A Labourer lay listening to a Nightingale's song throughout
the summer night. So pleased was he with it that the next night
he set a trap for it and captured it. Now that I have caught
thee, he cried, thou shalt always sing to me.
We Nightingales never sing in a cage. said the bird.
Then I'll eat thee. said the Labourer. I have always heard
say that a nightingale on toast is dainty morsel1.
Nay2, kill me not, said the Nightingale; but let me free,
and I'll tell thee three things far better worth than my poor
body. The Labourer let him loose, and he flew up to a branch of
a tree and said: Never believe a captive's promise; that's one
thing. Then again: Keep what you have. And third piece of advice
is: Sorrow not over what is lost forever. Then the song-bird
flew away.
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