The Swallow, the Serpent, and the Court of Justice

Summary

The story revolves around a swallow who builds a nest in a Court of Justice, believing it to be a safe place. She raises seven young birds, trusting in the court's symbolic protection of rights. However, a snake nearby devours her offspring, leaving the swallow to mourn the loss and question the irony of suffering wrong in a place dedicated to justice. This narrative underscores themes of misplaced trust and the harsh realities of life, suggesting that even in seemingly secure environments, vulnerability and injustice can still occur.

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A Swallow, returning from abroad and especially fond of dwelling with men, built herself a nest in the wall of a Court of Justice and there hatched seven young birds. A Serpent gliding past the nest from its hole in the wall ate up the young unfledged nestlings. The Swallow, finding her nest empty, lamented greatly and exclaimed: “Woe to me a stranger! that in this place where all others’ rights are protected, I alone should suffer wrong.”