Aesop's Fables · Chapter
Mercury and the Tradesmen explained
Jupiter instructs Mercury to infuse lies into the tradesmen during their creation.
What happens
Jupiter instructs Mercury to infuse lies into the tradesmen during their creation. Mercury distributes the infusion equally among all tradesmen, but when he reaches the horse-dealer last, he pours all the remaining lies into him, explaining why all tradesmen lie, but horse-dealers lie the most.
Themes in this chapter
Cunning and Deception
The entire fable centers on the deliberate infusion of lies into tradesmen, highlighting deception as an inherent trait.
Human Nature and Vice
The story comments on the universal human vice of lying, especially among those in trade, with a pointed critique of horse-dealers.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“When Jupiter was creating man, he told Mercury to make an infusion of lies, and to add a little of it to the other ingredients which went to the making of the Tradesmen.”
During the creation of humans, Jupiter ordered Mercury to prepare a mixture of lies and blend it into the materials used to form tradesmen.
Sets up the mythological origin of dishonesty among tradespeople.
“This is why all Tradesmen lie more or less, but they none of them lie like a horse-dealer.”
This explains why every tradesman is somewhat dishonest, but horse-dealers are the worst liars of all.
Delivers the moral punchline, emphasizing the exaggerated dishonesty of horse-dealers.