A cock was feeding one day in the company of an ass. As a lion was making for the ass, the cock let out a cry, and the lion (for they say he is afraid of the cock's voice) took flight. The ass, imagining that if the lion fled it was because of him, did not hesitate to give chase. When he had pursued him to a distance where the cock's voice no longer carried, the lion turned round and devoured him. And he said as he died, "Wretched and foolish that I am! Not being born of warrior parents, why did I go off to war?"
One often attacks an enemy who makes himself small on purpose and so gets ourselves killed by him.
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