The Stag At The Pool
A Stag overpowered by heat came to a spring to drink. Seeing his own
shadow reflected in the water, he greatly admired the size and variety
of his horns, but felt angry with himself for having such slender
and weak feet. While he was thus contemplating himself, a Lion appeared
at the pool and crouched to spring upon him. The Stag immediately
took to flight, and exerting his utmost speed, as long as the plain
was smooth and open kept himself easily at a safe distance from the
Lion. But entering a wood he became entangled by his horns, and the
Lion quickly came up to him and caught him. When too late, he thus
reproached himself: "Woe is me! How I have deceived myself! These
feet which would have saved me I despised, and I gloried in these
antlers which have proved my destruction."
What is most truly valuable is often underrated.
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