The Crow on the Sheep's Back and the Wolf
Once upon a time, in a wide meadow where the wind blew sweetly, a sheep with the softest fleece was grazing. This humble sheep showed endless tolerance and patience towards all the creatures around her. One day, a mischievous crow came gliding down and perched fearlessly upon the sheep's back. The crow looked quite content as it rummaged through the sheep's fleece with its beak and preened its own feathers. The calm sheep, without objecting at all to this, went on grazing peacefully. A hungry wolf hiding behind the bushes began to watch this unexpected scene with astonishment. The wolf both grew angry at and envied this bold behaviour the crow displayed.
Approaching the pasture with sly steps, he called out to the crow in a harsh and cunning manner. "O shameless crow, of course it is easy to settle fearlessly upon a poor sheep and amuse yourself!" "I wonder, would you dare to do the same disrespect upon my back?" "Know that my sharp teeth and strong claws would tear those puny wings of yours to pieces in an instant!" The crow, without losing its composure at all, wagged its tail and met the wolf's eyes. Fanning its black wings slightly, it answered the wolf with a cunning smile. "I know very well whom to bow to and when, and with whom I may put on airs."
"To abuse the mercy of a calm friend and to avoid the wrath of a savage are separate arts." The wolf froze, not knowing what to say in the face of this reasonable and brave answer of the crow. The proud forest dweller who boasted of his own strength was almost crushed before the crow's wit. The crow, meanwhile, ruffled its feathers and went on cleaning its beak merrily on the sheep's back. The wolf, bewildered by what had befallen him, tucked his tail between his legs with an abashed air and withdrew into the forest. He understood that true strength lies not in brute force, but in knowing the right time and the right person. Wise beings know how to behave towards whom, and they always take their steps with prudence. Sharp vinegar harms its own jar.