A Beetle once begged the Eagle to spare a Hare which had run to
her for protection. But the Eagle pounced upon her prey, the
sweep of her great wings tumbling the Beetle a dozen feet away.
Furious at the disrespect shown her, the Beetle flew to the
Eagle's nest and rolled out the eggs. Not one did she spare. The
Eagle's grief and anger knew no bounds, but who had done the
cruel deed she did not know.
Next year the Eagle built her nest far up on a mountain crag; but
the Beetle found it and again destroyed the eggs. In despair the
Eagle now implored great Jupiter to let her place her eggs in his
lap. There none would dare harm them. But the Beetle buzzed about
Jupiter's head, and made him rise to drive her away; and the eggs
rolled from his lap.
Now the Beetle told the reason for her action, and Jupiter had to
acknowledge the justice of her cause. And they say that ever
after, while the Eagle's eggs lie in the nest in spring, the
Beetle still sleeps in the ground. For so Jupiter commanded.
_Even the weakest may find means to avenge a wrong._
[Illustration: THE EAGLE AND THE BEETLE]
[Illustration]