Aesop & Son "The Eagle and the Beetle" (un-restored)

The title of today's fable, Junior, is The Eagle and the Beetle. I have a feeling this fable is really going to bug me. Get it, Pop? Beetle? Bug me? Rather good, huh, Pop? As a matter of fact, Junior, that's exactly what this fable is about. An eagle that was beetled by a bug. You mean bugged by a beetle, Pop. At any rate, let's get on with the story. Ah, it's that scroll over there. Now, let's see. This form must be filed on or before April 16th. Oh, Junior, you've handed me the income tax form. Oh, I'm sorry, Pop. Oh, yes. This is it. The Eagle and the Tax Dodger. I mean, the Eagle and the Beetle. Well, our story starts out on a mountaintop where there lived a fierce eagle. You see all that down there? It's mine. All mine. Because I am the king. Everything that moves down there is mine. I see a critter moving and zoom, zoom, zoom. Aha! There's something moving down there right now. What? You've heard the expression eagle-eyed? Well, this particular eagle wasn't eagle-eyed at all. As a matter of fact, he was terribly nearsighted, to say the least. Poor old eagle couldn't distinguish windmills from rabbits. Oh, maybe not. But I know a chipmunk when I see one. What's the matter? You some kind of a feathered nut? But still the eagle persisted. Aha! A field mouse. Hmm. You know, I don't think that is a field mouse. Hey, see? I was right. It wasn't a field mouse. Now, don't tell me that's not a rabbit. Boy, that was close. That big eagle almost got me. Well, sit down, rabbit. He can't stay out there forever. Just stay here a while. Then you can split. And so the rabbit stayed inside for an hour. Do you think it's safe to go out now? Well, wait a minute. I'll check for you. I think this answers your question. Well, this is pretty ridiculous when a grown rabbit can't even go out for a walk. It's... It's lucky. Lucky? It's lucky that Bugsy from Chicago is in town. And he's coming to visit with me. Bugsy? From Chicago. Oh, Bugsy from Chicago. Who's Bugsy from Chicago? Who is Bugsy from Chicago? Come in. Bugsy from Chicago. I do not see nobody. For goodness sakes, rabbit. Watch your mouth. Bugsy is very sensitive about his size. That's him standing by that wall plug. Well, that's nothing but a beetle. Ah, just a beetle, eh, punk? You heard of the St. Swithin's Day massacre? Hmm? Who do you think pulled that caper off? Me. Bugsy. Oh, that was beautiful. Yeah. How did you pull it off, huh? Ah, how did you pull it off? How did you pull it off? Get this creep away from me. Time is money, mouse. Watch the caper. Ah, well, Bugsy, uh, there's this eagle, see? And he's got rabbit here cornered in my house. And this eagle is out there now, right? Show him, mouse. There, you see? There's no way out of this mess. Ah. Put another hat on a stick. It's no use. The same thing will happen again. Only this time, we put a brick in the hat. Ah. Let's go out, you guys. Very funny. Very, very funny, that brick bit. Well, you're really gonna get yours. But it wasn't me, really. It wasn't. It was Bugsy's idea. Ah. Not only are you a rabbit-hearted rabbit-rabbit, but you are also a fink. That's right, eagle. Bugsy did it, see? Who said that? I did. I don't see nobody. Over here, stupid. Oh, there you are. Well, listen. Don't try and get tough with me. What's the matter with him? He some kind of a feathered nut? I heard that. Tell me, eagle. How long you been nearsighted? All my life. When all the other eagles were swooping down on chickens, I had to fake it. I had to swoop down on goodness knows what. If I told you the things I swooped down on, you wouldn't believe it. Well, how come you don't wear glasses? Me the laughingstock of the eagles? Well, listen to Bugsy, eagle. I got a proposition to make to you. We could take over this whole town, see? Now, this is what I got in mind. All we have to do is... Navigator to pilot. Three degrees to the left. That's right. Easy there. Easy. Now, two degrees to the right. Roger. Yes, with Bugsy as his navigator, the eagle could fly beautifully. And he became one of the deadliest snoopers anywhere. Boy, this is better than the St. Swithin's Day Massacre. So the eagle regained much of his confidence. Too much of his confidence, really. Hey, Bugsy. Let's swoop down on that sparrow. Sparrow? That's no sparrow. Don't be very curious. I guess I know a sparrow when I see one. No, no. Now, wait a minute. No, that's not a sparrow. It's a... So the partnership between the eagle and the beetle was dissolved. Along with the eagle and the beetle. Which brings us to our moral, Junior. Moral. You cannot fly like an eagle if you're blind as a bat. Blind as a... Oh, that Junior really beetles me.