Wednesday, December 2, 2015

8. Aesop's Fables - The Lion's Share

Once there lived a lion. One day fox came to the lion and said, 'O mighty king! You are known far and wide for your hunting skills. May I join you for hunting today. I shall help you in finding prey. We can share whatever is hunted'.

The lion roared in agreement. He said, 'Sure, join me'.

Soon the lion and fox left for hunting. A jackal who had been hearing them from behind, came and asked if he can join them. He said, 'Together we a can find and hunt easily'.

The lion agreed. As the lion, fox and the jackal went ahead, a wolf saw them. The wolf asked them, 'Friends, good to see you all together. Are you all going for wedding party?

The fox replied to the wolf, 'Friend, we all are going for hunting together'.

The wolf yelped. He asked if he can join them. The lion and his mates agreed. 

So the lion, fox, jackal and the wolf went further in search of prey. They searched and searched, until they found a stag resting behind the bushes. It was a hot summer and as the predators neared, the stag suddenly woke up in fear and surprise. But it could not escape. 

The stag was surrounded by the lion, fox, jackal and the wolf on all four sides. He could not run away. None if the predators had to chase the stag, as it was surrounded on all sided. They soon caught the stag from all sides and easily killed it.

They all were hungry. The lion roared, 'We should now have our meal. Split it open and divide into four parts'.

The fox and jackal worked together and they divided the carcass into four equal parts. Just then the lion roared, 'As king of this jungle, the first quarter comes to me. As an arbitrator, I reserve right to hold the second quarter. Since, I was a part of this hunting expedition, the third quarter is again my right. Finally remains the fourth quarter. If anyone of you can come and fight me for the fourth quarter, I shall sacrifice it'.

The fox, jackal and the wolf were wordless. They turned back and went away in search of another prey. They promised never to assist a might animal in such hunting.


Moral: People who have power, can share some efforts, but they will never share the fruits of good work.

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