I have found 2 fables that sound similar to what you are describing.
1.
Once upon a time, as an eagle, in the full pride of his pinions,
soared over a humble farm-yard, darting his fiery eyes around in
search of a pig, a lamb, or some such pretty titbit, what should he
behold but a plump young rabbit, as he thought, squatted among the
weeds. Down at once upon him he pounced, and, bearing him aloft in his
talons, thus chuckled to himself with joy: ` Zounds, what a lucky dog
am I ! Such a nice rabbit here, this morning, for my breakfast!' His
joy was but momentary; for the supposed rabbit happened to be a stout
cat, who, spitting and squalling with rage, instantly stuck his teeth
and nails like fury into the eagle's thighs, making the blood and
feathers fly at a dreadful rate. ` Hold ! Hold ! for mercy's sake!'
cried the eagle, his wings shivering in the air with very torment. `
Villain ! ' retorted the cat, with a tiger-like growl, ` dare you talk
of mercy after treating me thus, who never injured you?" 0 God bless
you, Mr. Cat, is that you?' rejoined the eagle.
`Pon honor, I did not intend it, sir. I thought it was only a rabbit I
had got hold of?and you know we are all fond of rabbits. Do you
suppose, my dear sir, that if I had but dreamt it was you, I would
ever have touched a hair of your head? No, indeed ; I am not such a
fool as all that comes to. And now, my dear Mr. Cat, come, let's be
good friends again, and I'll let you go with all my heart.' ` Yes,
you'll let me go, scoundrel, will you, here from the clouds, to break
every bone in my skin ! No, villain, carry me back, and put me down
exactly where you found me, or I'll tear the throat out of you in a
moment.' Without a word of reply, the eagle stooped at once from his
giddy height, and sailing humbly down, with great complaisance
restored the cat to his simple farm-yard, there to sleep or hunt his
rats and mice at pleasure."
http://www.oldandsold.com/articles24/speaking-oak-58.shtml
2. There are several variations of this one- the animals that are
harmed are interchangeable, as are the animals that helped the
"wronged." However, the moral is the same for all....
"An eagle grabs a rabbit's babies from her hole and flies back to her
nest to feed her eaglets. The rabbit chases after the eagle, begging
her to spare her children. The eagle laughs and "tears the baby
rabbits apart" (direct quote). The mother rabbit is griefstricken and
goes back the rabbit warren and pleads with the other rabbits to help
her get revenge on the eagle. The rabbits all dig under the eagle's
tree and chew at the roots until the tree falls over. The eagle's
babies fall out onto the ground and are eaten by a fox. The mother
rabbit goes home, comforted to know that although her children were
dead, so were those of the eagle."
http://www.harmonline.net/jerry/archives/000836.html
Another variation:
http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2001-12-11/penny.html |
