第33页 / 共274页

An Ass and a Fox went into partnership and sallied out to forage

for food together. They hadn't gone far before they saw a Lion

coming their way, at which they were both dreadfully frightened.

But the Fox thought he saw a way of saving his own skin, and went

boldly up to the Lion and whispered in his ear, "I'll manage that

you shall get hold of the Ass without the trouble of stalking

him, if you'll promise to let me go free." The Lion agreed to

this, and the Fox then rejoined his companion and contrived

before long to lead him by a hidden pit, which some hunter had

dug as a trap for wild animals, and into which he fell. When the

Lion saw that the Ass was safely caught and couldn't get away, it

was to the Fox that he first turned his attention, and he soon

finished him off, and then at his leisure proceeded to feast upon

the Ass.

Betray a friend, and you'll often find you have ruined yourself.

THE LION AND THE MOUSE