Ancient Tides

Fable Number 137 ~ The Nightengale, the Hawk, and the Bird-Catcher

A hawk alighted in a nightengale's nest and found her baby chicks there. When the nightengale returned, she begged him to spare her chicks. The hawk said, "I will grant your request if you sing me a pretty song." Even though she mustered all her courage, the nightengale trembled with fear. Stricken with terror, she started to sing but her song was full of grief. The hawk, who had seized her chicks, exclaimed, "That is not a very nice song!" He then snatched up one of the chicks and swallowed it. Meanwhile, a bird-catcher approached from behind and stealthily raised his snare: the hawk was caught in the sticky birdlime and fell to the ground and was captured.

Moral: People who lay traps for others should be careful not to fall into a trap themselves.