The Fox began to run; he ran until he was tired, and then stopped to rest. To his surprise he heard the Crab say: “Well, Mr. Fox, with all your boasting, you haven’t beaten me yet!”
“This is very strange,” said the Fox to himself, “but if I am tired, I know the Crab must be a great deal more so.” He started off again, and ran until he was almost out of breath. Feeling sure that the Crab was now far behind, he lay down on the ground, panting.
If he had been surprised to hear the Crab’s voice when he stopped before, how much more so was he now, when the Crab said: “Ha, ha! Mr. Braggart, you seem to be winded. Come, let us go on with the race.” He got upon his feet, and the Crab, who had released his grip from the Fox’s tail, crawled up in front of him, looking just as fresh as when they began the race.
The Fox looked at him, and then, without a word, slunk away, his head bowed in shame.
INGRATITUDE
Once upon a time a certain king had as his Chief Counsellor a man who was proud and oppressive to those under him.
Not far from the royal palace, in which this man dwelt, was a forest well stocked with game. By his order various pits were dug there, and covered with leaves, for the purpose of catching wild beasts.
One day, while riding in the forest, he was so overcome by the thought of his own greatness, that he exclaimed aloud: “There is no man in all this empire more powerful than I am.”
Scarcely had the braggart spoken than he fell into one of the pitfalls that he had ordered to be made and he immediately disappeared from view.