Fable of the fire and the water in the cooking pot
The fire tries to boil the water out of the pot; the water sinks down and drowns the fire
A short prose fable written in mirror script and struck through with a single diagonal stroke. The fire quarrels with the water set in the cooking pot, claiming water has no right to stand above the fire, king of the elements, and so tries by the force of boiling to drive it out. But the water, to do the fire the honour of obedience, sinks to the bottom and drowns it.
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Fire and water quarrel over precedence
The fire contends with the water in the pot, asserting that water does not deserve to stand above the fire, king of the elements. It therefore tries by boiling to expel the water. The water obediently descends and puts the fire out, so that the fire's own assault destroys it.
