A skylark and an eagle met on a rock upon a high hill. The skylarksaid, "Good morrow to you, Sir." And the eagle looked down upon himand said faintly, "Good morning."
And the skylark said, "I hope all things are well with you, Sir."
"Aye," said the eagle, "all is well with us. But do you not know thatwe are the king of birds, and that you shall not address us before weourselves have spoken？"
Said the skylark, "Methinks we are of the same family."
The eagle looked upon him with disdain and he said, "Who ever hassaid that you and I are of the same family？"
Then said the skylark, "But I would remind you of this, I can fly evenas high as you, and I can sing and give delight to the other creatures of thisearth. And you give neither pleasure nor delight."
Then the eagle was angered, and he said, "Pleasure and delight！ Youlittle presumptuous creature！ With one thrust of my beak I could destroyyou. You are but the size of my foot."
Then the skylark flew up and alighted upon the back of the eagle andbegan to pick at his feathers. The eagle was annoyed, and he flew swift andhigh that he might rid himself of the little bird. But he failed to do so.At last he dropped back to that very rock upon the high hill, more frettedthan ever, with the little creature still upon his back, and cursing the fateof the hour.
Now at that moment a small turtle came by and laughed at the sight,and laughed so hard the she almost turned upon her back.
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