The Fox and the Monkey Disputing Their Birth

The fox and the monkey, travelling together, were disputing over their noble birth. As each of them was setting out his titles at length, they came to a certain place. The monkey turned his gaze there and began to sigh. The fox asked him the reason. Then the monkey, pointing to the tombs, replied, "How can I not weep, seeing the gravestones of my fathers' freedmen and slaves?" "Oh," said the fox, "lie as much as you please: none of them will rise to contradict you."