A Peacock, puffed up with vanity, met a Crane one day, and to impress him spread his gorgeous tail in the Sun. Then one fine day in early spring he found himself with not a penny left, and no property save the clothes he wore. When the weather cleared, and the Shepherd led the Goats out to feed, the Wild Goats scampered off to the hills. The object they saw came ever nearer the shore. I admire your honesty, he said, and as a reward you may have all three axes, the gold and the silver as well as your own. I wasn't born until this year. You are a citizen of illustrious Athens, are you not?, asked the Dolphin politely. Tomorrow we must set to work, ourselves. The Fox arrived promptly at the time that had been set, and the Stork served a fish dinner that had a very appetizing smell. There they left him to mourn the foolishness that had brought him nothing but a sound beating.
Do not sacrifice your freedom for the sake of pomp and show.