The Lion and Dolphin made a pact to help each other. When the Lion was attacked he called for the Dolphin who could not come as he could not leave the sea.
The spirit may be willing, but the flesh may be unable.
Townsend version
A lion roaming by the seashore saw a Dolphin lift up its head out of the waves, and suggested that they contract an alliance, saying that of all the animals they ought to be the best friends, since the one was the king of beasts on the earth, and the other was the sovereign ruler of all the inhabitants of the ocean. The Dolphin gladly consented to this request. Not long afterwards the Lion had a combat with a wild bull, and called on the Dolphin to help him. The Dolphin, though quite willing to give him assistance, was unable to do so, as he could not by any means reach the land. The Lion abused him as a traitor. The Dolphin replied, “Nay, my friend, blame not me, but Nature, which, while giving me the sovereignty of the sea, has quite denied me the power of living upon the land.”
Delphinus et Leo
Leo, iuxta litus quoddam oberrans, cum delphinum summis elatum undis vidisset, eum ad societatem secum ineundam hortatus est, se maxime amicos strenuosque auxiliatores invicem fore aiens, quod ille quidem aquatilibus, ipse terrestribus animantibus imperaret. Delphinus libenter annuit et societatem iungit. Cum vero, haud multo post tempore, pugnam contra silvestrem taurum leo esset initurus, delphinum in auxilium vocavit. Sed ille, quamvis maxime vellet et niteretur, cum e mari exsilire non posset, leo ut proditorem acriter obiurgavit. At delphinus respondens, “Nec me,” ait, “incuses, sed Naturam, quae me marinum cum crearit, in terram egredi non sinit.”
Moral
Oportet nos etiam, dum amicitiam inimus, tales socios deligere qui nobis in periculis adesse possint.
Perry #145