Four Bulls, who had entered into a very strict friendship, kept always
near one another, and fed together. The Lion often saw them, and as
often had a mind to make one of them his prey; but though he could
easily have subdued any of them singly, yet he was afraid to attack
the whole alliance, knowing they would have been too powerful for him,
and therefore was obliged to keep himself at a distance. At last,
perceiving that no attempt was to be made upon them as long as their
combination lasted, he artfully contrived, by the whispers and hints of
his emissaries, to foment jealousies, and raise divisions among them.
This stratagem succeeded so well, that the Bulls grew cold and reserved
to one another, which soon after ripened into a downright hatred and
aversion, and at last ended in a total separation. The Lion had now
attained his ends; and though it had been impossible for him to hurt
them while they were united, he found no difficulty, now they were
parted, to seize and devour every Bull of them, one after another.