The Frogs Ask Zeus for a King
Aesop | Greece
Frogs wanted a king, Zeus sent a log and then a stork that ate them, teaching them to be careful what they wish for!
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Once upon a time in a marshy pond, there lived a colony of frogs who grew tired of their simple, anarchic way of life. They desired a ruler to guide them and impose order. The frogs called upon the gods to provide them with a king.
Hearing their request, Zeus, the king of the gods, decided to grant their wish. He threw a log into the pond with a great splash. The frogs, startled by the sudden noise and waves, hid themselves in the depths of the pond, believing their new king to be mighty and powerful.
As time passed, the frogs noticed the log was still and did not command them in any way. They slowly emerged from their hiding places and began to realize that their new king was simply a motionless log, incapable of ruling or imposing order.
Dissatisfied with their new king, the frogs once again called upon the gods, complaining that the log was not fit to be their king and that they needed a proper ruler.
Zeus, slightly irritated by the frogs' discontent, decided to send them a different king. This time, he sent a stork to rule over the pond. The stork, however, was not a benevolent ruler. It began to devour the frogs, one by one, satisfying its hunger but striking terror in the hearts of the remaining frogs.
The frogs, now regretting their request for a ruler, called out to the gods once more, pleading for them to take away the stork and save them from its tyranny. Zeus, however, responded that they had been given two kings already and must now learn to live with the consequences of their choices. The frogs were left to suffer under the rule of the stork, realizing too late the dangers of their own desires.
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