Aesop Fables

The Vain Jackdaw

Aesop Fables

Fidy Says

The Vain Jackdaw

Zeus decided, it is said, to create a sovereign over the birds, and made a proclamation that on a certain day all the birds should present themselves before him, when he would himself choose the most beautiful among them to be king.

The Jackdaw looked into the lake and realized how ugly he was. So he searched through the woods and fields and collected the feathers which had fallen from the wings of his companions. He stuck the feathers in all parts of his body, hoping thereby to make himself the most beautiful of all.

When the appointed day arrived, and the birds had assembled before Zeus, the Jackdaw also made his appearance in his many feathered finery.

There was not a bird in sight that had as many colored feathers as the Jackdaw. Zeus declared the Jackdaw to be the most beautiful of all the birds. However, the birds indignantly protested, and recognizing their own feathers stuck onto the Jackdaw, the birds each went to the Jackdaw and plucked their own feathers off him.

The Jackdaw, being stripped of his stolen plumage, was shown to be nothing but a Jackdaw after all.

posted in Birds misc | 16 Suggested Morals

The Raven and the Swan

A Raven saw a Swan and desired for himself the same beautiful plumage as the Swan had.

The Raven thought that the Swan’s splendid white color came from his washing in the water in which he swam. So the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his living, and took up residence in the lakes and pools.

But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change their color, and through want of food he died.

Moral: Incorrectly changing your habits won’t alter your nature.

posted in Birds misc | 10 Suggested Morals

The Thirsty Pidgeon

A Pigeon, oppressed by extreme thirst, saw a cup of water painted on a signboard next to a road. Not realizing it was only a picture, she flew towards it with a loud whir and smashed against the signboard, jarring herself terribly.

Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders.

Moral: Zeal should not outrun discretion.

posted in Birds misc | 2 Suggested Morals

The Swallow and the Crow

The Swallow and the Crow had a contention about their plumage. The Crow put an end to the dispute by saying, “Your feathers are all very well in the spring, but mine protect me against the winter.”

Moral: Fair weather friends are not worth much.

posted in Birds misc | 2 Suggested Morals

The Farmer and the Stork

A Farmer placed nets on his newly-sown farming land and caught a number of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed.

One day he trapped a Stork that had fractured his leg in the net. The Stork earnestly beseeched the Farmer to spare his life.

“Pray save me, Master,” he said, “and let me go free this one time. Have pity on me for my broken leg. Besides, I am no Crane, I am a Stork, a bird of excellent character. Look too, at my feathers— they are not the least like those of a Crane.”

The Farmer laughed aloud and said, “It may be all as you say, I only know this: I have taken you with these robbers, the Cranes, and you must die in their company.”

Moral: Be careful who you hang out with.

posted in Birds misc, People | 8 Suggested Morals

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