Every year, a peasant picked the most delicious apples from his tree and gave them to his landlord who lived in the city. Amazed with the taste of these apples, the landlord had the tree transplanted to his own city-gardens. The tree which had once been fruitful now became old and barren since it was removed from its accustomed soil. When the landlord finally recognized the cause, he realized his hopes were in vain and cursed himself for such hasty disregard. "Alas," he said, "it would have been much better gratefully to accept my tenant's gifts, small as they were! If only I could have controlled my greed and my voracious appetite! Instead I have lost both the fruit and the tree."