Two travellers were walking along a dusty road on a scorching summer day. Spotting a large plane-tree, they gladly stepped into the deep shade of its spreading branches to escape the sun.
As they rested, one traveller looked up and said to his companion, "What a useless tree this plane-tree is! It bears no fruit and is of no real use to anyone."
The plane-tree, hearing this, responded with indignation. "You ungrateful creature!" it cried. "You come to take shelter under me from the burning sun, and while you enjoy the cool shade of my leaves, you insult me and call me worthless!"