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The Swallow, The Serpent, and The Court of Justice

A Swallow built herself a next in the wall of a Court of Justice and hatched seven young birds. A Serpent, gliding past the next, ate all seven nestlings. The Swallow, on returning and finding her next empty exclaimed: "Woe, that in this place where all others' rights are protected, I should suffer wrong."

Townsend version

A Swallow, returning from abroad and especially fond of dwelling with men, built herself a nest in the wall of a Court of Justice and there hatched seven young birds. A Serpent gliding past the nest from its hole in the wall ate up the young unfledged nestlings. The Swallow, finding her nest empty, lamented greatly and exclaimed: "Woe to me a stranger! that in this place where all others' rights are protected, I alone should suffer wrong."

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