“I am founding a complete city.”
The Blackbird believed this deceitful answer, and alighted on the net. Scarcely had he touched it, before he found himself caught.
When the Bird-catcher came up the Blackbird said to him: “If this is the way you build your city, you won’t attract many inhabitants.”
All men shun tyrannical magistrates and oppressors, who, by their violence, scatter ruin around them.
The Hens and the Eagles
The Hens were at war with the Eagles.
When the day of battle came near, the Hens went and asked the foxes to help them.
“We would willingly help you,” replied the foxes, “if we could forget what you are, and what Eagles are.”
He who enters upon a quarrel with one more powerful than himself runs a great risk, and is certain to meet with disaster.