Foreword:
This fable represents stubborn and thoughtless behaviours, especially without sound argument or reason. It is wrongly attributed to Aesop, although there is no ancient source to substantiate such claim. Hence, it is not catalogued in the Perry Index. However, it remains a very popular fable and has been in circulation for a long time.
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A merchant of earthenware, was on his way to the market.
Since the merchant traded in earthen pots, pottery items, and other clay wares, that were delicate and easily breakable, he had to be very careful in loading, unloading, and carrying his merchandise.
To carry his delicate merchandise, he loaded them carefully into horse-ridden carts, and cautiously led a string of such horse carts to the market and back. And, his horses were very disciplined, and obidient to their master, with whom he confidently trusted his delicate merchandise.
This day, was like any other day.
The merchant led his string of carts to the market, when he came to a steep hill.
"Whoa! Whoa! Stop here, my fine horses!", he instructed the horses, "This hill is too steep to run down. I will lead all of you down, only one at a time. The others can rest meanwhile."
Ever so cautious, the merchant sat the horses. And he took the birdle off one of the older horses, to slowly lead her downhill.
Walking the old horse carefully, supporting his weight to slow him down at the steeper places, and constantly listening to the 'clink and clank' sound of his merchandise for assurance that they are not breaking, he slowly led the old horse downwards.
Steering such manoeuvre was time-consuming, and required mastery.
And, as the merchant was doing so, a young horse became very impatient while waiting for his turn.
"Just look at how slowly, the old horse moves!", he said to the other horses, "We will be waiting here until tomorrow, for him to get down."
One after another, the merchant led the older horses downhill.
All this while, the young horse waiting for his turn, became very impatient.
He started to jeer at them, but the experienced horses paid no attention to him, and continued to follow their master slowly and cautiously.
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"Hey there, you old fellow! You crawl like a snail!", the young horse continued to jeer from the hilltop at a older horse who was picking his way down the steep hill, "Don't stumble on the stones! Watch out for the pebbles! Go slower!"
Paying no attention, the merchant patiently continued with leading every horse cart, one after the other.
On safely reaching the bottom of the hill, the merchant sat them by caringly assuring each one of them, "Here we are, safe at the bottom of the hill. And not one piece of pottery is broken. Congratulations, and thank you!"
Finally, all but the young horse remained at the top of the hill.
The merchant climbed back to the top of the hill for the young horse, "Now, it is your turn. You have been very impatient. Let us see, if you do as well as the other horses."
The young horse, overconfident of his abilities, thought, "Indeed! What an insult! It is time for me to show the master a thing or two."
Without waiting for his master, he started off at a gallop, straight down the hill.
Worried in anticipitation of the worst, the merchant came running after him.
"Wait! Wait! Slow down!", he shouted at the young horse, "At this speed, you will break all my pottery!"
The young horse cared little for merchant's shouts, and continued to gallop down the hill, without any care for his cart and its contents, either.
Faster, and faster, the young horse galloped downhill, in a bid to prove his abilities.
Suddenly, he realized that he was going too fast, and getting out of control. He panicked, "Dear me! This is really too fast. I must slow down a little."
He tried to slow himself down, but it was too late for that.
Even if he managed to slow down, the cart wasn't getting any slower.
The cart had picked up momentum, and had started rolling downhill, faster than him.
As the young horse attempted to stop, the cart came from behind, and banged his rear.
He lost all control over himself, and tumbled down the remaining hillside, with the cart following suite.
The young horse fell down the hill, face down in front of the older horses, hurt in body and pride. And, his cart lay overturned beside him, with all the pottery broken into pieces.
As the merchant came downhill, running after him, to the sight of devastation, remarked on a sad note, "See for yourself, now, what your impatience has resulted into!"
Moral:
Haste makes waste.
Or,
Those who do not listen to reason but stubbornly go their own way, are on the road to misfortune.
Summary:
A merchant was going to the market to sell earthen pots and other pottery items. He loaded his delicate goods into horse-carts, and led the string of carts towards the market. On the way, there was a stiff hill. The merchant unbriddled the carts, and slowly led them one by one, down the hill to ensure that his delicate pottery goods were not harmed. However, a young horse acted smart, and started down the hill all by itself. It soon lost control, and came falling. All the delicate pottery goods were broken into pieces, and so was the cart.
