The Mice And The Weasels

by Aesop

　　The Weasels and the Mice were always up in arms against eachother. In every battle the Weasels carried off the victory, aswell as a large number of the Mice, which they ate for dinnernext day. In despair the Mice called a council, and there it wasdecided that the Mouse army was always beaten because it had noleaders. So a large number of generals and commanders wereappointed from among the most eminent Mice.

　　To distinguish themselves from the soldiers in the ranks, the newleaders proudly bound on their heads lofty crests and ornamentsof feathers or straw. Then after long preparation of the Mousearmy in all the arts of war, they sent a challenge to theWeasels.

　　The Weasels accepted the challenge with eagerness, for they werealways ready for a fight when a meal was in sight. Theyimmediately attacked the Mouse army in large numbers. Soon theMouse line gave way before the attack and the whole army fled forcover. The privates easily slipped into their holes, but theMouse leaders could not squeeze through the narrow openingsbecause of their head-dresses. Not one escaped the teeth of thehungry Weasels.

　　Greatness has its penalties.