Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
195. A HEN AND A SWALLOW (Perry 192)
There was a foolish Hen that sat Brooding upon a Nest of Snake’s Eggs.
A Swallow that observ’d it, went and told her the Danger on’t, Little
do you think, says she, what you at this Instant are a doing, and that
you are now Hatching your own Destruction; for this good Office will be
your Ruin.
THE MORAL. ‘Tis the hard fortune of many a good Natur’d Man to breed
up a Bird to Pick out his own Eyes, in despite of all Cautions to the
contrary.
 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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