[Illustration: THE FOX AND THE SICK LION.]
It was reported that the Lion was sick, and the beasts were made to
believe that they could not make their court better than by going to
visit him. Upon this they generally went; but it was particularly taken
notice of, that the Fox was not one of the number. The Lion therefore
dispatched one of his Jackals to sound him about it, and ask him why he
had so little charity and respect, as never to come near him, at a time
when he lay so dangerously ill, and every body else had been to see
him?--'Why,' replies the Fox, 'pray present my duty to his majesty, and
tell him, that I have the same respect for him as ever, and have been
coming several times to kiss his royal hand: but I am so terribly
frightened at the mouth of his cave, to see the print of my
fellow-subjects feet all pointing forwards and none backwards, that I
have not resolution enough to venture in.' Now the truth of the matter
was, that this sickness of the Lion's was only a sham to draw the beasts
into his den, the more easily to devour them.