It happened that a Dog had got a piece of meat and was carrying it home in its mouth to eat it in peace.
Now on its way home the Dog had to cross a plank lying across a running brook.
As it crossed, it looked down and saw its own shadow reflected in the water beneath.
Thinking it was another dog with another piece of meat, the Dog made up its mind to have that also.
So it made a snap at the shadow in the water, but as it opened its mouth the piece of meat fell out, dropped into the water and was never seen more.
MORAL: “Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow”