A Wolf had been prowling around a flock of Sheep for a long time, and the Shepherd watched very anxiously to prevent him from carrying off a Lamb. The Town Mouse ate very sparingly, nibbling a little of this and a little of that, and by her manner making it very plain that she ate the simple food only to be polite. So when they saw the Birds getting the better of it, they were Birds for all there was in it. Could she sing just one song, I know I should hail her Queen of Birds. Though the task they had to do was very light compared with that of the Oxen, they creaked and groaned at every turn. Instead he struck at the drinking horn, hanging at the Countryman's belt, and into it let fly the poison of his fangs. When he had finished talking, an old Fox arose, and said, smiling: Master Fox, kindly turn around for a moment, and you shall have your answer. When he saw how gaily the birds flew about and how the Hare and the Chipmunk and all the other animals ran nimbly by, always eager to see everything there was to be seen, the Tortoise felt very sad and discontented. Though he was well fed, he had much work to do; besides, the Master hardly ever took any notice of him. The two soon came to blows, and while they were fighting, the Ass took to its heels.
It is cowardly to attack the defenseless, though he be an enemy.