A sacred Image was being carried to the temple. As the Ass walked along, the people bowed their heads reverently or fell on their knees, and the Ass thought the honor was being paid to himself. Presently the Peacock saw an Eagle soaring high up in the blue sky and felt a desire to fly, as he had been accustomed to do. It was now the Ass's turn to confess. Oh, much bigger! Do not expect us to join your flock, replied one of the Wild Goats. Your highness, he said in an undertone, so the Ass could not hear him, I've got a fine scheme in my head. That Cat seemed to be everywhere at once with his claws all ready for a pounce. said a voice from the Plane Tree. Aha!, he muttered, What a great shouting and running about there would have been, had they caught me at just the very thing they are doing with so much enjoyment!
It is cowardly to attack the defenseless, though he be an enemy.