'The Frogs Desiring a King'

Æsop's Fables with Modern Instances
by Aesop
illustrated by Randolph Caldecott
London: MacMillian and Co., 1883

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The Frogs Desiring a King

The Frogs were grieved at their own lawless condition,
so they sent a deputation to Zeus begging him to provide
them with a King. Zeus, perceiving their simplicity,
dropped a Log of wood into the pool. At first the Frogs
were terrified by the splash, and dived to the bottom;
but after a while, seeing the Log remain motionless,
they came up again, and got to despise it so much that
they climbed up and sat on it. Dissatisfied with a King
like that, they came again to Zeus and entreated him
to change their ruler for them, the first being altogether
too torpid. Then Zeus was exasperated with them,
and sent them a Stork, by whom they were
seized and eaten up.