The Dog Carrying Some Meat Across a River

1.04. THE DOG CARRYING SOME MEAT ACROSS A RIVER. He who covets what belongs to another, deservedly loses his own.
As a Dog, swimming through a river, was carrying a piece of meat, he saw his own shadow in the watery mirror; and, thinking that it was another booty carried by another dog, attempted to snatch it away; but his greediness was disappointed, he both dropped the food which he was holding in his mouth, and was after all unable to reach that at which he grasped. [more info]

The Dog in the River

1.04. THE DOG IN THE RIVER.
The churl that wants another’s fare
Deserves at least to lose his share.
As through the stream a Dog convey’d
A piece of meat, he spied his shade
In the clear mirror of the flood,
And thinking it was flesh and blood,
Snapp’d to deprive him of the treat:—
But mark the glutton’s self-defeat,
Miss’d both another’s and his own,
Both shade and substance, beef and bone. [more info]