esop's Fables

The Swallow and_the Other Birds

It happened that aCountryman was sowing some hemp seeds in afield where aSwallow and some other birds were hopping about picking up their food .`Beware of_that man,' quoth the Swallow .`Why, what_is he doing ? ' said the others .` that_is hemp seed he_is sowing; be careful to pick up every_one_of_the seeds, or else you_will repent it .' The birds paid no heed to_the Swallow's words, and by and by_the hemp grew up and was_made into cord, and of_the cords nets were made, and many abird that had despised the Swallow's advice was caught in nets made out of_that very hemp .`What did I tell you ? ' said the Swallow .

Destroy the seed of evil, or it_will grow up_to your ruin .