The Crow and the Fox

A crow had stolen a piece of meat and perched in a tree. A fox saw him and, wanting the meat for himself, stood below and praised the crow's elegant build and beauty, adding that no one was better suited to be king of the birds, and that he surely would be, if only he had a voice. The crow, to show that he did not lack a voice either, let go of the meat and burst into loud cawing. The fox darted in, snatched the morsel, and said, "Crow, if you had judgement as well, you would lack nothing to be king of the birds."