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[These versions are not exactly the same fable, but are similar enough to be included on the same page.]
It happened that a Countryman was sowing some hemp seeds in a field where a Swallow and some other birds were hopping about picking up their food. “Beware of that man,” quoth the Swallow. “Why, what is he doing?” said the others. “That is hemp seed he is sowing; be careful to pick up every one of the seeds, or else you will repent it.” The birds paid no heed to the Swallow’s words, and by and by the hemp grew up and was made into cord, and of the cords nets were made, and many a bird that had despised the Swallow’s advice was caught in nets made out of that very hemp. “What did I tell you?” said the Swallow.
Townsend version (The Owl and The Birds)
An owl, in her wisdom, counseled the Birds that when the acorn first began to sprout, to pull it all up out of the ground and not allow it to grow. She said acorns would produce mistletoe, from which an irremediable poison, the bird-lime, would be extracted and by which they would be captured. The Owl next advised them to pluck up the seed of the flax, which men had sown, as it was a plant which boded no good to them. And, lastly, the Owl, seeing an archer approach, predicted that this man, being on foot, would contrive darts armed with feathers which would fly faster than the wings of the Birds themselves. The Birds gave no credence to these warning words, but considered the Owl to be beside herself and said that she was mad. But afterwards, finding her words were true, they wondered at her knowledge and deemed her to be the wisest of birds. Hence it is that when she appears they look to her as knowing all things, while she no longer gives them advice, but in solitude laments their past folly.
L’Estrange version
There was a country fellow at work a sowing his grounds, and a swallow (being a bird famous for providence and foresight) call’d a company of little birds about her, and bad ’em take good notice what that fellow was a doing. You must know (says the swallow) that all the fowlers nets and snares are made of hemp, or flax; and that’s the seed that he is now a sowing. Pick it up in time for fear of what may come on’t. In short, they put it off, till it took root; and then again, till it was sprung up into the blade. Upon this, the swallow told ’em once for all, that it was not yet too late to prevent the mischief, if they would but bestir themselves, and set heartily about it; but finding that no heed was given to what she said; she e’en bad adieu to her old companions in the woods, and so hetook herself to a city life, and to the conversation of men. This flax and hemp came in time to be gather’d, and wrought, and it was this swallows fortune to see several of the very same birds that she had forewarn’d, taken in nets, made of the very stuff she told them off. They came at last to be sensible of the folly of slipping their opportunity; but they were lost beyond all redemption first.
Moral
Wise men read effects in their causes, but fools will not believe them till ’tis too late to prevent the mischief. Delay in these cases is mortal.
[Birdlime = A sticky material put on twigs to trap small birds.]
