The Nightingale and the Falcon
Long ago, deep in an ancient forest where cool waters ran, there lived a nightingale with a sweet voice. Every morning this nightingale settled on a high oak branch and sang its finest songs to the dwellers of the forest. High in the sky, however, a mighty falcon was gliding, searching for prey with its sharp eyes. Whenever the small birds of the forest saw the shadow of this powerful hunter, they hid in fear among the leaves. The lovely nightingale, lost in its own song, had not noticed the danger that was drawing near. Suddenly the falcon swooped down from above and seized the helpless nightingale tightly in its strong claws.
Struggling in pain, the little bird began to beg the falcon to set it free. "Please do not eat me, my tiny body is not enough to fill your stomach," said the nightingale. "If you let me go, I can show you where the tastiest and the largest birds of the forest are." The falcon threw a cold and cunning look at the trembling bird in its claw. "A small prey that I hold now is worth more than a great tale of tomorrow," it answered. Using its wits, the nightingale went on speaking in one last effort to convince the hunter.
"But I will sing you cheerful songs every day and calm your soul," it said, trying its fortune one last time. The proud falcon, however, did not give up its decision and gripped its prey even more tightly. Paying no attention to the sweet words of the little nightingale, the falcon decided to swallow it in one bite. It had no intention of losing the certain fortune in its claws by running after weak promises. When the helpless nightingale understood that it could not change the hunter's decision, it fell into a deep silence. With the calm of having secured its supper, the falcon took off towards its nest on the high cliffs. Abandoning the solid chances one holds in hand for uncertain future gains brings a person only disappointment. A sparrow in the hand is better than a pigeon in the bush.