Monthly Archives: September 2013
179.The Hen and the Swallow
A HEN finding the eggs of a viper and carefully keeping them warm, nourished them into life. A swallow, observing what she had done, said,
“You, silly creature! Why have you hatched these vipers which, when they shall have grown, will inflict injury on all, starting with yourself?”
❖ A great question could deserve a top answer.
178.The Heifer and the Ox
A HEIFER saw an ox hard at work harnessed to a plow, and tormented him with reflections on his unhappy fate in being compelled to labor. Shortly afterwards, at the harvest festival, the owner released the ox from his yoke, but bound the heifer with cords and led him away to the altar to be slain in honor of the occasion. The ox saw what was being done, and said with a smile to the heifer:
“For this you were allowed to live in idleness, because you were to be sacrificed.”
❖ Consider as much as you can of the total picture before your mind gets set on lots of things. “Why here” is a help toward ongoing reflection.
177.The Hawk, the Kite, and the Pigeons
The pigeons, terrified by the appearance of a kite, called on the hawk to defend them. He at once agreed. When they had admitted him into the cote, they found that he made more havoc and slew a larger number of them in one day than the kite could pounce on in a whole year.
❖ Avoid a remedy that is worse than the disease.
176.The Hawk and the Nightingale
A NIGHTINGALE, sitting aloft on an oak and singing according to his wont, was seen by a hawk who, being in need of food, swooped down and seized him. The nightingale, about to lose his life, earnestly begged the hawk to let him go, saying that he was not big enough to satisfy the hunger of a hawk who, if he wanted food, ought to pursue the larger birds. The hawk, interrupting him, said:
“I should indeed have lost my senses if I should let go food ready in my hand, for the sake of pursuing birds which are not yet even within sight.”
❖ Friendly talk won’t feed the hungry bird.
