Why the Cock cannot fly

When the Creator had finished creating the world, and had returned to the sky, he sent down the cock to see whether the world was good or not, with orders to come back at once. But the world was so beautiful, that the cock, unable to tear himself away, kept lingering on from day to day. At last, after a long time, he was on his way flying back up to the sky. But God, angry with him for his disobedience, stretched forth his hand, and beat him down to earth, saying: "You are not wanted in the sky any more."

造り主はこの世界を造り終えて天へ帰ると、世界がよくできているかどうかを見させるために鶏を地上へ遣わし、すぐに戻ってくるよう命じた。ところが世界があまりに美しかったので、鶏は立ち去りがたく、一日また一日とぐずぐず居残った。長い時がたって、ようやく鶏は天へ飛んで帰る途中にあった。けれども神は、言いつけに背いた鶏に腹を立て、手を伸ばして鶏を地上へたたき落とし、こう言った。「おまえはもう天には用がない」

That is why, to this very day, the cock cannot fly high.--(Written down from memory. Told by Penri, 18th July, 1886.)

それで今日に至るまで、鶏は高く飛べないのである。——(記憶から書き留めた。語り手ペンリ、1886年7月18日)