If you’re choosing your next ruler, you might take a page from Odo of Cheriton’s book. This 13th-century English preacher and storyteller offered tales of birds, frogs, trees, and ants who tried their hand at electing kings—and their choice backfired.
Known for his Parabolæ, a collection of fables much like Aesop’s, Odo’s work explores the pitfalls of picking a ruler. At the beginning of his work, Odo includes a few stories about electing a ruler and he makes use of the natural world to tell these tales. Consider these two about chicks and frogs:
The Chicks Elect a King
Once upon a time the hens elected, as king, a serpent who devoured them. The chicks then proclaimed an ordinance so that they could elect themselves another king. And one who was wiser than the others said: “Let us elect the dove, a simple animal who neither rends nor tears nor devours.” So they did, and the simple dove lived among the chicks. But then the chicks said: “Our king is worthless, for he neither wounds nor tears.” Said other chicks: “Let’s depose him. And who, then, shall we elect?”
“Let us,” they told one another, “elect the kite.” And they did just that. One day—having been established as king—the kite tore a chick with his beak and talons and, then, devoured him. Then he did the same to a second, then to a third. Thus a people was afflicted by their depraved king.
The Frogs Elect a King
In like manner, the frogs convened a council so that they could make themselves a king. They then elected a certain tree and elevated it to the kingship. A while later, when they were crawling up over it, the frogs came to despise the tree. And they said: “Since our king is without dignity, let’s depose him!” “So who do we select now?” Then, by popular assent, they elected a serpent who tore into and devoured them all.
Odo draws this moral from these two fables:
Likewise, many are not content with a gentle king, a simple bishop, an innocent abbot. They elect a perverse leader who destroys everyone. For this reason, it is sometimes necessary to vex and wound one’s subjects, at other times to pierce them, but at yet others to anoint them — so that they neither swell up with pride, nor turn sullen under too much affliction.
The medieval writer also tells this story about the trees coming together for an election:
The trees assembled so that they could appoint a king to rule overthem. They said to the olive tree: “Rule us.” To which he replied: “How can I give up my oil, used by both gods and men, just to be elevated among the trees?”
Then they approached the fig tree; and they said: “Take up the task of ruling over us.” “How,” he replied, “can I abandon my sweetness and my mellow fruits—just for the sake of being elevated among the trees?” Next they came to the vine, in hopes that he might be one to rule them. But he answered their request: “How can I abandon the wine which delights both God and man?” And he had no wish to be elevated.
At last, the trees said to the thorn: “Rule us!” The thorn bush responded: “If you truly want to make me king, come and rest under my shade; if you are unwilling, a fire will come forth from the thorn and will devour the cedars of Lebanon.”
Odo goes to explain the meaning of this:
Mystically, the trees signify rustic men, monks, and a congregation without a pastor. They assemble to elevate the olive tree, a man of justice. And he, refusing them, explains that he does not want to give up the oil of charity and be elevated to this worldly dignity.
The fig tree signifies the just man who, through frequent contemplation, both tastes how mellow and sweet the Lord is and, also, produces sweet fruits through his own good works. And this man—because there are many bitter things, many tumults, that go with worldly dignities—has no desire to exchange his own sweetness for such a position.
The vine is another just man, one who finds delight in spiritual joy, one who says: “Our joy is the witness of our conscience.” Seeing that many bitter things and many tumults go with pride of worldly rank, such men have no wish to be elevated…
The useless thorn bush accepts the bishopric freely. This thorn is a prickly bush, lacking shade — whence, on account of too much dryness, it sends forth fire out of itself. Thus the impious man, the man who does not have the shade of refreshment or consolation, says: “Take your rest in my shade,” for he promises many good things. But then, from out of himself, he sends forth the fire of avarice, of pride, of luxury. And thus, through his depraved example, he burns up the trees (that is, those in under him).
There is also Odo’s fable about the ants:
The ants likewise elected a tree as their king, and they urinated all over him. Then they elected a serpent — and he devoured them.
We hope that Odo of Cheriton has given you some things to think about the next time you need to elect a ruler. The Fables of Odo of Cheriton was translated by John C. Jacobs – click here to get a copy on Amazon.com.
