The Olive declined an offer to be kind of the trees.
Chambry (The trees and the olive tree.)
Note: The Chambry collection is published in Greek. AI was used to translate the Greek to this text:
The trees once went to appoint a king over themselves and said to the olive tree: “Reign over us.” And the olive tree said to them: “Shall I leave my richness, with which God and men have honored me, and go to rule over the trees?” And the trees said to the fig tree: “Come, reign over us.” And the fig tree said to them: “Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to rule over the trees?” And the trees said to the bramble: “Come, reign over us.” And the bramble said to the trees: “If truly you anoint me as king over you, then come and take shelter in my shadow; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”
How do you think an AI might simplify this fable? Here is one answer, and the illustration above was made from this simplification:
The Trees Choose a King
Long ago, the trees wished for a king. They asked the noble olive to rule them, but she refused to leave her gifts of oil and honor. They asked the sweet fig tree, who would not abandon her fruit. At last, they turned to the thorny bramble, who accepted their offer but threatened to burn them all if they would not obey.
Moral
When the worthy decline power, the unworthy may seize it and bring ruin.
Perry. #262