A nightingale was sitting on a bough of an oak and singing, as her custom was. A hungry hawk presently spied her, and darting to the spot seized her in his talons. He was just about to tear her in pieces when she begged him to spare her life: "I'm not big enough," she pleaded, "to make you a good meal, you ought to seek your prey among the bigger birds." The hawk eyed he with some contempt, "You must think me very simple," said he, "If you suppose I am going to give up a certain prize on the chance of a better of which I see at present no signs."

夜莺坐在一棵橡树的树枝上，像往常一样在唱歌。一只饥饿的老鹰看见她后，便猛飞过去用鹰爪抓住了她。就在老鹰将要撕碎夜莺时，她恳求老鹰饶命：“我的个头太小了，不能让你饱餐一顿，你应当去抓那些个头更大的鸟。”老鹰不屑一顾地看着她，说“如果你认为我会放弃手中现成的食物，而去追求目前看不到影的东西，那可真是太小看我了。”