A BIRDCATCHER was about to sit down to a dinner of herbs when a friend
unexpectedly came in. The bird-trap was quite empty, as he had caught
nothing, and he had to kill a pied Partridge, which he had tamed for a
decoy. The bird entreated earnestly for his life: “What would you do
without me when next you spread your nets? Who would chirp you to
sleep, or call for you the covey of answering birds?” The Birdcatcher
spared his life, and determined to pick out a fine young Cock just
attaining to his comb. But the Cock expostulated in piteous tones from
his perch: “If you kill me, who will announce to you the appearance of
the dawn? Who will wake you to your daily tasks or tell you when it is
time to visit the bird-trap in the morning?” He replied, “What you say
is true. You are a capital bird at telling the time of day. But my
friend and I must have our dinners.”
Necessity knows no law.