The Eagle And The Beetle

by Aesop

　　A Beetle once begged the Eagle to spare a Hare which had run toher for protection. But the Eagle pounced upon her prey, thesweep of her great wings tumbling the Beetle a dozen feet away.Furious at the disrespect shown her, the Beetle flew to theEagle's nest and rolled out the eggs. Not one did she spare. TheEagle's grief and anger knew no bounds, but who had done thecruel deed she did not know.

　　Next year the Eagle built her nest far up on a mountain crag; butthe Beetle found it and again destroyed the eggs. In despair theEagle now implored great Jupiter to let her place her eggs in hislap. There none would dare harm them. But the Beetle buzzed aboutJupiter's head, and made him rise to drive her away; and the eggsrolled from his lap.

　　Now the Beetle told the reason for her action, and Jupiter had toacknowledge the justice of her cause. And they say that everafter, while the Eagle's eggs lie in the nest in spring, theBeetle still sleeps in the ground. For so Jupiter commanded.

　　Even the weakest may find means to avenge a wrong.