148.The Fox and the Lion
WHEN first the Fox saw the Lion he was terribly frightened, and ran away and hid himself in the wood. Next time however he came near the King of Beasts he stopped at a safe distance and watched him pass by. The third time they came near one another the Fox went straight up to the Lion and passed the time of day with him, asking him how his family were, and when he should have the pleasure of seeing him again; then turning his tail, he parted from the Lion without much ceremony.
FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT.
Acquaintance softens prejudices.
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.”
145.The Fox and the Goat
BY an unlucky chance a Fox fell into a deep well from which he could not get out. A Goat passed by shortly afterwards, and asked the Fox what he was doing down there. “Oh, have you not heard?” said the Fox; “there is going to be a great drought, so I jumped down here in order to be sure to have water by me. Why don’t you come down too?” The Goat thought well of this advice, and jumped down into the well. But the Fox immediately jumped on her back, and by putting his foot on her long horns managed to jump up to the edge of the well. “Good-bye, friend,” said the Fox, “remember next time,
“NEVER TRUST THE ADVICE OF A MAN IN DIFFICULTIES.”
âť– Look before you leap.
âť– A sensible man never embarks on an enterprise till he can see his way clear to the end of it.
