The Farmer and the Stork

英语自学网

The Farmer and the Stork
        A FARMER placed nets on his newly-sown plowlands and caught a
        number of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed.
        With them he
        trapped a Stork that had fractured his leg in the net and was
        earnestly beseeching the Farmer to spare his life.
        "Pray save
        me, Master," he said, "and let me go free this once.
        My broken
        limb should excite your pity.
        Besides, I am no Crane, I am a
        Stork, a bird of excellent character; and see how I love and
        slave for my father and mother.
        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."
       
        Birds of a feather flock together.