The Labourer and the Nightingale
a labourer lay listening to a nightingale's song throughout
the summer night. so pleased was he with it that the next night
he set a trap for it and captured it. "now that i have caught
thee," he cried, "thou shalt always sing to me."
"we nightingales never sing in a cage." said the bird.
"then i'll eat thee." said the labourer. "i have always heard
say that a nightingale on toast is dainty morsel1."
"nay2, kill me not," said the nightingale; "but let me free,
and i'll tell thee three things far better worth than my poor
body." the labourer let him loose, and he flew up to a branch of
a tree and said: "never believe a captive's promise; that's one
thing. then again: keep what you have. and third piece of advice
is: sorrow not over what is lost forever." then the song-bird
flew away.
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