The Lion’s Share

The Lion went once a-hunting along with the Fox, the Jackal, and the

Wolf. They hunted and they hunted till at last they surprised a Stag,

and soon took its life. Then came the question how the spoil should be

divided. “Quarter me this Stag,” roared the Lion; so the other animals

skinned it and cut it into four parts. Then the Lion took his stand in

front of the carcass and pronounced judgment: The first quarter is for

me in my capacity as King of Beasts; the second is mine as arbiter;

another share comes to me for my part in the chase; and as for the

fourth quarter, well, as for that, I should like to see which of you

will dare to lay a paw upon it.”

“Humph,” grumbled the Fox as he walked away with his tail between his

legs; but he spoke in a low growl—

“You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the

spoil.”

The Fables of Aesop Selected, Told Anew, and Their History Traced · 第 11 / 89 题