a crow caught in a snare prayed to apollo to release him, making a vow to offer some frankincense at his shrine. but when rescued from his danger, he forgot his promise. shortly afterwards, again caught in a snare, he passed by apollo and made the same promise to offer frankincense to mercury. mercury soon appeared and said to him, “o thou most base fellow? how can i believe thee, who hast disowned and wronged thy former patron?’