Page:Æsop's fables- (IA aesopfables00aesoiala).pdf/261

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noticed this and made a ball of dirt the size of an Eagle’s egg, and flew up and deposited it in Jupiter’s lap. When Jupiter saw the dirt, he stood up to shake it out of his robe, and, forgetting about the eggs, he shook them out too, and they were broken just as before. Ever since then, they say, Eagles never lay their eggs at the season when Beetles are about.

The weak will sometimes find ways to avenge an insult, even upon the strong.

THE FOWLER AND THE LARK

A FOWLER was setting his nets for little birds when a Lark came up to him and asked him what he was doing. “I am engaged in founding a city,” said he, and with that he withdrew to a short distance and concealed himself. The Lark examined the nets with great curiosity, and presently, catching sight of the bait, hopped on to them in order to secure it, and became entangled in the meshes. The Fowler then ran up quickly and captured her. “What a fool I was!” said she: “but at any rate, if that’s the kind of city you are founding, it’ll be a long time before you find fools enough to fill it.”

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