The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'

But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my fatness, by which gods and men are honored, and go to sway over the trees?'

And the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come you, and reign over us.'

But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to sway over the trees?'

And the trees said to the vine, 'Come you, and reign over us.'

But the vine said to them, 'Shall I leave my wine which cheers gods and men, and go to sway over the trees?'

Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'Come you, and reign over us.'

And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'