The Fox one day thought of a plan to amuse himself at the expense of the Stork, at whose odd appearance he was always laughing. While the Ass cropped a fresh bit of greens, the Fox would devour a chicken from the neighboring farmyard or a bit of cheese filched from the dairy. Follow my example and you will get along beautifully. The Fox prided himself on his fine bushy tail with its tip of white, but he was wise enough to see that he could not rival the Leopard in looks. In great terror the Shepherd fell on his knees. The Woodman told what had happened, and straightway the kind Mercury dived into the pool. No words he could say did the least good, so he cast about in his mind for some very striking example that should make them see that discord would lead them to misfortune. So he went away pulling in his belt and promising to return. The young Larks in their nest close by were much frightened, for they knew they would be in great danger if they did not leave the nest before the reapers came. A few days later a change in weather brought a severe frost; and the poor swallow and that foolish young man in his light tunic, and with his arms and knees bare, could scarcely keep life in their shivering bodies.
The strong are apt to settle questions to their own advantage.