Folk Tales
Author's TalesA 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.