The pigeons, terrified by the appearance of a Kite, called upon the Hawk to defend them. He at once consented. When they had admitted him into the cote, they found that he made more havoc and slew a larger number of them in one day than the Kite could pounce upon in a whole year.

The moral of the story is: Avoid a remedy that is worse than the disease.

 

Wordchecker

 

terrified (adjective): very afraid

consent (verb): to agree

cote (noun): a shelter for pigeons

havoc (noun): trouble

slew (past verb of “slay”): to kill

pounce (verb): to jump on suddenly

remedy (noun): cure