Story No. 9

The philosophers wrote in their books that the scorpion is not born in the usual way, as other animals are. Instead, its young devour their mother's insides, tear open her belly, and head out into the wild; and those hollow shells one finds in a scorpion's nest are the remains of this. Once I mentioned this point to a wise elder, and he said: 'My heart bears witness that this is true, and it could be no other way. Since they treat their mother and father this way in infancy, no wonder they end up so fortunate and beloved in their prime!' A father gave his son this counsel: 'Lucky boy, remember this advice.' Whoever breaks faith with his own family will never win affection or good fortune. They asked the scorpion: 'Why don't you come out in winter?' It replied: 'What welcome do I get in summer, that I should show up in winter too?'