The Lion, having thinned the forest of great numbers of the beasts upon
which he preyed, and so scared and intimidated the rest, that he found
it very difficult to get hold of any more of them, bethought himself of
a new expedient to obtain more readily a fresh supply. He invited the
Ass to assist him in his plan, and gave him instructions how to act.
Go, said the Lion, and hide thyself in yonder thicket, and then let me
hear thee bray in the most frightful manner thou possibly canst. The
stratagem took effect accordingly. The Ass brayed most hideously, and
the timorous beasts, not knowing what to think of it, began to scour
off as fast as they could; when the Lion, who was posted at a proper
avenue, seized and killed them as he pleased. Having got his belly
full, he called out to the Ass, and bade him leave off, telling him
he had done enough. Upon this, the long-eared brute came out of his
ambush, and approaching the Lion, asked him, with an air of conceit,
how he liked his performance? Prodigiously! says he, you did it so
well, that I protest had I not known your nature and temper, I might
have been frightened myself.