It happened that a Countryman was sowing some
hemp seeds in a field where a Swallow and some other
birds were hopping about picking up their food. ‘Beware
of that man,’ quoth the Swallow. ‘Why, what is he doing?’
said the others. ‘That is hemp seed he is sowing; be careful
to pick up every one of the seeds, or else you will repent
it.’ The birds paid no heed to the Swallow’s words, and by
and by the hemp grew up and was made into cord, and of
the cords nets were made, and many a bird that had
despised the Swallow’s advice was caught in nets made out
of that very hemp. ‘What did I tell you?’ said the Swallow.
Moral Lesson: Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your
ruin.
―
Aesop
