The Master and His Dogs

Summary

This story conveys a moral lesson about self-preservation and foresight through the actions of a man and his animals. As a storm forces the man to progressively sacrifice his livestock for survival, he starts with sheep and goats before moving to his oxen, which are crucial for his work. Observing the pattern of the man's decisions, his dogs conclude that their safety is under threat and decide to leave before they too become victims. This tale highlights the importance of recognizing warning signs and taking timely actions to protect oneself in difficult situations.

Read Online

A Certain Man, detained by a storm in his country house, first of all killed his sheep, and then his goats, for the maintenance of his household. The storm still continuing, he was obliged to slaughter his yoke oxen for food. On seeing this, his Dogs took counsel together, and said, “It is time for us to be off, for if the master spare not his oxen, who work for his gain, how can we expect him to spare us?”