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.