A Wolf had stolen a Lamb and was carrying it off to his lair to eat
it. But his plans were very much changed when he met a Lion, who,
without making any excuses, took the Lamb away from him.
The Wolf made off to a safe distance, and then said in a much
injured tone: "You have no right to take my property like that!"
The Lion looked back, but as the Wolf was too far away to be taught
a lesson without too much inconvenience, he said: "Your property?
Did you buy it, or did the Shepherd make you a gift of it? Pray tell
me, how did you get it?"
A very young Fox, who had never before seen a Lion, happened to meet
one in the forest. A single look was enough to send the Fox off at
top speed for the nearest hiding place.
The second time the Fox saw the Lion he stopped behind a tree to
look at him a moment before slinking away. But the third time, the
Fox went boldly up to the Lion and, without turning a hair, said,
"Hello, there, old top."
A Lion and a Man chanced to travel in company through the forest.
They soon began to quarrel, for each of them boasted that he and his
kind were far superior to the other both in strength and mind.
Now they reached a clearing in the forest and there stood a statue.
It was a representation of Heracles in the act of tearing the jaws
of the Nemean Lion.
"See," said the man, "that's how strong we are! The King of Beasts
is like wax in our hands!"
"Ho!" laughed the Lion, "a Man made that statue. It would have been
quite a different scene had a Lion made it!"