The Cricket and the Owl
Once upon a time, an old owl lived in the depths of an old forest where cool waters flowed. This wise bird slept by day in the hollow of an old oak tree, and at night it went out to hunt. On a hot summer afternoon, a cheerful cricket landed on the branches of the same oak tree. The cricket began to sing in a loud voice and to disturb everyone around it. This harsh noise completely drove away the sweet sleep of the old owl, who wanted to rest in his hollow. The owl put his head out of the hollow and called politely to the cricket. “Please pause your song for a while, because I need to rest during the day,” he said.
But the proud cricket became even more insolent before this gentle request. “I have the most wonderful voice in nature and I sing whenever I want,” it shouted. The insect raised its voice even higher, taking pleasure in the owl's anger. The cunning owl, who understood that words would be useless, at once made a clever plan. Placing a soft smile on his face, he approached the insect again with a sweet tone of voice. “Because I was extremely sleepless, at first I did not fully notice the beauty of your voice,” he said. “Now that I listen, I understand that your melody is so enchanting that it would make even the nightingales jealous.”
“In my hollow there is a wonderful honey syrup, a gift to me from the gods; come, let us drink it together.” Flattered by this sweet praise, the cricket did not sense the owl's cunning at all. It flew eagerly towards the mouth of the hollow, to taste the syrup and to hear the praise from close by. As soon as the cricket set foot in the dark hollow, the owl caught it with a sudden move. The owl swallowed this thoughtless insect that had disturbed him in one gulp and brought back the silence. Then he withdrew into his hollow and happily continued his peaceful sleep from where he had left off. Thoughtless pride and being taken in by false praise drag a person towards his own disaster. A sweet tongue draws the snake out of its hole.