Fable
The Frogs Who Wished for a King
The Frogs were tired of governing themselves.
They had so much freedom that it had spoiled them, and they did nothing but sit
around croaking in a bored manner and wishing for a government that could
entertain them with the pomp and display of royalty, and rule them in a way to
make them know they were being ruled. No milk and water government for them,
they declared. So, they sent a petition to Jupiter asking for a king.
Jupiter
saw what simple and foolish creatures they were, but to keep them quiet and make
them think they had a king he threw down a huge log, which fell into the water
with a great splash. The Frogs hid themselves among the reeds and grasses,
thinking the new king to be some fearful giant. But they soon discovered how
tame and peaceable King Log was. In a short time, the younger Frogs were using
him for a diving platform, while the older Frogs made him a meeting place,
where they complained loudly to Jupiter about the government.
To
teach the Frogs a lesson the ruler of the gods now sent a Crane to be king of
Frog-land. The Crane proved to be a very different sort of king from old King
Log. He gobbled up the poor Frogs right and left and they soon saw what fools
they had been. In mournful croaks they begged Jupiter to take away the cruel
tyrant before they should all be destroyed.
"How
now!" cried Jupiter "Are you not yet content? You have what you asked
for and so you have only yourselves to blame for your misfortunes."
Moral
- Be sure you can better your condition before you seek to
change.
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