The Cock and the Fox
Once upon a time, in the orchards beyond the lush green valleys, there lived a handsome rooster. Every morning, as the sun rose, this rooster woke all the dwellers of the forest cheerfully with his ringing cries. A cunning fox who lived in the hidden corners of the forest had been after this bird for a long time. Every day the cunning fox hid behind the trees and waited patiently for a careless moment of the rooster. Even on days when the wind blew sweetly, he never gave up watching for a chance to catch his prey. On a mild autumn morning, the proud rooster was busy looking for grain on top of a low fence.
The fox, springing suddenly out of the bushes, took the rooster between his sharp teeth with one nimble move. The rooster struggled in terror, and while he was dragged along in the mouth of the fox, he at once devised a plan of escape in his mind. Just at that moment the villagers nearby began to run after the fox with sticks in their hands and to shout. The rooster leaned toward the ear of the fox and whispered in a calm and persuasive tone of voice. “Listen, my friend, these villagers keep shouting behind us because they envy your prey.” “Turn around and shout to them that this rooster belongs to you now and that they should mind their own affairs!”
The fox liked this idea of the rooster, which seemed so clever, very much, and he swelled with arrogance. The very moment the cunning fox opened his mouth wide to call out to the villagers, the rooster seized the chance at once. Slipping out of the mouth, the rooster beat his wings rapidly and landed on the branch of a tall plane tree nearby. While the fox understood his great mistake and looked up with regret, the rooster began to crow joyfully on the safe branch. The clever bird, who had used his mind and his courage, had defeated the cunning fox that wanted to hunt him. The fox, with an empty stomach and a shamed face, had to move away quietly toward the depths of the forest. Those who keep their calm in difficult situations and use their minds escape easily even from the greatest dangers. Late repentance brings no benefit.