The Lion, the Wolf, and the Fox

The lion, grown old, was lying sick in his den, and all the animals had come to visit their prince, except the fox. Then the wolf, seizing the favourable moment, accused the fox before the lion: he had, said the wolf, no regard for the one who was master of them all, and that was why he had not even come to visit him. Just then the fox arrived too, and heard the wolf's last words. Then the lion let out a roar at the fox. But the fox, having asked for a moment to justify himself, said, "And who, among all those gathered here, has done you as great a service as I, who went everywhere asking doctors for a remedy to cure you, and found one?" The lion ordered him to say at once what the remedy was. The fox replied, "It is to flay a wolf alive, and clothe yourself in his still-warm skin." The wolf was straightaway put to death, and the fox said with a laugh, "A master should be moved towards gentleness, not malice."