Fable 28 - The Halcyon

The halcyon is a bird who loves solitude and who lives constantly on the sea. It is said that to protect himself from men who might
hunt him, he builds a nest in the rocks of the bank or shore.
Now, one day, a halcyon who was broody went up on to a promontory and, seeing a rock which projected out over the sea,
made her nest there. But some time later, when she had gone in search of food, a squall blew up. The sea rose up under the force of the strong winds, rising as far as the nest, which was filled with water and the young birds were drowned.
When the halcyon returned and saw what had happened, she cried out:
‘How unfortunate I am! I who distrusted the ambushes which can take place on the land and have taken shelter on the
sea find that from the sea there is even greater treachery!’

It is thus that some men, through fear of their enemies, come to rely upon supposed friends who are even more
dangerous to them than their enemies were.