Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Hunter and the Horseman explained
A Hunter catches a hare but is tricked by a Horseman who pretends to buy it, then rides off without paying.
What happens
A Hunter catches a hare but is tricked by a Horseman who pretends to buy it, then rides off without paying. The Hunter, unable to catch him, pretends the hare was a gift to save face.
Themes in this chapter
Cunning and Deception
The Horseman uses trickery to obtain the hare without payment, highlighting deceit.
Appearance vs. Reality
The Horseman appears as a buyer but is actually a thief, and the Hunter pretends the hare was a gift to mask his loss.
Characters to notice
- The Horseman
The Horseman deceives the Hunter by offering to buy the hare, then flees without payment.
Key passages
“A Hunter went out after game, and succeeded in catching a hare, which he was carrying home with him when he met a man on horseback, who said to him, “You have had some sport I see, sir,” and offered to buy it.”
A Hunter caught a hare and was taking it home when a Horseman complimented his catch and offered to purchase it.
Sets up the encounter and the Horseman's deceptive offer.
“The Hunter readily agreed; but the Horseman had no sooner got the hare in his hands than he set spurs to his horse and went off at full gallop.”
The Hunter agreed to sell, but as soon as the Horseman took the hare, he spurred his horse and fled.
The moment of betrayal and theft.
“The Hunter ran after him for some little distance; but it soon dawned upon him that he had been tricked, and he gave up trying to overtake the Horseman, and, to save his face, called after him as loud as he could, “All right, sir, all right, take your hare: it was meant all along as a present.””
The Hunter chased briefly but realized he was tricked, so he stopped and shouted that the hare was always intended as a gift to save his dignity.
The Hunter's attempt to save face after being deceived.