Aesop's Fables · Chapter
Grief and His Due explained
When Jupiter assigns privileges to the gods, Grief arrives late and receives the tears shed for the dead as his due.
What happens
When Jupiter assigns privileges to the gods, Grief arrives late and receives the tears shed for the dead as his due. The fable warns that excessive mourning invites further sorrow, as Grief delights in such tribute and will send more cause for tears.
Themes in this chapter
Justice and Consequence
Jupiter's allocation of tears to Grief reflects a cosmic justice where each god receives a due, but excessive mourning brings further sorrow.
Human Nature and Vice
The fable explores the human tendency to mourn excessively, which Grief exploits, highlighting a vice of immoderate grief.
Characters to notice
- Jupiter
Assigns privileges to the gods and grants Grief the tears for the dead.
Key passages
“The more devoutly men render to him his due, the more lavish is he of that which he has to bestow.”
The more people give in to grief, the more grief gives them reason to mourn.
Illustrates the cyclical nature of grief and mourning.
“It is not well, therefore, to mourn long for the departed; else Grief, whose sole pleasure is in such mourning, will be quick to send fresh cause for tears.”
Prolonged mourning is unwise because it invites further sorrow.
Moral of the fable advising moderation in grief.