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Aesop's Fables, Part 44 summary

Part 44 of 284 · 1 min to read the part

In The Apes and the Two Travellers, the Ape King rewards a dishonest visitor for praising him and his subjects, prompting the truthful companion to expect an even greater gift. Instead, the king takes offense at being called an ape and orders the honest man clawed to death.

What happens

  1. Two men, one always dishonest and one always truthful, reach the land of the apes.
  2. The Ape King summons them and displays his grandeur on a throne surrounded by rows of subjects.
  3. The dishonest traveler praises the king and his subjects, earning a splendid gift.
  4. Expecting a greater reward for honesty, the other traveler calls the king and his subjects fine apes.
  5. The enraged king orders the truthful traveler taken away and clawed to death.

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What to notice

The king's response overturns the honest visitor's expectation of a greater reward. Truth becomes dangerous when it offends the ruler.

Quick check

Why does the truthful traveler expect a greater reward?

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