If you’re choosing your next ruler, you might take a page from Odo of Cheriton’s book. This 13th-century English preacher and storyteller offered tales of birds, frogs, trees, and ants who tried their hand at electing kings—and their choice backfired.
Known for his Parabolæ, a collection of fables much like Aesop’s, Odo’s work explores the pitfalls of picking a ruler. At the beginning of his work, Odo includes a few stories about electing a ruler and he makes use of the natural world to tell these tales. Consider these two about chicks and frogs:
The Chicks Elect a King
Once upon a time the hens elected, as king, a serpent who devoured them. The chicks then proclaimed an ordinance so that they could elect themselves another king. And one who was wiser than the others said: “Let us elect the dove, a simple animal who neither rends nor tears nor devours.” So they did, and the simple dove lived among the chicks. But then the chicks said: “Our king is worthless, for he neither wounds nor tears.” Said other chicks: “Let’s depose him. And who, then, shall we elect?”
“Let us,” they told one another, “elect the kite.” And they did just that. One day—having been established as king—the kite tore a chick with his beak and talons and, then, devoured him. Then he did the same to a second, then to a third. Thus a people was afflicted by their depraved king.
The Frogs Elect a King
In like manner, the frogs convened a council so that they could make themselves a king. They then elected a certain tree and elevated it to the kingship. A while later, when they were crawling up over it, the frogs came to despise the tree. And they said: “Since our king is without dignity, let’s depose him!” “So who do we select now?” Then, by popular assent, they elected a serpent who tore into and devoured them all.
Odo draws this moral from these two fables:
Likewise, many are not content with a gentle king, a simple bishop, an innocent abbot. They elect a perverse leader who destroys everyone. For this reason, it is sometimes necessary to vex and wound one’s subjects, at other times to pierce them, but at yet others to anoint them — so that they neither swell up with pride, nor turn sullen under too much affliction.
The medieval writer also tells this story about the trees coming together for an election:
The trees assembled so that they could appoint a king to rule overthem. They said to the olive tree: “Rule us.” To which he replied: “How can I give up my oil, used by both gods and men, just to be elevated among the trees?”
Then they approached the fig tree; and they said: “Take up the task of ruling over us.” “How,” he replied, “can I abandon my sweetness and my mellow fruits—just for the sake of being elevated among the trees?” Next they came to the vine, in hopes that he might be one to rule them. But he answered their request: “How can I abandon the wine which delights both God and man?” And he had no wish to be elevated.
At last, the trees said to the thorn: “Rule us!” The thorn bush responded: “If you truly want to make me king, come and rest under my shade; if you are unwilling, a fire will come forth from the thorn and will devour the cedars of Lebanon.”
Odo goes to explain the meaning of this:
Mystically, the trees signify rustic men, monks, and a congregation without a pastor. They assemble to elevate the olive tree, a man of justice. And he, refusing them, explains that he does not want to give up the oil of charity and be elevated to this worldly dignity.
The fig tree signifies the just man who, through frequent contemplation, both tastes how mellow and sweet the Lord is and, also, produces sweet fruits through his own good works. And this man—because there are many bitter things, many tumults, that go with worldly dignities—has no desire to exchange his own sweetness for such a position.
The vine is another just man, one who finds delight in spiritual joy, one who says: “Our joy is the witness of our conscience.” Seeing that many bitter things and many tumults go with pride of worldly rank, such men have no wish to be elevated…
The useless thorn bush accepts the bishopric freely. This thorn is a prickly bush, lacking shade — whence, on account of too much dryness, it sends forth fire out of itself. Thus the impious man, the man who does not have the shade of refreshment or consolation, says: “Take your rest in my shade,” for he promises many good things. But then, from out of himself, he sends forth the fire of avarice, of pride, of luxury. And thus, through his depraved example, he burns up the trees (that is, those in under him).
There is also Odo’s fable about the ants:
The ants likewise elected a tree as their king, and they urinated all over him. Then they elected a serpent — and he devoured them.
We hope that Odo of Cheriton has given you some things to think about the next time you need to elect a ruler. The Fables of Odo of Cheriton was translated by John C. Jacobs – click here to get a copy on Amazon.com.
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