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Abstemius's Fables (Sir Roger L'Estrange)

258. (Abstemius 4) A Swallow and a Spider.

A Spider that observ'd a Swallow catching of Flies, fell immediately to work upon a Net to catch Swallows, for she look't upon't as an Encroachment upon her Right: But the Birds, without any Difficulty, brake through the Work, and flew away with the very Net it self. Well, says the Spider, Bird-catching is none of my Talent I perceive; and so she return'd to her old Trade of catching Flies again.
A Wise Man will not Undertake any thing without Means answerable to the End.