Two Cocks were fighting to rule the yard. The loser hid while the winner danced around the yard drawing an Eagle’s attention. Bye-bye loser, hello winner.
Pride goes before the fall.
Two Cocks were fighting to rule the farmyard. One became the victor and the other hid in a corner of the yard. The victor, meanwhile, pranced around the yard, flapping his wings and crowing with all his might. Just at the moment an Eagle, sailing above, swooped down, caught up the crowing Cock and carried him off. The vanquished Cock immediately left his corner and ruled the yard from then on.
Aesop For Children
Once there were two Cocks living in the same farmyard who could not bear the sight of each other. At last one day they flew up to fight it out, beak and claw. They fought until one of them was beaten and crawled off to a corner to hide.
The Cock that had won the battle flew to the top of the hen-house, and, proudly flapping his wings, crowed with all his might to tell the world about his victory. But an Eagle, circling overhead, heard the boasting chanticleer and, swooping down, carried him off to his nest.
His rival saw the deed, and coming out of his corner, took his place as master of the farmyard.
Moral
Pride goes before a fall.
JBR Collection
Two Cocks fought for the sovereignty of the dunghill. One was severely beaten, and ran and hid himself in a hole. The conqueror flew to the top of an outhouse, there clapped his wings, and crowed out “Victory!” Just then an Eagle made a stoop, trussed him, and carried him off. The other, seeing this from his hiding-place, came out and, shaking off the recollection of his late disgrace, strutted about among his Hens with all the dignity imaginable.
Samuel Croxall
Cocks were fighting for the sovereignty of the dunghill And one of them having got the better of the other, he that was vanquished crept into a hole, and hid himself for some time; but the victor flew up to an eminent place, clapt his wings, and crowed out Victory. An Eagle who was watching for his prey near the place, saw him, and making a stoop, trussed him in his talons, and carried him off. The cock that had been beaten, perceiving this, soon quitted his hole, and shaking off all remembrance of his late disgrace, gallanted the hens with all the intrepidity imaginable.
THE APPLICATION,
This fable shows the impropriety and inconvenience of running into extremes. Much of our happiness depends upon keeping an even balance in our words and actions; in not suffering the scale of our reason to mount us too high in time of prosperity, nor to sink us too low with the weight of adverse fortune.
It is a question, Which shows people in the most contemptible light, exulting immoderately upon a fresh accession of good, or being too abjectly cast down at the sudden approach of evil? We are apt to form our notions of the man from the stability of his temper, in this respect, and account him a brave or a wise man, according to the proportion of equanimity which he exerts upon any change of his condition. But though our reputation were no ways concerned in the case, and a man were not to be reckoned a coxcomb for being elated, or a coward for being dejected with the vicissitudes of life, yet the true regard of our own private satisfaction should incline us to play the philosopher, and learn to keep our spirits calm and even; because life would be a labyrinth of perplexities without it. One sudden turn would come so thick upon, the back of another, that we should be bewildered in the quick succession of joys and terrors, without having so much as a quiet moment to ourselves.
Townsend version
Two game Cocks were fiercely fighting for the mastery of the farmyard. One at last put the other to flight. The vanquished Cock skulked away and hid himself in a quiet corner, while the conqueror, flying up to a high wall, flapped his wings and crowed exultingly with all his might. An Eagle sailing through the air pounced upon him and carried him off in his talons. The vanquished Cock immediately came out of his corner, and ruled henceforth with undisputed mastery.
Moral
Pride goes before destruction.
Thomas Bewick (The Fighting Cocks)
After a fierce battle between two Cocks for the sovereignty of the dunghill, one of them having beaten his antagonist, he that was vanquished slunk away and crept into a corner, where he for some time hid himself; but the conqueror flew up to a high place, and clapped his wings, crowing and proclaiming his victory. An Eagle, who was watching for his prey, saw him from afar off, and in the midst of his exultation darted down upon him, trussed him up, and bore him away. The vanquished Cock perceiving this, quitted the place of his retreat, and shaking his feathers and throwing off all remembrance of his late disgrace, returned to the dunghill, and gallanted the Hens, as if nothing had happened.
APPLICATION.
This Fable shews us the impropriety and inconvenience of running into extremes, and teaches us, that under all the various and sudden vicissitudes of human life, we ought to bear success with moderation, and misfortune with fortitude and equinamity; to repress immoderate exultation, and unmanly despair. Much of our happiness depends upon keeping an even balance in our words and actions, and in not suffering circumstances to mount us too high in time of prosperity, nor to sink us too low with the weight of adverse fortune. A wise man will not place too high a value on blessings which he knows to be no more than temporary; nor will he repine at evils, whose duration may perhaps be but short, and cannot be eternal. He will submit himself with humility and resignation to the decrees of providence, and the will of heaven. In prosperity, the fear of evil will check the insolence of triumph; and in adversity, the hope of good will sustain his spirit, and teach him to endure his misfortunes with constancy and fortitude.
L’Estrange version
Two cocks fought a duell for the mastery of a dunghill. He that was worsted, slunk away into a corner, and hid himself; t’other takes his flight up to the top of the house, and there with crowing and clapping of his wings makes proclamation of his victory. An eagle made a stoop at him in the middle of his exultation, and carry’d him away. By this accident, the other cock had a good riddance of his rival; took possession of the province they contended for, and had all his mistresses to himself again.
Moral
A wise, and a generous enemy will make a modest use of a victory; for fortune is variable.
Galli Duo Certantes
Duo inter se certarant galli gallinacei. Alter, victus, in remoto loco se occultaverat. Alter, victoria potitus, fastigium tecti occupaverat. Ibi cum se, victoria elatus, insolenter iactaret, aquila delapsa sursum illum secum rapuit.
Moral
Hoc argumento cognoscitur neminem Fortunae et viribus nimis credere aut stulte superbire debere.
de La Fontaine (Les deux Coqs)
Deux coqs vivoient en paix: une poule survint,
Et voilà la guerre allumée.
Amour, tu perdis Troie! et c’est de toi que vint
Cette querelle envenimée
Où du sang des dieux même on vit le Xante teint!
Long-temps entre nos coqs le combat se maintint.
Le bruit s’en répandit par tout le voisinage:
La gent qui porte crête au spectacle accourut;
Plus d une Hélène au beau plumage
Fut le prix du vainqueur. Le vaincu disparut:
Il alla se cacher au fond de sa retraite,
Pleura sa gloire et ses amours;
Ses amours qu’un rival, tout lier de sa défaite,
Possédoit à ses yeux. Il voyoit tous les jours
Cet objet rallumer sa haine et son courage;
Il aiguisoit son bec, battoit l’air et ses flancs,
Et, s’exerçant contre les vents,
S’armoit d’une jalouse rage.
Il n’en eut pas besoin. Son vainqueur sur les toits
S’alla percher, et chanter sa victoire.
Un vautour entendit sa voix:
Adieu les amours et la gloire;
Tout cet orgueil périt sous l’ongle du vautour.
Enfin , par un fatal retour,
Son rival autour de la poule
S’en revint faire le coquet.
Je laisse à penser quel caquet;
Car il eut des femmes en foule.
La Fortune se plaît à faire de ces coups:
Tout vainqueur insolent à sa perte travaille.
Défions-nous du Sort, et prenons garde à nous
Après le gain d’une bataille.
Perry #281