Those who keep bad company often suffer for the misbehavior of their companions.
A stork was unfortunately drawn into the company of some cranes, who were setting out on what they called a party of pleasure, which was actually a plan to rob a farmer’s fish-ponds. The naive stork agreed to join them. It so happened that they were all caught in the act. The cranes, being repeat offenders, had little to say in their defense and were quickly dealt with. The stork pleaded hard for his life, insisting it was his first offense, that he wasn’t naturally a thief, that he was known for his piety toward his parents, and for many other virtues. The farmer replied, “Your piety and virtue may be exemplary for all I know, but your company with thieves makes it very suspicious, and you must therefore share the same punishment as your companions.”
