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The Pigeons in a certain dovecote were persecuted by a Kite, who

every now and then swooped down and carried off one of their

number. So they invited a Hawk into the dovecote to defend them

against their enemy. But they soon repented of their folly: for

the Hawk killed more of them in a day than the Kite had done in a

year.

THE WOMAN AND THE FARMER

A Woman, who had lately lost her husband, used to go every day to

his grave and lament her loss. A Farmer, who was engaged in

ploughing not far from the spot, set eyes upon the Woman and

desired to have her for his wife: so he left his plough and came

and sat by her side, and began to shed tears himself. She asked

him why he wept; and he replied, "I have lately lost my wife, who

was very dear to me, and tears ease my grief." "And I," said she,

"have lost my husband." And so for a while they mourned in

silence. Then he said, "Since you and I are in like case, shall

we not do well to marry and live together? I shall take the place

of your dead husband, and you, that of my dead wife." The Woman

consented to the plan, which indeed seemed reasonable enough: and

they dried their tears. Meanwhile, a thief had come and stolen

the oxen which the Farmer had left with his plough. On

discovering the theft, he beat his breast and loudly bewailed his

loss.