The Frog and the Mouse

"The Frog and the Mouse" by Aesop is a cautionary fable about a deceitful frog who tricks a mouse into taking a ride on its back across a river, only to try to drown him for his own meal. However, a nearby hawk swoops down and carries them both away, serving as a lesson in the perils of breaking faith with friends and the inevitable consequence of deceit and betrayal.

• Children

								
A young Mouse in search of adventure was running along the bank
of a pond where lived a Frog. When the Frog saw the Mouse, he
swam to the bank and croaked:

"Won't you pay me a visit? I can promise you a good time if you
do."

The Mouse did not need much coaxing, for he was very anxious to
see the world and everything in it. But though he could swim a
little, he did not dare risk going into the pond without some
help.

The Frog had a plan. He tied the Mouse's leg to his own with a
tough reed. Then into the pond he jumped, dragging his foolish
companion with him.

The Mouse soon had enough of it and wanted to return to shore;
but the treacherous Frog had other plans. He pulled the Mouse
down under the water and drowned him. But before he could untie
the reed that bound him to the dead Mouse, a Hawk came sailing
over the pond. Seeing the body of the Mouse floating on the
water, the Hawk swooped down, seized the Mouse and carried it
off, with the Frog dangling from its leg. Thus at one swoop he
had caught both meat and fish for his dinner.

Those who seek to harm others often come to harm themselves
through their own deceit.
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