Begotten of a muddy puddle, a lump of ice
Resented a crystal’s transparence and in a trice
Started praying to the sun. The sun began to shine,
The lump of ice glistered but proceeded to decline;
Thus, keen to mend its lot with inopportune trouble,
The lump melted away and returned to the puddle.


From Fables and Parables (1779) by Ignacy Krasicki, translated by Christopher Kasparek

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