the hares once took serious counsel among themselves whether death itself would not be preferable to their miserable condition. "what a sad state is ours," they said, "never to eat in comfort, to sleep ever in fear, to be startled by a shadow, and to fly with beating heart at the rustling of the leaves. better death by far," and off they went accordingly to drown themselves in a neighbouring lake.

some scores of frogs, who were enjoying the moonlight on the bank, scared at the approach of the hares, jumped into the water. the splash awoke fresh fears in the breasts of the timid hares, and they came to a full stop in their flight.

seeing this, one wise old fellow among them cried: "hold, brothers! it seems that, weak and fearful as we are, beings exist that are more weak and fearful still. why, then, should we seek to die? let us rather make the best of our ills and learn to bear them as we should."