The Proud Frog


2.62. THE PROUD FROG. An Ox, grazing in a meadow, chanced to set his foot among a parcel of young frogs, and trod one of them to death. The rest informed their mother, when she came home, what had happened; telling her, that the beast which did it was the hugest creature that ever they saw in their lives.
"What, was it so big?" says the old Frog, swelling and bowing up her speckled belly to a great degree.
"Oh, bigger by a vast deal," say they.
"And so big?" says she, straining herself yet more.
"Indeed, Mamma," say they, "if you were to burst yourself, you would never be so big."
She strove yet again, and burst herself indeed.
MORAL. The silly ambition of vying with our superiors, in station and fortune is the direct road to ruin. [more info]

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