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The
cicada, the praying mantis and
the sparrow
The prince of Wu decided to attack the
state of Chu. He gave a stern warning to his subjects that
anyone who raised objections would be put to death.
One
of his stewards wanted to protest, but dared not. Instead,
he took a catapult and pellets and wandered in the back
courtyeard until his clothes were wet with dew. He did this
for three mornings.
Come
here, ordered the prince. " What are you doing to make
your clothes wet with dew ?"
"
There is a tree in the garden, " replied the steward,
and on it there is a cicada. This cicada perches up
there, chirping away and drinking the dew, not knowing that
there is a praying mantis behind it. And the praying mantis
leans forward, raising its forelegs to catch the cicada, not
knowing that there is a sparrow beside it. The sparrow,
again, cranes its neck to peck at the praying mantis,
not knowing that there is someone with a catapult waiting
below. These three small creatures are so eager to profit by
something directly in front of them that they fail to
realize the danger behind.
"
Well said, " replied the prince and he gave up his plan
of invasion.
| perches |
When a bird perches on
something such as a branch or a wall, it lands on it
and stands there. |
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| cranes |
If you crane your neck
or head, you stretch your neck in a particular
direction in order to see or hear something better. |
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