The Feast at the Lion's Palace
Once upon a time, in a magnificent cave in the lap of vast forests, there lived the ruler of the forest. The mighty lion decided to hold an immense banquet to celebrate his reign. Gilded invitations went out to the bear, the monkey and the fox, the most esteemed animals of the region. This majestic palace deep in the forest was furnished with delicious foods and golden goblets. The guests, full of excitement and a little worry, stepped in through the ornate gate of the palace. At the merriest moment of the banquet the lion turned to his guests, proud of the splendour of the council he had founded. In a mild voice that muffled his majestic roar, he asked how they found the smell of his palace.
The tactless bear, who took the floor first, said outright that the cave smelled damp and heavy. The lion, enraged by this harsh answer, punished the bear on the spot with a blow of his paw. Seeing this terrible sight, the cunning monkey broke in at once and began to flatter him. He claimed that the palace smelled of fragrant amber and of fresh roses. But the lion, angered even more by this false praise, accused the monkey of lying and had him thrown into the dungeon. It was now the turn of the cautious and clever fox, huddled at the corner of the table. The lion fixed his keen eyes on the fox and put the same question to him as well.
The fox, using his wit and his prudence, pretended to draw a deep breath. After coughing politely a few times, he gave his voice a bashful air. He stated that he had caught a severe cold and that his nose could smell nothing at all. He neither displayed a crude honesty nor took refuge in feigned praise. The lion, finding nothing to say before this clever answer, congratulated the fox. The clever fox managed to leave that dangerous palace freely and without a scratch. Those who take their reason as a guide in dangerous assemblies escape safely from every kind of misfortune. There are words that finish a work, and words that cost a head.