Pagina 158 di 274

An Ass and a Cock were in a cattle-pen together. Presently a

Lion, who had been starving for days, came along and was just

about to fall upon the Ass and make a meal of him when the Cock,

rising to his full height and flapping his wings vigorously,

uttered a tremendous crow. Now, if there is one thing that

frightens a Lion, it is the crowing of a Cock: and this one had

no sooner heard the noise than he fled. The Ass was mightily

elated at this, and thought that, if the Lion couldn't face a

Cock, he would be still less likely to stand up to an Ass: so he

ran out and pursued him. But when the two had got well out of

sight and hearing of the Cock, the Lion suddenly turned upon the

Ass and ate him up.

False confidence often leads to disaster.

THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS