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By Root 213 0

now at a loss as to what to do. So he flew up to Jupiter, his lord and king, and placed the third brood of eggs as a sacred deposit in his lap, begging him to guard them for him. However, the beetle made a little ball of dirt and flew up with it to Jupiter and dropped it on his lap. When Jupiter saw the dirt, he stood up right away to shake it off, forgetting the eggs, which were again broken as they rolled off his lap. The beetle now informed Jupiter that he had done this to gain revenge on the eagle, who had not only wronged him but had acted with impiety toward Jove himself. Therefore, when the eagle returned, Jupiter told him that the beetle was the wronged party and that his complaint was not without justification. Nevertheless, Jupiter did not want the race of eagles to be humiliated, so he advised the beetle to arrange a peaceful settlement with him. But the beetle would not agree to this, and Jupiter was compelled to change the eagle’s breeding time to another season when there are no beetles to be seen.

No matter how powerful one’s position may be, there is nothing that can protect the oppressor in the end from the vengeance of the oppressed.

CLXXXII

The Lion and the Three Bulls

Three bulls were such great friends that they always grazed together in the same field. A lion had watched them for many days with longing in his eyes in the hope of seizing them for his prize, but he found that there was little chance so long as they all kept together. Therefore, he secretly began to spread evil and slanderous rumors pitting one against the other until he had fomented jealousy and distrust among them. No sooner did the lion see that they avoided one another and grazed separately than he attacked them one by one and made an easy prey of them all.

United we stand, divided we fall.

CLXXXIII

The Old Woman and Her Maids

A thrifty old widow had two hired maids whom she used to call to work at the first crow of the cock. The maids hated getting up so early in the morning and decided to wring the cock’s neck, since he was the one who woke their mistress and was the cause of all their misery. No sooner had they done away with the cock than the old lady became disoriented. Afraid of oversleeping, she began mistaking the time of day and rousing the unfortunate maids at midnight.

Too much cunning can undermine its purpose.

CLXXXIV

The Dogs and the Hides

Some dogs, famished with hunger, saw some cowhides that a skinner had left in the bottom of a stream and tried desperately to get them. Since they were unable to reach them, however, they decided to drink up the stream to obtain the hides. Unfortunately they all burst from drinking before they ever came close to the hides.

Those who attempt the impossible through foolish means are bound to destroy themselves.

CLXXXV

The Dove and the Ant

An ant went to a fountain to quench his thirst, but he tumbled in and began to drown. Fortunately, a dove happened to be sitting on a nearby tree and saw the ant’s predicament. So she plucked a leaf off the tree and let it drop into the water. The ant climbed on top of it and was soon washed safely ashore. Shortly afterward a bird catcher came by, spread his net, and was about to ensnare the dove when the ant bit his heel. The man let out a cry and dropped his net. Realizing that she was in danger, the dove flew safely away.

One good turn deserves another.

CLXXXVI

The Old Lion

A lion, worn out with age, lay stretched out on the ground, utterly helpless and gasping its last breath. A boar, who wanted to satisfy an old grudge, approached him and attacked him with his tusks. Next a bull decided to seek his revenge and bored him with his horns. Realizing that the lion could now be treated with impunity, an ass thought he would show his spite, too, and kicked his heels in the lion’s face. Thereupon the dying beast called out to the ass, “The insults of the powerful were bad enough, and somehow I’ve managed to bear them. But to be spurned by such a base creature as you, who are a disgrace to nature,