Birds from all over gathered and decided:
- Let's choose a king so that he will be the strongest, the smartest and the most durable among us.
Then Galka walked around importantly and said:
“I think we need a king with a long tail and a scarf around his neck.” The birds laughed:
- Shouldn’t we choose you as king? Galka was offended:
- Since you laugh at me, I will fly away from you. And she flew away.
The owl turned his head in different directions and said:
“But in my opinion, the king should be sensitive and be able to see at night.”
The birds laughed again:
“You, Owl, have long ears and sharp eyes at night.” Aren't you the king? Owl was offended.
- Why are you laughing? I'm not your spinning Jackdaw. I will fly away from you to the taiga, but beware: I will overhear all your secret speeches and report them to the king.
And he flew away.
Kulik rose from his seat.
- Without a voice, a king is not a king. We need a king so that when he shouts, everyone’s soul will immediately feel sad.
The birds laughed louder than ever:
“You’re a master at shouting, Kulik!” Yes, he’s not tall!
Kulik could not bear the ridicule and flew away. Crane took the floor.
- I, dear sister birds, think that all these Sandpipers and Jackdaws are just laughter. Well, what kind of birds are these when I can step over them! We need, I think, a king with long legs, such that no one can step over him!
Then all the birds started laughing:
- Eh, Crane, you’re a good man, but you’re not very smart. Go to your swamp and command the frogs there.
“And thank you for that,” answered the Crane, “I’m full of frogs.” Your fame is of no use to me.
And he flew away.
The birds laughed, but still laughter is laughter, but a king must be chosen. They see: Falcon is sitting to the side - small in stature, but strong in body and proud.
“Here is the Falcon, he is fit to be a king,” the birds began to speak. “In flight he is faster than the wind, his chest is stronger than a stone, he has a keen eye.” Why not a king?
Crow and Magpie were sitting next to Eagle. The eagle did not listen to the bird chatter, he pecked his own meat, and the Crow and Magpie picked up the scraps, but followed the argument.
“Or-r-rla, Or-r-rla!” shouted the Crow. “That’s right, that’s right!” Soroka picked up.
Then all the birds looked at the Eagle and chose him as king.
And the Falcon flew up out of resentment and began to threaten:
“I will never forgive you for this shame!” Your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will get it from me!
So since then the Falcon has lived in anger at all the birds and takes revenge on them for their insult. And the Eagle is still called the king of birds. And for this service he feeds Raven and Magpie scraps from his table.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru