The Frogs did nothing but sit around croaking in a bored manner and wishing for a government that could entertain them with the pomp and display of royalty, and rule them in a way to make them know they were being ruled. So they sent a petition to Jupiter asking for a king.
Jupiter saw what simple and foolish creatures they were, but to keep them quiet and make them think they had a king he threw down a huge log, which fell into the water with a great splash. The Frogs hid themselves among the reeds and grasses, thinking the new king to be some fearful giant. But they soon discovered how tame and peaceable King Log was. In a short time the younger Frogs were using him for a diving platform, while the older Frogs made him a meeting place, where they complained loudly to Jupiter about the government.
To teach the Frogs a lesson the ruler of the gods now sent a Crane to
be king of Frogland. The Crane proved to be a very different sort of
king from old King Log. He gobbled up the poor Frogs right and left and
they soon saw what fools they had been. In mournful croaks they begged
Jupiter to take away the cruel tyrant before they should all be
destroyed."How now!" cried Jupiter "Are you not yet content? You have what you asked for and so you have only yourselves to blame for your misfortunes."
Source: United States Library of Congress
This is put well into modern perspective when we remember another piece of ancient wisdom:
"The mob is the mother of tyrants."
- Diogenes
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