AN EAGLE made her nest at the top of a lofty oak; a Cat, having

　　found a convenient hole, moved into the middle of the trunk; and

　　a Wild Sow, with her young, took shelter in a hollow at its foot.

　　The Cat cunningly resolved to destroy this chance-made colony.

　　To carry out her design, she climbed to the nest of the Eagle,

　　and said, "Destruction is preparing for you, and for me too,

　　unfortunately. The Wild Sow, whom you see daily digging up the

　　earth, wishes to uproot1 the oak, so she may on its fall seize our

　　families as food for her young." Having thus frightened the Eagle

　　out of her senses, she crept down to the cave of the Sow, and

　　said, "Your children are in great danger; for as soon as you go

　　out with your litter to find food, the Eagle is prepared to

　　pounce upon one of your little pigs." Having instilled2 these

　　fears into the Sow, she went and pretended to hide herself in the

　　hollow of the tree. When night came she went forth3 with silent

　　foot and obtained food for herself and her kittens, but feigning

　　to be afraid, she kept a lookout4 all through the day. Meanwhile,

　　the Eagle, full of fear of the Sow, sat still on the branches,

　　and the Sow, terrified by the Eagle, did not dare to go out from

　　her cave. And thus they both, along with their families,

　　perished from hunger, and afforded ample provision for the Cat

　　and her kittens.