Aesop's Fables

An Owl, accustomed to feeding at night and sleeping during the day, was greatly disturbed by the noise of a Grasshopper and earnestly begged her to stop chirping. The Grasshopper refused to desist and chirped louder and louder the more the Owl entreated. When the Owl saw that she could get no redress and that her words were despised, she attacked the chatterer with a stratagem. “Since I cannot sleep,” she said, “because of your song, which, believe me, is as sweet as the lyre of Apollo, I will treat myself to some nectar that Pallas recently gave me. If you do not dislike it, come to me, and we will drink it together.” The Grasshopper, who was thirsty and pleased with the praise of her voice, eagerly flew up. The Owl came out of her hollow, seized her, and put her to death.