The Thieves and the Rooster

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

The Thieves and the Cock

177. THE THIEVES AND THE COCK. Some thieves entering a house with a design to rob it, when they were got in, found nothing worth taking but a cock, so they took and carried him off. But as they were about to kill him, he begged hard for his life, putting them in mind how useful he was to mankind by crowing and calling them up betimes to their work.
“You villain,” replied they, “it is for that very reason we will wring your head off; for you alarm and keep people waking, so that we cannot rob at quiet for you.” [more info]

The Thieves and the Cock

21. THE THIEVES AND THE COCK. Two Thieves broke into a house, but found therein nothing else than a Cock, whom they carried off. Reaching their home they killed the Cock, he crying out before his death, “Spare me! For I am of use to men. I wake them in the night to their work.”
“That is the real reason why we destroy you," they replied; “for when you arouse your neighbors, you put an end to our business.”
MORAL. The protectors of virtue are obnoxious to evil-doers. [more info]

The Thieves and the Cock

055. THE THIEVES AND THE COCK. Some Thieves broke into a house, and found nothing worth taking except a Cock, which they seized and carried off with them. When they were preparing their supper, one of them caught up the Cock, and was about to wring his neck, when he cried out for mercy and said, "Pray do not kill me: you will find me a most useful bird, for I rouse honest men to their work in the morning by my crowing." But the Thief replied with some heat, "Yes, I know you do, making it still harder for us to get a livelihood. Into the pot you go!" [more info]