The Peacock and The Crane by Aesop
A Peacock, puffed up with vanity, met a Crane one day, and to impress him spread his gorgeous tail in the Sun.
"Look," he said. "What have you to compare with this? I am dressed in all the glory of the rainbow, while your feathers are gray as dust!"
The Crane spread his broad wings and flew up toward the sun.
"Follow me if you can," he said. But the Peacock stood where he was among the birds of the barnyard, while the Crane soared in freedom far up into the blue sky.
Terjemahan:
Seekor burung merak, yang sombong, bertemu dengan seekor bangau suatu hari, dan untuk membuatnya terkesan, dia menyebarkan ekornya yang indah di bawah sinar matahari.
"Lihat," katanya. "Apa yang bisa kamu bandingkan dengan ini? Aku mengenakan semua kemuliaan pelangi, sedangkan bulumu berwarna abu-abu seperti debu!"
Burung bangau merentangkan sayapnya yang lebar dan terbang menuju matahari.
"Ikuti saya jika Anda bisa," katanya. Tetapi Burung Merak berdiri di tempatnya berada di antara burung-burung di lumbung, sedangkan Burung Bangau terbang bebas jauh ke langit biru.
MORAL OF THE STORY:
Appearances are ofte deceptive.
The useful is of much more importance and value, than the ornamental.