A farmer dug up a buried treasure.
"O Earth," he exclaimed, "what a great treasure you have bestowed upon me! I will give you my thanks forever."
The goddess Fortuna then appeared before the farmer. "What are you thanking her for? Just who do you think gave you this treasure? I did, Fortuna, Goddess of Luck! You should thank me for this gift, not the earth," she shouted.
Then she added, "Thank me now and forever, or else your luck might change from good to bad. Remember: just as I gave you this treasure, I can also take it away."
Inspired by: Mille Fabulae et Una, a collection of Latin fables that I've edited, free to read online. I am not translating the Latin here; instead, I am just telling a 100-word version of the fable.
Notes: This is fable 814 in the book, which is Perry 61.
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