batch.motif.greek-aesop-fables-vernon-jones-gutenberg-l3723-l3734
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-aesop-fables-vernon-jones-gutenberg-l3723-l3734
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
passage_locator:
label: THE ASS AND THE MULE / BROTHER AND SISTER / THE HEIFER AND THE OX / THE KINGDOM
OF THE LION; lines 3723-3734
start: '3723'
end: '3734'
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: '"the weak take their place without fear by the side of the strong"'
summary: A lion reigns over the beasts as a gentle and just king. He calls a general
assembly and establishes laws for equality and harmony, so natural enemies may
live together in peace. A hare rejoices that the weak can stand beside the strong
without fear.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The Lion reigns over the beasts of the earth.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The Lion is described as not cruel or tyrannical, but gentle and just.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The Lion calls a general assembly of the beasts.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The Lion draws up a code of laws for all to live in equality and harmony.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Wolf and lamb, tiger and stag, leopard and kid, and dog and hare are named
as animals who should dwell side by side in peace and friendship.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The hare says it has longed for the day when the weak can take their place
without fear beside the strong.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Lion
description: The reigning king over the beasts, described as gentle and just.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Beasts of the earth
description: The animals over whom the Lion reigns and whom he summons to a general
assembly.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Hare
description: One of the beasts; speaks in praise of the day when the weak need not
fear the strong.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Named animal pairs
description: Wolf and lamb, tiger and stag, leopard and kid, and dog and hare are
listed as dwelling side by side in peace and friendship.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
roles:
- id: role:1
label: just king
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Lion reigns and is described as gentle and just, not cruel or tyrannical.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: lawgiver
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Lion calls an assembly and draws up a code of laws.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: assembled subjects
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The beasts are called into a general assembly under the Lion's reign.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: speaker for the weak
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The hare voices relief that the weak may stand beside the strong without
fear.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: reconciled animal opposites
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Animals normally placed in predator-prey pairings are listed as living side
by side in peace and friendship.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: lion-king
literal_form: Lion reigning over beasts
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: code of laws
literal_form: A code of laws drawn up by the Lion
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: peaceful animal pairings
literal_form: Wolf with lamb, tiger with stag, leopard with kid, dog with hare
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: weak beside strong
literal_form: The weak taking their place without fear beside the strong
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: The Lion's just reign
summary: The Lion rules the beasts without cruelty or tyranny and is described as
gentle and just.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Assembly and lawgiving
summary: The Lion gathers the beasts and establishes laws intended to create equality
and harmony among all.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Peace among weak and strong
summary: Animal pairs are imagined living together peacefully, and the hare rejoices
that weak creatures can stand beside strong ones without fear.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: just animal king establishes peaceful order
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: The Lion's authority is framed through gentle and just kingship, and his
reign produces laws for harmony among the beasts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents kingship in fable form rather than a full royal legitimation
narrative.
- id: motif:2
label: law-based harmony among natural enemies
taxonomy_refs:
- covenant
basis: A code of laws is established so all beasts may live in equality, harmony,
peace, and friendship, including paired animals such as wolf and lamb.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: low
cautions: The passage does not describe an oath, pact, divine covenant, or reciprocal
ritual; the taxonomy reference is only a loose fit for law-bound communal order.
- id: motif:3
label: weak and strong reconciled
taxonomy_refs:
- duality
basis: The hare explicitly contrasts the weak and the strong and welcomes their
fearless coexistence.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The duality is social and ethical rather than cosmic or metaphysical.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 3723-3726
quote_or_summary: The Lion reigns over the beasts and is described as never cruel
or tyrannical, but gentle and just as a king ought to be.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 3726-3729
quote_or_summary: During his reign, the Lion calls a general assembly and draws
up laws for all to live in perfect equality and harmony.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 3729-3732
quote_or_summary: Wolf and lamb, tiger and stag, leopard and kid, and dog and hare
are to dwell side by side in unbroken peace and friendship.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: lines 3732-3734
quote_or_summary: 'The hare says: "the weak take their place without fear by the
side of the strong."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used for evidence.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is straightforward. Motif taxonomy assignments are cautious
because the available taxonomy contains only broad motif-family labels and the
fable passage is brief.
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 comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not explicitly support comparison to another text or tradition.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-aesop-fables-vernon-jones-gutenberg__l3723-l3734
passage_sha256=6e6212062f7036d46d0086e055d34b5f8214a976849937f6fa06547b732ee63d