The Man and the Satyr

The Man and the Satyr by Aesop is a fable that presents a story about a satyr who was befriended by a man. Over time, the satyr becomes confused and bothered by the man's ability to blow hot (to warmth his hands) and cold (to cool his soup) from his mouth. The story ends in their friendship being annulled due to the Satyr's inability to trust someone who can do such contradictory actions. The fable ultimately delivers a lesson about hypocrisy and inconsistency in human behavior.

• Children

								
A long time ago a Man met a Satyr in the forest and succeeded in
making friends with him. The two soon became the best of
comrades, living together in the Man's hut. But one cold winter
evening, as they were walking homeward, the Satyr saw the Man
blow on his fingers.

"Why do you do that?" asked the Satyr.

"To warm my hands," the Man replied.

When they reached home the Man prepared two bowls of porridge.
These he placed steaming hot on the table, and the comrades sat
down very cheerfully to enjoy the meal. But much to the Satyr's
surprise, the Man began to blow into his bowl of porridge.

"Why do you do that?" he asked.

"To cool my porridge," replied the Man.

The Satyr sprang hurriedly to his feet and made for the door.

"Goodby," he said, "I've seen enough. A fellow that blows hot and
cold in the same breath cannot be friends with me!"

The man who talks for both sides is not to be trusted by
either.

[Illustration: THE MAN AND THE SATYR]

[Illustration]
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