Aesop's Fables
THE
GODS, according to an ancient
legend, made choice of certain
trees to be under their special
protection.
Jupiter chose the
oak,
Venus the
myrtle,
Apollo the
laurel,
Cybele the
pine, and
Hercules the
poplar.
Minerva, wondering why they had preferred trees not yielding
fruit, inquired the reason for their choice. Jupiter replied, "It is
lest we should seem to
covet the honor for the fruit." But said Minerva, "Let anyone say what he will the
olive is more dear to me on account of its fruit." Then said Jupiter, "My daughter, you are rightly called wise; for unless what we do is
useful, the glory of it is
vain."