The Trees and the Olive

One day the trees set about electing a king to rule over them, and they said to the olive, "Reign over us." And the olive replied, "I, give up the rich oil so prized in me by God and by men, to go and reign over the trees?" And the trees said to the fig, "Come and reign over us." And the fig too replied, "I, give up the sweetness that is in me and the excellent fruit I bear, to go and reign over the trees?" And the trees said to the thornbush, "Come and reign over us." And the thornbush replied to the trees, "If you truly anoint me to reign over you, come and take shelter under me; if not, let fire come out of the thornbush, and devour the cedars of Lebanon!"