171. THE HART AND THE VINE. A hart, being pursued hard by the hunters, hid himself under the broad leaves of a shady spreading vine. When the hunters were gone by, and had given him over for lost, he, thinking himself very secure, began to crop and eat the leaves of the vine. By this means the branches, being put into a rustling motion, drew the eyes of the hunters that way; who seeing the vine stir, and fancying some wild beasts had taken cover there, shot their arrows at a venture, and killed the hart, who, before he expired uttered his dying words to this purpose: “Ah! I suffer justly for my ingratitude, who could not forbear doing an injury to the vine that so kindly concealed me in the time of danger.” [more info]
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