The Swan and the Stork

The Swan and the Stork. The swan, as it was dying, was asked by the stork why at the moment of death, which the other animals truly feared, the swan poured forth the most beautiful song of its life, when instead it should have been sad. The swan replied, "It is because I will no longer be tortured with worry about finding food to eat, nor will I have to fear the birdcatcher's snares any longer."

Cygnus et Ciconia. Cygnus, moriens, interrogabatur a Ciconia, cur in morte, quam cetera animalia adeo exhorrent, multo suaviores quam in omni vita emitteret sonos, cum potius maestus esse deberet. Cui Cygnus "Quia," inquit, "neque cibi quaerendi cura amplius cruciabor, neque aucupum laqueos extimescam."

Notes. This is Abstemius 13. As usual with Abstemius, it is not found in Perry's inventory. There are quite a few Aesop's fables based on the legend of the "swan song," but I think Abstemius's fable here is the only one that tries to explains just why the swan sings its beautiful song (supposedly) at the moment of its death.