Страница 52 из 274

Two Travellers were on the road together, when a Bear suddenly

appeared on the scene. Before he observed them, one made for a

tree at the side of the road, and climbed up into the branches

and hid there. The other was not so nimble as his companion; and,

as he could not escape, he threw himself on the ground and

pretended to be dead. The Bear came up and sniffed all round him,

but he kept perfectly still and held his breath: for they say

that a bear will not touch a dead body. The Bear took him for a

corpse, and went away. When the coast was clear, the Traveller in

the tree came down, and asked the other what it was the Bear had

whispered to him when he put his mouth to his ear. The other

replied, "He told me never again to travel with a friend who

deserts you at the first sign of danger."

Misfortune tests the sincerity of friendship.

THE SLAVE AND THE LION