308.The Thieves and the Cock
SOME THIEVES broke into a house and found nothing but a cock, whom they stole, and got off as fast as they could. On arriving at home they prepared to kill the cock, who thus pleaded for his life:
“Pray spare me; I am very serviceable to men. I wake them up in the night to their work.”
“That is the very reason why we must the more kill you,” they replied; “for when you wake your neighbours, you entirely put an end to our business.”
❖ The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
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