The Stag And His Reflection

by Aesop

　　A Stag, drinking from a crystal spring, saw himself mirrored inthe clear water. He greatly admired the graceful arch of hisantlers, but he was very much ashamed of his spindling legs.

　　"How can it be," he sighed, "that I should be cursed with suchlegs when I have so magnificent a crown."

　　At that moment he scented a panther and in an instant wasbounding away through the forest. But as he ran hiswide-spreading antlers caught in the branches of the trees, andsoon the Panther overtook him. Then the Stag perceived that thelegs of which he was so ashamed would have saved him had it notbeen for the useless ornaments on his head.

　　We often make much of the ornamental and despise the useful.