The Partridge and the Fowler

by Aesop

Permit me to live, and I will entice many Partridges to you in recompense for your mercy to me.

A FOWLER caught a Partridge, and was about to kill him. The Partridge earnestly besought him to spare his life, saying: Pray, master, permit me to live, and I will entice many Partridges to you in recompense for your mercy to me. The Fowler replied: I shall now with less scruple take your life, because you are willing to save it at the cost of betraying your friends and relations; and without much ado he twisted his neck and put him in his bag with his other game.

Moral:
Those who would sacrifice their friends to save themselves are not entitled to mercy.

Source:

Aesop's Fables
Copyright 1881
Translator: unknown
WM. L. Allison, New York
Illustrator: Harrison Weir, John Tenniel, Ernest Griset, et.al.
 

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