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The Eagle (Whose Wings Were Cut Off) and The Fox

Once an eagle was captured by a man. And after the man had cut off his wings he released him in a bird's park between the other birds. That made him depressive and of grief he wouldn't eat. He was like a king without a kingdom.

But then, suddenly, somebody else bought him, and by stretching his wings and by smearing myrrh on them, the new owner let his wings regrow again.

And when he was out flying again, he seized a hare with his claws and returned to give it to the man as a gift. A fox however, after he had seen that, said: "Don't give it to him! Give it to your first master, because your last master is good by nature; you'd better appease your first, then he won't capture you and take your wings again."

This tale illustrates that one should do his benefactors good favours as gratitude, and should keep evil people at a distance by using common sense.

Translation © Lazyfox, 1998

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