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The Labourer and the Nightingale

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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 morsel."

 

"Nay, 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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Uploaded on October 11, 2008
Taken on January 14, 2008