Monthly Archives: September 2013

147.The Fox and the Leopard

THE FOX and the leopard disputed which was the more beautiful of the two. The leopard exhibited one by one the various spots which decorated his skin. But the fox, interrupting him, said,

“And how much more beautiful than you am I, who am decorated, not in body, but in mind.”

146.The Fox and the Hedgehog

A FOX swimming across a rapid river was carried by the force of the current into a very deep ravine, where he lay for a long time very much bruised, sick, and unable to move. A swarm of hungry blood-sucking flies settled on him. A Hedgehog, passing by, saw his anguish and asked if he should drive away the flies that were tormenting him.

“By no means,” replied the fox; “pray do not molest them.”

“How is this?” said the hedgehog; “do you not want to be rid of them?”

“No,” returned the fox, “for these flies which you see are full of blood, and sting me but little, and if you rid me of these which are already satiated, others more hungry will come in their place, and will drink up all the blood I have left.”