A man caught a jackdaw, tied a string to its leg, and gave it to his children as a pet. The jackdaw disliked living with people. After a while, when it seemed tame and was less closely watched, it slipped away and flew back to its old haunts.
Unfortunately, the string was still on its leg. It soon became entangled in the branches of a tree, and the jackdaw could not free itself, no matter how hard it tried. Realizing its fate was sealed, it cried in despair, "Alas, in gaining my freedom I have lost my life."