76.The Crow and the Serpent
A CROW in great want of food saw a serpent asleep in a sunny nook, and flying down, greedily seized him. The serpent, turning about, bit the crow with a mortal wound.
In the agony of death, the bird exclaimed:
“O unhappy Crow! Who have found in that which I deemed a happy windfall the source of my destruction.”
❖ Speed does not take heed .
75.The Crow and the Raven
A CROW was jealous of the raven, because he was considered a bird of good omen and always attracted the attention of men, who noted by his flight the good or evil course of future events. Seeing some travellers approaching, the crow flew up into a tree, and perching herself on one of the branches, cawed as loudly as she could. The travellers turned towards the sound and wondered what it foreboded, when one of them said to his companion,
“Let us proceed on our journey, my friend, for it is only the caw of a crow, and her cry, you know, is no omen.”
❖ Those who assume a character which does not belong to them, only make themselves ridiculous.
74.The Crow and the Pitcher
A CROW, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water; but when the Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that only very little water was left in it, and that he could not reach far enough down to get at it. He tried, and he tried, but at last had to give up in despair. Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. He repeated the process. At last, he saw the water mount up near him, and after casting in a few more pebbles he was able to quench his thirst and save his life.
“LITTLE BY LITTLE DOES THE TRICK.”
“Necessity is one of the mothers of invention.”
73.The Crow and Lord Transporter
A CROW caught in a snare prayed to the merciful Lord Success to release him, making a vow to offer some frankincense at his shrine. But when rescued from his danger, he forgot his promise. Shortly afterwards, again caught in a snare, he passed by Lord Success and made the same promise to offer frankincense to Lord Transporter. Lord Transporter soon appeared and said to him,
“You most base fellow – how can I believe you, who have disowned and wronged your former patron?”
❖ The last sham promise can be the hardest.
