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Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Impostor explained
A man who falsely promises a grand sacrifice to the gods is tricked into being sold into slavery for exactly the amount he pretended to offer.
What happens
A man who falsely promises a grand sacrifice to the gods is tricked into being sold into slavery for exactly the amount he pretended to offer.
Themes in this chapter
Cunning and Deception
The man attempts to deceive the gods with false offerings, but the gods outwit him in return.
Justice and Consequence
The gods ensure the man's dishonest vow leads to a fitting punishment—being sold for the exact sum he pretended to offer.
Characters to notice
- The Ox
Referenced in the man's vow to sacrifice a hundred oxen, though he had none.
Key passages
“Do not promise more than you can perform.”
Never make a promise you cannot keep.
The moral of the fable, warning against empty vows.