The Frogs Who Asked for a King

The frogs, unhappy with the lawless state they lived in, sent envoys to Zeus, begging him to give them a king. Zeus, seeing how simple they were, dropped a log into the marsh. At first the frogs, frightened by the splash, dived into the depths; but when the log did not move, they came back up and grew so contemptuous of their king that they jumped onto his back and squatted there. Ashamed of such a king, they petitioned Zeus a second time, asking him to change their ruler, for the first was far too idle. Zeus, losing patience, sent them a water-snake, which seized them and devoured them.