A Wolf had stolen a Lamb and was carrying it off to his lair to eat it. The wise old Owl knew quite well that it would do no good to argue with the Grasshopper, nor with anybody else for that matter. Mother Mole saw she would have to get such conceit out of his head. The Country Mouse stopped in the Town Mouse's den only long enough to pick up her carpet bag and umbrella. But he immediately wrapped it closely around him, and the harder the Wind blew, the tighter he held it to him. But he spoke in an absent way, and stretching up on tiptoes, seemed to be looking at something afar off. So she asked him if he knew someone who would answer for him. And so they died, giving their lives for the sake of a taste of sweetness.
The flatterer lives at the expense of those who will listen to him.