We all have plenty of faults without the Truly Good taking the trouble to
invent them for us.
[Illustration: The Fox and the Grapes.]
The Fox and the Crow.
A crow, having stolen a piece of flesh, perched in a tree to enjoy it at
leisure. A fox saw her, and, being hungry, thought he would employ a little
diplomacy to get the meat away from her.
"What a prima-donna the crow would be," he said, looking at her with mock
admiration, "if she only had a voice proportional to her other
attractions!"
The crow promptly dropped the piece of flesh on his head, completely
blinding him, and before he could recover from his surprise, lit on his
back and began to peck him viciously. "I'll have you to know," she cawed,
"that I'm a proper lady, and the man that compares me to them shameless
French singing hussies is going to get hurt."