Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
168. A KINGSFISHER (Perry 25)
The Kingsfisher is a Solitary Bird, that wonts commonly by the Waterside,
and Nestles in hollow Banks, to be out of reach of the Fowlers. One of
these Birds happen'd to be Foraging abroad for her Young Ones, and in
this Interim comes a raging Torrent, that washes away Nest, Birds and
all. Upon her Return, finding how 'twas with her, she brake out into this
Exclamation: Unhappy Creature that I am! to fly from the bare Apprehension
of one Enemy, into the Mouth of another.
THE MORAL. 'Tis many a wise Man's hap, while he is providing against
one Danger, to fall into Another: And for his very Providence to turn
his Destruction.
 L'Estrange originally published his version of the fables in 1692. There is a
very nice illustrated edition in the Children's Classics series by Knopf: Sir
Roger L'Estrange. Aesop
- Fables which is available at amazon.com.
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