The Crow and the Sheep
Once upon a time, in a wide meadow where cool waters flowed gently, an old sheep was grazing. With her soft, snow-white fleece, this sheep had won the love of all the animals around her, and she was very patient. But a cunning and noisy crow had started coming to this quiet meadow with the first light of day. The black-feathered crow had made a habit of landing on the sheep's back every morning, when the wind blew softly. The poor sheep tried to graze without a sound, but the crow's endless scratching bothered her greatly. Once again, on a hot noon when the sun was shining, the crow suddenly perched on the sheep's back. With its sharp beak it kept tugging at the sheep's soft wool, and it cawed on and on with its ugly voice.
The sheep looked back over her shoulder at the crow and let out a deep sigh. “Why do you keep troubling me on my back, crow?” she asked meekly. “I have never done you any harm, so why do you keep bothering me?” The crow puffed out its chest proudly and answered the sheep with a loud laugh. “Because you are very calm and you can never stand up to me,” it said insolently. The sheep shook her head and pointed at the guard dog sleeping a little way off. “Would you dare do the same thing to that sharp-toothed dog?” she asked.
“If you landed on his back, he would snap you up in one move and punish you at once.” The crow smiled slyly, ruffled its feathers and spoke with a confident air. “I know very well whom to bother and whom to respect,” it said. “I climb on top of the weak and the meek, but I show a friendly face to the strong and the dangerous.” At this selfish and cowardly answer from the crow, the sheep sank into a deep silence. She understood that the wicked could only be brave toward meek creatures that could not raise their voice. From that day on, the sheep shook herself, threw the crow off her back and walked firmly toward the other end of the meadow. The silence of meek people who do not defend themselves increases the courage of cowards who target the weak. He who makes himself a sheep will be eaten by the wolf.