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Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)

511. JUPITER AND THE HARE
Perry 658 (Romulus Ang. 19)

A certain hare happened to see a stag adorned with great branching horns. The hare complained to Jupiter that the hares were weak, defective creatures who were not feared by any of the other animals. Therefore, he wanted Jupiter to give him horns like those of the stag both for his own protection and to enhance his appearance. Jupiter told the hare that he would not be able to carry the heavy weight of the horns, but the hare replied that he was prepared to carry such horns with pride. Jupiter therefore commanded that the hare's head should be crowned with a pair of big, branching horns, but the hare was so weighed down by his burden that he wasn't able to run. As a result, the shepherds captured and killed him.
It is often the case that people are greedy for things which they think will bring them honour, but which only result in their death and destruction.

Note: For another fable about the hares who want to be feared by other animals, see Fable 248.

Source: Aesop's Fables. A new translation by Laura Gibbs. Oxford University Press (World's Classics): Oxford, 2002.
NOTE: New cover, with new ISBN, published in 2008; contents of book unchanged.