some thieves broke into a house and found nothing but a cock, whom they stole, and got off as fast as they could. upon arriving at home they prepared to kill the cock, who thus pleaded for his life: “pray spare me; i am very serviceable to men. i wake them up in the night to their work.” “that is the very reason why we must the more kill you,” they replied; “for when you wake your neighbors, you entirely put an end to our business.”

the safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.