The Thieves and the Cock

Summary

The narrative describes a situation where thieves break into a house and take a rooster, as there is nothing else of value to steal. The rooster, realizing his life is at risk, tries to argue for his usefulness to humans, explaining that he helps by waking them up to start their day. However, the thieves counter that this is precisely why they plan to kill him, as his crowing disrupts their nighttime activities. This story highlights the conflict between those who engage in illicit activities and the forces or individuals that disrupt them, emphasizing the idea that what is beneficial to one group can be detrimental to another.

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Some Thieves broke into a house and found nothing but a Cock, whom they stole, and got off as fast as they could. Upon arriving at home they prepared to kill the Cock, who thus pleaded for his life: “Pray spare me; I am very serviceable to men. I wake them up in the night to their work.” “That is the very reason why we must the more kill you,” they replied; “for when you wake your neighbors, you entirely put an end to our business.”