A brisk young cock, in the company of two or three hens, raking upon a dunghill for something to entertain them with, happened to scratch up a jewel. The cock knew what it was well enough, for it sparkled with an exceeding bright lustre; but not knowing what to do with it, endeavoured to cover his ignorance under a gay contempt. So flapping his wings, shaking his head, and putting on a grimace, he spoke thus: “Indeed you are a very fine thing, but i know not waht business you have here. I do not hesitate to say that my taste lies quite another way, and i had rather have one grain of good barley than all the jewels under the sun.
—THE COCK AND THE JEWEL, Favourite Book of Fables.
