Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Nightingale and the Hawk explained
A Nightingale, singing on an oak bough, is caught by a hungry Hawk.
What happens
A Nightingale, singing on an oak bough, is caught by a hungry Hawk. She pleads for her life by arguing she is too small a meal and suggests he seek larger prey. The Hawk dismisses her plea, refusing to trade a certain prize for an uncertain better one.
Themes in this chapter
Cunning and Deception
The Nightingale attempts to deceive the Hawk into releasing her by arguing she is not worth eating.
Wisdom and Foolishness
The Hawk wisely refuses to give up a certain meal for an uncertain one, illustrating practical wisdom.
Characters to notice
- The Nightingale
Caught while singing, pleads for life by claiming she is too small.
- The Hawk
Hungry predator who seizes the Nightingale and rejects her plea.
Key passages
“I’m not big enough to make you a good meal: you ought to seek your prey among the bigger birds.”
The Nightingale claims she is too small to satisfy the Hawk's hunger and advises him to hunt larger birds instead.
The Nightingale's desperate attempt to escape by downplaying her own value as prey.
“You must think me very simple if you suppose I am going to give up a certain prize on the chance of a better of which I see at present no signs.”
The Hawk scoffs at the idea of releasing a guaranteed catch for a hypothetical larger one that is not in sight.
The Hawk's pragmatic refusal highlights the folly of risking a sure thing for an uncertain gain.