The Oyster and Its Claimants

"The Oyster and Its Claimants" is an abstract fable by Jean de La Fontaine which explores the themes of greed, conflict, and justice through the argument between two individuals claiming an oyster. Utilizing anthropomorphic animal characters, the book prompts readers to consider the nature of fairness and the deceiving allure of selfishness. A common feature in La Fontaine's writing, this book uses wit and humor to stimulate thought-provoking interrogations of human behavior.

• Fable

								
Two travellers discovered on the beach
    An Oyster, carried thither by the sea.
'Twas eyed with equal greediness by each;
    Then came the question whose was it to be.
One, stooping down to pounce upon the prize,
    Was thrust away before his hand could snatch it.
"Not quite so quickly," his companion cries;
    "If you've a claim here, I've a claim to match it;
The first that saw it has the better right
    To its possession; come, you can't deny it."
"Well," said his friend, "my orbs are pretty bright,
    And I, upon my life, was first to spy it."
"You? Not at all; or, if you did perceive it,
    I smelt it long before it was in view;
But here's a lawyer coming--let us leave it
    To him to arbitrate between the two."
The lawyer listens with a stolid face,
    Arrives at his decision in a minute;
And, as the shortest way to end the case,
    Opens the shell and cats the fish within it.
The rivals look upon him with dismay:--
    "This Court," says he, "awards you each a shell;
You've neither of you any costs to pay,
    And so be happy. Go in peace. Farewell!"

How often, when causes to trial are brought,
Does the lawyer get pelf and the client get naught!
The former will pocket his fees with a sneer,
While the latter sneaks off with a flea in his ear.
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