A Lion in a cave can’t hunt. A Fox tricks a Stag into the cave. The Lion won’t share the meal but the Fox steals the heart.
Babrius Translation (The Sick Lion)
Sick in a rocky cleft a lion lay,
Glad on the ground his failing limbs to stay.
With him a fox was chiefly intimate,
To whom he said, “Wouldst have me ’scape my fate?
“Then know, I hunger for the stag that dwells
“’Neath yon wild pine amid the woodland dells.
“And I, you wot, can hunt the stag no more;
“But if you choose your honied words to pour
“Into his ears and trap him, mine’s the prize!”
Away went Reynard: where the wild wood lies
She found him leaping o’er the mossy grass,
And, first embracing, then began to pass
High compliments, and say she came to bring
Good news. “My neighbour is the forest king,
“The lion; he is sick, nay well nigh dead:
“And he was thinking who should rule instead
“O’er beasts. To find a pig with sense is hard!
“The bear is dull; and wrathful is the pard.
“The braggart tiger ever stands alone.
“He deems the stag is meetest for his throne.
“’Tis light of form; it lives unnumber’d years;
“Fearful to reptiles is the horn it rears,
“Branching like trees, to bulls’ horn un-allied;
“Need I say more? The choice is ratified.
“You are to rule the beasts that roam the hills;
“Oh! then, whene’er the throne your highness fills,
“Pray think of Reynard, who first let you know
“These news. I’ve said. Good-bye, my dear! I go
“To join the lion; he may need me back:
“My counsel now in all things he would lack.
“You’ll come, child, too, if the advice you heed
“Of an old head. ’Tis fitting you should speed
“To counsel him, and cheer him in his woes:
“Small things win much at life’s extremest close,
“And souls are in the eyes of them that die:”
Thus spake the fox. The stag’s heart leapt on high
At her feign’d words. He sought the cavern home
Of the wild beast, and wist not what should come.
Reckless upsprang the lion from his lair,
And fail’d, through haste, of more than just to tear
The stag’s ear with his talon-tips. Afraid,
Straight from the door it fled to woodland shade.
The fox to clap her paws in spite was fain,
Because her labour had been spent in vain.
Gnashing his teeth the lion raised a groan;
Chagrin and famine seiz’d him, both in one.
Again he call’d the fox, again he pray’d
The stag by some fresh trick might be betray’d.
Revolving schemes from her heart’s inmost core,
“I’ll do your will,” she said, “tho’ hard, once more.”
Then follow’d she, like sage dog, on the scent,
Weaving her wily tricks, as on she went;
Asking each shepherd ever and anon,
“Knew he which way a bleeding stag had gone?”
Each that had seen it, pointing led the way
To where, she found, the fleet stag resting lay,
Tired with the chase, in deeply shaded wood,
And there with forehead unabash’d she stood.
A shudder smote the stag in back and knees,
Wrath overflow’d his heart. His words were these:
“Now you pursue me, wheresoe’er I fly:
“But, hated one, discomfiture is nigh,
“If you approach, and dare to mutter aught.
“Go play the fox to others yet untaught
“In wiles. Stir others up, and make them reign.”
But Reynard heard unmoved. In blameful strain
She said, “Art thou so mean, so full of fear?
“And dost thou thus suspect associates dear?
“The lion planning what might profit thee,
“And how to rouse thee from past apathy,
“Just touch’d thine ear, a dying father’s act,
“For he desired no precept should be lack’d
“By thee for keeping sovereignty so great;
“But thou his weak claw’s tickling couldst not wait,
“And, tearing thyself off, wast wounded sore.
“Hence he, than thou, is now offended more,
“For trial shows thee weak, unfit to trust;
“So into kinghood he the wolf will thrust.
“Ah me! an evil lord! What will befall?
“Thou art a cause of ills to one and all.
“Nay, come and show more courage than of old,
“Nor cower, like sheep just straying from the fold.
“Now may my oath by springs and leaves be known,
“So may I subject be to thee alone,
“As he intends no harm, but in good will,
“Bids thee the lordship of the beasts to fill.”
Cajoling thus the brocket, him she won
Into the selfsame fate again to run.
So when he lay, inclosed within the lair,
The lion had, himself, most dainty fare,
Gorging the flesh, the marrow from each bone
And entrails lapping. Famishing, alone
Stood the decoyer, till she slily stole
And ate the heart, which near her chanc’d to roll ;
The single gain of all her toil was this :
Which soon the lion, counting, came to miss,
Of all the inward parts. Indignant then
He search’d each lair, and hunted every den.
And Reynard said, to cheat him of the truth,
“Don’t search in vain! It had no heart in sooth.
“To own a fine heart he was likely, who
“A second time came visitor to you!”
How do you think an AI might simplify this fable? Here is one answer, and the illustration above was made from this simplification:
A lion, weak and sick, lay in a rocky cave. He could no longer hunt, so he asked his clever friend, the fox, for help. “If I am to survive,” said the lion, “bring me the stag who lives near the pines. I cannot chase him, but perhaps you can fool him with sweet words.” The fox agreed and found the stag leaping through the forest. She greeted him warmly and said, “The lion, king of beasts, is dying. He wants you to be the next ruler. You are strong, wise, and noble. He asks you to visit him.” The stag, flattered and proud, followed the fox. But as he entered the lion’s cave, the lion leapt too quickly and only managed to scratch the stag’s ear. The stag fled in fear. Angry and still hungry, the lion sent the fox again to trick the stag. The fox followed his trail and found him resting. Though the stag was wary, the fox soothed him with clever lies, saying the lion meant no harm and had only tried to crown him properly. Foolishly, the stag believed her and followed again. This time, the lion waited with patience, and killed the stag. After the feast, the lion noticed the heart was missing. Furious, he searched for it. The fox, who had secretly eaten the heart, said calmly, “That stag had no heart, what fool returns to danger twice?”
Moral
Fools who do not learn from danger are sure to lose more than once.
Perry. #336