Aesop's Fables. La Fontaine Fables

Author: Zhang Dongqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: The tale of a tailless fox begins with a greedy fox discovering a piece of lamb hanging on a pole while foraging. It circles around the pole, too afraid to get close. But, it cannot resist the temptation of the meat and uses its tail to test the distance. Unfortunately, it gets caught in a hunter's snare. Despite struggling desperately, its tail is torn off. From then on, it becomes a tailless fox. It feels very regretful and, as some companions often tease it about its missing tail, it can't stand the humiliation and finds life unbearable. It reflects that before this incident, it was both prettier and smarter than its companions. Now, whenever it sees them playfully frolicking with their intact tails, it feels ashamed and cannot hold its head high. To escape this inferior position, it thinks if all the foxes cut off their tails, they would be just like it, and its flaw would be hidden. Thus, it hatches a malicious plan. One day, it gathers all the foxes and says, "Tails are both unattractive and cumbersome. Because of them, I nearly lost my life. I advise you all to cut them off." After the foxes hear its speech, they discuss it, but none agree to cut their tails. Suddenly, an older and wiser fox shouts, "Friend, if it were not beneficial to you, you would not propose such a harmful suggestion!" Seeing its trick exposed, the fox has no choice but to lower its head and sneak away. P1