The Lion, the Fox, and the Stag

The lion, having fallen sick, was lying in a cave. He said to the fox, whom he liked and kept company with, "If you want me to get well and live, coax with your sweet words the great stag that lives in the forest, and bring him into my hands; for I have a longing for his innards and his heart." The fox set out and found the stag bounding in the woods. He greeted him in a fawning manner and said, "I come to bring you good news. You know that our king, the lion, is my neighbour; well, he is ill and about to die. So he has been wondering which of the animals should reign after him. The boar, he said, has no intelligence, the bear is clumsy, the panther irascible, the tiger a braggart: it is the stag who is most worthy to reign, because he is tall of stature, lives long years, and his antlers are dreaded by serpents. But why go on? It has been decided that you shall be king. What will you give me for having brought you the news first? Speak, I am in a hurry, I fear he may call for me; for he cannot do without my counsel in anything. But if you will listen to an old fellow, I advise you to come too and wait for his death beside him." So spoke the fox, and the stag's heart swelled with vanity at these words, and he came to the den without suspecting what was to happen. Now the lion sprang at him hastily; but he only managed to tear his ears with his claws. The stag fled in all haste into the woods. Then the fox clapped his hands together, vexed at having wasted his trouble; and the lion began to groan, roaring loudly; for hunger gnawed at him, and grief too; and he begged the fox to make another attempt and find a new trick to bring the stag. The fox replied, "That is a difficult and thankless task you are asking of me; but I will serve you in it once more." Then, like a hunting dog, he followed the stag's trail, weaving his deceits, and asked some shepherds whether they had seen a bloodstained stag. They pointed out its resting place in the forest. He found it recovering its breath and presented himself shamelessly. The stag, full of anger and with bristling hair, replied, "Wretch, you won't catch me again; if you come the least bit near me, your life is over. Go and play the fox with others who don't know you, choose other beasts to make kings and turn their heads." The fox replied, "Are you so faint-hearted and cowardly? Is this how you suspect us, your friends? The lion, in taking your ear, was going to give you his counsel and instructions on your great kingship, like one who is about to die; and you could not bear even a scratch from a sick beast's paw. Now he is even more angry than you, and he wants to make the wolf king. Alas, the wicked master! But come, fear nothing and be gentle as a sheep. For I swear by all the leaves and springs, you have no harm to fear from the lion. As for me, I want to serve only you." Deceiving the poor creature in this way, he persuaded him to come again. When he had entered the den, the lion had his dinner, and swallowed all the bones, marrow, and innards. The fox stood there, watching. When the heart fell out, he seized it on the sly and ate it, to make up for his trouble. But the lion, after looking for all the pieces, could not find the heart. Then the fox, keeping his distance, said to him, "Truly this stag had no heart; look no more; for what heart could a creature have that came twice into the lair and the paws of the lion?"