Folk Tale

The Hawk and the Nightingale

Translated From

Ἀηδὼν καὶ ἱέραξ

AuthorΑἴσωπος
LanguageAncient Greek

Other Translations / Adaptations

Text titleLanguageAuthorPublication Date
The Hawk and the NighingaleEnglishLaura Gibbs_
De nachtegaal en de havikDutch__
U calannaru e u farcuniSicilian__
AuthorGeorge Fyler Townsend
LanguageEnglish
OriginGreece

A NIGHTINGALE, sitting aloft upon an oak and singing according to his wont, was seen by a Hawk who, being in need of food, swooped down and seized him. The Nightingale, about to lose his life, earnestly begged the Hawk to let him go, saying that he was not big enough to satisfy the hunger of a Hawk who, if he wanted food, ought to pursue the larger birds. The Hawk, interrupting him, said: 'I should indeed have lost my senses if I should let go food ready in my hand, for the sake of pursuing birds which are not yet even within sight.'


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