A Merchant, driving his Ass homeward from the seashore with a heavy load of salt, came to a river crossed by a shallow ford. The Father then untied the bundle and gave the sticks to his Sons to break one by one. And when he came out of the warren in the early morning sunshine, and there saw the shadow cast by his long and pointed ears, a terrible fright seized him. At last one of the Frogs, the oldest and bravest, put his head out of the water, and said, Oh, please, dear children, stop your cruel play! See, said the man, that's how strong we are! To warm my hands, the Man replied. But he always guarded it faithfully. All he could do to amuse himself was to talk to his dog or play on his shepherd's pipe. Your feathers may do very well in spring, replied the Crow, but I don't remember ever having seen you around in winter, and that's when I enjoy myself most.
Do not trust alone to outward appearances.