‘For I am resolved’ said she ‘to rid myself of the calamity of the Serpent, whose mouth waters with deadly poison, and whose habitation is death.’

‘Your plan,’ said the Jackal, adopting a judicial tone, ‘as you express it, is to wait until the Snake is overcome with sleep, and then peck out his eyes with your blood-drinking beak, so that your chicks, which are the very lustre of your own eyes, shall be preserved from his insatiable malice. Well, it won’t do. Sensible people don’t risk their own necks like that. Remember what happened to the Heron, when the Crab found out what his game was!’ And he told the Raven the whole story.*

‘Truly’ nodded the Raven, much awed, ‘the contrivance of evil shall only encompass the authors thereof!’

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* See The Heron and the Crab. As in the Arabian Nights, the Fables of Bidpai nest one story inside another.

Précis

Once upon a time, the Raven vowed to destroy her mortal enemy the snake. But the Jackal urged her not to make a direct attack on the Snake, as he thought it too dangerous. Illustrating his point with a little fable of his own, he persuaded her to consider measures that were just as effective, but less fraught with peril.

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 snake kept eating a raven’s eggs. The raven wanted to stop him. The raven asked a jackal for advice.

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

IHow. IIPrevent. IIIWhat.

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