The Lion and the Dolphin

A lion, roaming a beach, saw a dolphin putting its head out of the water. He proposed an alliance to it. "It suits us perfectly," he said, "to be friends and allies, since you are the king of the sea animals, and I of the land animals." The dolphin gladly agreed. Now the lion, who had long been at war with a wild bull, called on the dolphin for help. The dolphin tried to come out of the water, but could not manage it. Then the lion accused it of treachery. "It is not I you should blame," retorted the dolphin, "but nature: she made me a water creature and does not allow me to walk on land."