Ancient Wisdom

Once, a Stork was in the presence of a Swan who was singing at the brink of death. The Stork expressed her surprise, stating that it was against nature to sing so fervently when out of season. She asked the Swan for the reason behind her song. “Why,” replied the Swan, “I am transitioning into a state where I will no longer face the threats of traps, guns, or starvation. Who wouldn’t rejoice at such a liberation?”

Once a Spider observed a Swallow catching flies, fell immediately to work upon a net to catch swallows, for she looked upon it as an encroachment upon her right; but the birds, without any difficulty, brake through the work, and flew away with the very net itself. "Well," says the Spider, "bird-catching is none of my talent, I perceive." Therefore she returned to her old trade of catching flies again.