f[1] Aesop tells us that the eagle and the beetle were at war; the eagle
devoured the beetle's young and the latter got into its nest and tumbled
out its eggs. On this the eagle complained to Zeus, who advised it to lay its
eggs in his bosom; but the beetle flew up to the abode of Zeus, who,
forgetful of the eagle's eggs, at once rose to chase off the objectionable
insect. The eggs fell to earth and were smashed to bits.

LITTLE DAUGHTER
Father, father, 'tis a tale nobody can believe! that such a stinking
creature can have gone to the gods.

TRYGAEUS
It went to have vengeance on the eagle and break its eggs.

LITTLE DAUGHTER
Why not saddle Pegasus? you would have a more TRAGIC[1] appearance
in
the eyes of the gods.

f[1] Pegasus is introduced by Euripides both in his 'Andromeda' and his
'Bellerophon.'

TRYGAEUS
Eh! don't you see, little fool, that then twice the food would
be wanted? Whereas my beetle devours again as filth what I have
eaten myself.

LITTLE DAUGHTER
And if it fell into the watery depths of the sea, could it