Go thou before, if thou speak truth. Take heed at least.
I’ll treat him as he merits, and a hundred such.
But should this prove a lie, thou’lt rue it very much.”
The hare set out in front, so acting as a guide,
That he might lead the lion as he should decide.300
A well there was not far off, which the hare had seen.
This pit he destined for the lion’s last death-scene.
They journeyed thus, the two, towards the well in haste,
The scheming, plotting hare’s fell stratagem to taste.
A stream of water freely bears the chaff away;