The hares once gathered together and lamented their unhappy lot. Exposed to dangers on all sides, they felt they lacked the strength and courage to defend themselves.
Men, dogs, birds, and beasts of prey were all their enemies, killing and devouring them daily. Unable to endure such persecution any longer, they unanimously determined to end their miserable lives. Desperate and resolved, they rushed as one toward a nearby pool, intending to drown themselves.
A number of frogs were sitting on the bank. Hearing the noise of the approaching hares, they leaped into the water with one accord and hid in the depths.
Then one of the older hares, wiser than the rest, cried out to his companions: "Stop, my friends! Take heart. Let us not destroy ourselves after all. See, here are creatures who are afraid of us. They must, therefore, be even more timid than we are."