The Two Roosters

There was once two flocks of hens, each led by a different rooster. These flocks came to the attention of a prowling bobcat - who stalked - waiting for just the right time to strike.

The bobcat attacked the first flock, and the rooster valiantly defended his hens and his chicks. The flock escaped, even though the rooster was devoured.

The second rooster saw this and decided that fighting was not the way. So when the bobcat attacked his flock, he tried to reason with the bobcat. “This conflict is unnecessary,” he said, “There is a more enlightened way, we need to discuss our differences without violence.” But the bobcat only laughed at such pompous prey and proceeded to make the entire flock his feast. Once he was done with his banquet, not one chick remained.

From a French manuscript of the work of Valerius Maximus, 1401