ENG
In time's relentless grasp, he toiled and strived,
Yet pride and temper left success deprived.
His grey hair has done him no good,
When hubris stole his merits as it should.
Unlike the bee, wasp, hornet, katydid, cockroach, grasshopper, and dragonfly—the adopted sons of the spider ladies, the beetle captain earned his rank through his own valor. Perhaps this was what made him stubborn, quick to anger over slights to his status. He often quarreled with the lesser guais over matters of words and etiquette. They called him arrogant and overbearing behind his back, disliking him all the more.
One day, a petty dispute drove him to brandish his twin sabers at the lesser guards. Beetle Commander chanced by and pulled him aside, "You think your deeds and skills command their respect. But, know this, rank has no bearing on the actions of others. What would happen if you measured your worth by the regard of everyone? When stone spiders show you disrespect, you'd think that makes you their inferior."
The captain retorted, "You're a commander, thus none dare offend you. But I'm a minor officer. If I don't assert myself, those lesser ones will scorn me even more."
The commander shook his head, "If they treated you with greater deference than me, would that make you my superior in practice and skill? Nay, for I have observed that those who clamor most for respect often receive the least of it."
What became of the beetle captain? Alas, he remained as he ever was, as one's nature could not be easily altered. It was said that he continued to contend with all who crossed his path until at last, he was never to be seen again.
The story centers on an older beetle captain whose pride and temper undermined his success. He had grey hair and long service, but those years did not soften him; the text says hubris stole the merits he might have earned. In short, age and experience did not change his basic character.
There is a social context where several insect figures—the bee, wasp, hornet, katydid, cockroach, grasshopper, and dragonfly—are described as adopted sons of the spider ladies. By contrast, the beetle captain rose to his rank through his own bravery and effort. That difference in origin helped make him stubborn and quick to anger when he felt his status was slighted.
Because of this temperament he argued often with the lesser guais, fighting over manners, words, and etiquette. Those lesser guards disliked him for being overbearing and talked about him behind his back, calling him arrogant. Tensions built until a small dispute escalated: the captain drew his twin sabers and threatened the lesser guards.
At that moment the Beetle Commander happened upon them and pulled the captain aside to lecture him. The commander told him that personal deeds and skill do not force other people’s respect and warned against measuring worth by how others treat you. He used the example that if the stone spiders show you disrespect, that does not actually make you their inferior. The captain answered that a commander can count on being treated with deference, while as a minor officer he must assert himself or be scorned. The commander replied that being loudly demanding of respect does not make one truly superior, and that those who clamour most for respect often get the least.
Nothing in the account says the captain changed. He remained the same, continuing to pick fights and contend with those around him. In the end he disappeared—“never to be seen again”—and the narration implies his pride had already cost him the merits he might have had. The clear implication is that a stubborn, proud nature is hard to alter and can lead to loss, though the exact cause of his disappearance is not stated.