a half-famished jackdaw seated himself on a fig-tree, which had

produced some fruit entirely1 out of season, and waited in the

hope that the figs2 would ripen3. a fox seeing him sitting so long

and learning the reason of his doing so, said to him, "you are

indeed, sir, sadly deceiving yourself; you are indulging a hope

strong enough to cheat you, but which will never reward you with

enjoyment."