Part 21 (1/2)
”That is a lie; there is no animal bigger than I am.”
”Well, wait,” said the little ones, ”and you will see.”
The Camel came back while browsing the gra.s.s of the roadside.
The Wren stretched himself out near the nest. The Camel seized the bird, which pa.s.sed through its teeth safe and sound.
”Truly,” he said to them, ”the Camel is a gigantic animal, but I am not ashamed of myself.”
On the earth it generally happens that the vain are as if they did not exist; but sooner or later a rock falls and crushes them.
Mule, Jackal, and Lion
The Mule, the Jackal, and the Lion went in company.
”We will eat the one whose race is bad,” they said to each other.
”Lion, who is your father?”
”My father is a lion, and my mother is a lioness.”
”And you, Jackal, what is your father?”
”My father is a jackal, and my mother too.”
”And you, Mule, what is your father?”
”My father is an a.s.s, and my mother is a mare.”
”Your race is bad; we will eat you.”
He answered them: ”I will consult an old man. If he says that my race is bad, you may devour me.”
He went to a farrier, and said to him, ”Shoe my hind feet, and make the nails stick out well.”
He went back home. He called the Camel and showed him his feet, saying, ”See what is written on this tablet.”
”The writing is difficult to decipher,” answered the Camel. ”I do not understand it, for I only know three words--_outini_, _ouzatini_, _ouazakin_.”
He called the Lion, and said to him, ”I do not understand these letters; I only know three words--_outini_, _ouzatini_, _ouazakin_.”
”Show it to me,” said the Lion. He approached. The Mule struck him between the eyes and stretched him out level.
He who goes with a knave is betrayed by him.
AFRICAN FABLES