Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Goatherd and the Goat explained
A goatherd tries to coax a stray goat back to the flock, but when persuasion fails, he throws a stone and breaks her horn.
What happens
A goatherd tries to coax a stray goat back to the flock, but when persuasion fails, he throws a stone and breaks her horn. He begs her not to tell the master, but she points out that the broken horn itself will reveal the truth. The moral is that it is useless to try to hide what cannot be hidden.
Themes in this chapter
Justice and Consequence
The goatherd's attempt to hide his wrongdoing is thwarted by the obvious evidence of the broken horn, illustrating that actions have unavoidable consequences.
Appearance vs. Reality
The goatherd's plea for secrecy contrasts with the reality that the injury itself will speak the truth, showing the futility of hiding what is apparent.
Characters to notice
- The Goatherd
The goatherd loses his temper and injures the goat, then futilely tries to conceal his deed.
- The Goat
The goat strays from the flock, is struck by a stone, and points out that the broken horn will reveal the truth.
Key passages
“You silly fellow, my horn would cry aloud even if I held my tongue.”
You foolish man, even if I stay silent, my broken horn will reveal what happened.
The goat rebukes the goatherd for thinking he could hide the injury, emphasizing that the evidence is undeniable.
“It’s no use trying to hide what can’t be hidden.”
There is no point in attempting to conceal something that is impossible to keep secret.
The moral of the fable, underscoring the theme that truth will inevitably come to light.