The Hen and the Swallow

113. THE HEN AND THE SWALLOW. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

The Hen and the Swallow

15. THE HEN AND THE SWALLOW. A motherly old Hen brooded the eggs of a viper and nourished them into life. A Swallow, seeing what she had done. said, “You silly old granny! Don’t you know that these vipers you have hatched will, when grown, inflict injury not only on you but on everyone?" MORAL. Wrong is not to be countenanced, though it may be dictated by good intentions. [more info]

The Hen and the Swallow

179. THE HEN AND THE SWALLOW. A hen, finding some serpent's eggs in a dunghill, sat upon them, with a design to hatch them. A swallow perceiving it, flew towards her, and with some warmth and passion — “Are you mad,” says she, “to sit hovering over a brood of such pernicious creatures as you do? Be assured, the moment you bring them to light, you are the first they will attack and wreak their venomous spite upon.” [more info]