Aesop's Fables · Chapter
Mercury and the Woodman explained
A Woodman loses his axe in a river and laments his loss.
What happens
A Woodman loses his axe in a river and laments his loss. Mercury appears, retrieves a golden axe and then a silver axe, but the Woodman honestly denies they are his. Mercury finally retrieves the original axe and rewards his honesty with the other two. When a dishonest companion tries the same trick, Mercury exposes his greed and leaves him empty-handed, teaching that honesty is the best policy.
Themes in this chapter
Cunning and Deception
The dishonest companion attempts to deceive Mercury by claiming the golden axe as his own, but his cunning backfires.
Justice and Consequence
Mercury rewards the honest woodman and punishes the dishonest one, demonstrating that actions have moral consequences.
Characters to notice
- The Woodman
The honest woodman who loses his axe and is rewarded by Mercury for his truthfulness.
- Mercury
The god who tests the woodman's honesty and rewards or punishes accordingly.
Key passages
“Honesty is the best policy.”
Being truthful and upright is the most advantageous course of action in the long run.
The moral of the fable, emphasizing the practical and ethical benefits of honesty.