This is related to one of Aesop's Fables, so I assume it fits here. I was just thinking about the expression "sour grapes". What do grapes turn into when they go sour? W(h)ine! I wonder if that's what Aesop was thinking when he came up with that story?
They're more likely to turn into vinegar if you don't do everything right, which is probably closer to the author's intent. In any case, it's doubtful the pun works as well in ancient Greek. Points for being clever, though.
In the story of Mercury and the Woodsman - Mercury retrieves an axe made of gold and a second made of silver. Both times, the woodsman refuses the axes and gladly accepts his old trusty axe the god retrieves on the third try. Yes, Mercury was testing the fellow (notorious trickster and all), but to the woodcutter, an axe made of gold or silver are much too delicate to be of any use to him.
Not to mention the fact that they'd be far too heavy for his purposes.
