batch.motif.greek-aesop-fables-vernon-jones-gutenberg-l3568-l3602
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-aesop-fables-vernon-jones-gutenberg-l3568-l3602
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
passage_locator:
label: THE MAN AND HIS TWO SWEETHEARTS / THE EAGLE, THE JACKDAW, AND THE SHEPHERD
/ THE WOLF AND THE BOY / THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR ASS; lines 3568-3602
start: '3568'
end: '3602'
translation: Aesop's Fables; a new translation
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: "“in trying to please all he had pleased none”"
summary: A miller and his son take their ass to market. After repeatedly changing
their behavior in response to criticism from passersby, they end by carrying the
ass; the animal breaks free at a bridge, falls into the river, and drowns. The
miller returns home ashamed and convinced that trying to please everyone has pleased
no one and cost him the ass.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The miller and his young son drive their ass toward market in hopes of selling
him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: A troop of girls laughs at the pair for walking when they could ride, and
the miller has his son mount the ass.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Old acquaintances criticize the son for riding while the miller walks, and
the miller then rides while the son walks behind.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Women and children criticize the miller for riding while his son walks, and
the miller makes his son ride behind him.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Travellers warn that the ass will be exhausted by carrying both riders and
suggest that the miller would do better to carry the ass.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The miller and son tie the ass’s legs with a rope, sling him on a pole, and
carry him between them into town.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: The townspeople laugh at the sight and mock the father and son, with some
calling them lunatics.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: At a bridge over the river, the ass becomes frightened, struggles, breaks
the ropes, falls into the water, and drowns.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: The miller goes home vexed and ashamed, concluding that he pleased no one
by trying to please all and lost his ass as well.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Miller
description: A father who owns the ass and is taking him to market to sell.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Miller’s young son
description: The miller’s young son, who accompanies him on the road to market.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ass
description: The animal being taken to market for sale; he is ridden, carried, and
finally drowned.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Troop of girls
description: Girls on the road who laugh and say the miller and son are foolish
for walking instead of riding.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Old cronies
description: Old acquaintances of the miller who criticize the son for riding while
the miller walks.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Women and children
description: A party of women and children who criticize the miller for riding while
his son walks.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Travellers
description: Travellers who question the miller and warn that the ass will be exhausted
under the load of two riders.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Townspeople
description: People who run out in crowds to laugh at and mock the father and son
carrying the ass.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: ass owner and seller
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The miller says the ass is his own and that he is taking it to market to
sell.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: one who changes conduct to satisfy others
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The miller repeatedly follows outside advice and finally concludes that trying
to please all has pleased none.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: accompanying son
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The son accompanies the miller and alternately rides, walks, and helps carry
the ass.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: market animal and object of burden
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The ass is being taken to market, carries riders, is carried by the father
and son, and dies in the river.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: critic or adviser on the road
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
basis: Each group comments on the miller’s behavior and prompts a change in how
the ass, father, and son travel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: public mockers
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The townspeople laugh at and mock the father and son when they enter carrying
the ass.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: ass
literal_form: Ass taken to market, ridden, carried, and drowned
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: road to market
literal_form: Dusty road on which the father and son meet successive groups of people
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: rope and pole
literal_form: Rope binding the ass’s legs and pole used to carry him
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:4
label: bridge over the river
literal_form: Bridge over the river where the ass breaks loose and falls into the
water
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Journey to market begins
summary: The miller and his son take the ass toward market for sale and first alter
their conduct after girls ridicule them for walking.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Successive criticisms on the road
summary: Old cronies, then women and children, criticize who rides and who walks,
leading the miller to reverse the arrangement and then to put both himself and
his son on the ass.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Advice to carry the ass
summary: Travellers object that both riders will exhaust the ass, and the miller
agrees to try carrying the animal instead.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Ridicule in town
summary: The miller and his son enter town carrying the ass tied to a pole, and
crowds laugh at and mock them.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Loss at the bridge
summary: At the bridge over the river, the frightened ass struggles free, falls
into the water, and drowns; the miller returns home ashamed.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Trying to please everyone leads to pleasing no one
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The narrative repeatedly shows the miller obeying each new criticism and
ends with the explicit conclusion that he pleased none by trying to please all.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy reference is broad; the passage is a moral fable rather than
a mythic wisdom instruction scene.
- id: motif:2
label: 'Reversal of expected burden: humans carry the pack animal'
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After travellers suggest that riding will exhaust the ass, the miller and
son bind the ass and carry him on a pole, provoking public laughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: This is a comic narrative device in the fable; no broader taxonomy reference
is supplied.
- id: motif:3
label: Following conflicting public advice brings loss
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Different groups offer incompatible judgments, the miller changes course
each time, and the final result is the drowning of the ass and the failure of
the market journey.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: Closely overlaps with motif:1; separated here to mark the sequence of
conflicting advisers as a distinct pattern.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 3568-3574
quote_or_summary: The miller and his young son drive their ass to market to sell
him; girls on the road mock them for walking, so the son mounts the ass.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 3575-3580
quote_or_summary: Old acquaintances say the son will be spoiled if he rides while
the miller walks, so the miller rides and the son walks behind.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 3581-3586
quote_or_summary: Women and children call the miller selfish for riding while the
boy walks, so the miller has his son get up behind him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 3587-3593
quote_or_summary: Travellers ask about the ass and warn that with such a load he
will be exhausted before market; they say the miller would do better to carry
him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 3594-3598
quote_or_summary: The miller and son tie the ass’s legs, sling him on a pole, and
carry him into town; crowds come out to laugh and mock them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 3599-3601
quote_or_summary: At a bridge over the river, the ass is frightened by the noise
and unusual situation, struggles, breaks the ropes, falls into the water, and
drowns.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:7
type: quote
locator: 3601-3602
quote_or_summary: "“in trying to please all he had pleased none, and had lost his
Ass into the bargain.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: high
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Comparison claims are omitted
because the passage does not itself support a specific cross-textual or historical
comparison.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
No figures or scenes were extracted from the other fable titles in the locator because their text was not included in the supplied passage.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-aesop-fables-vernon-jones-gutenberg__l3568-l3602
passage_sha256=011018e9d186b32090c401963fe2e3dc4c25e129ed48705e6642486cc7225cda