The Fox and the Boatman
Once upon a time, at the edge of an old forest where cool waters ran, an old boatman rowed in peace. On the far side of the river there wandered a cunning fox whose head was spinning with the scent of the orchards. This fox with red fur had to cross the cool waters of the river to reach the delicious food on the opposite bank. The fox, who could not swim, saw the wooden boat tied at the shore and at once devised a treacherous plan in his mind. With his eyes gleaming with greed, the fox approached the boatman with heavy steps and began to speak with a sweet tongue. "O skillful boatman, if you carry me to the opposite bank, I shall grant you a sack full of gold," he said.
The greedy boatman, seeing the heavy sack on the fox's back, was at once taken in by this offer and accepted him into his boat. As they made their way among the unruly waves of the river, the fox went on making fancy speeches to sway the mind of the boatman. "Inside this sack lies hidden a priceless treasure worthy of kings," he said, and swelled the curiosity of the man even more. The old man, sinking into daydreams, gripped the oars with greater eagerness and swiftly brought the boat near the opposite bank. The moment they reached the shore, the cunning fox leaped onto the land in an instant and left the heavy sack at the feet of the boatman. "The bargain is complete, your treasure is right inside this bag!" the fox shouted with joy.
While the man tried excitedly to untie the knot, the fox plunged into the bushes and vanished from sight. The impatient boatman untied the rope of the sack with great curiosity and looked inside it with greed. But instead of gold, angry wild wasps burst out of the sack and surrounded the unlucky man. In great bewilderment and pain the boatman leaped into the river and paid dearly the price of being deceived by cunning. The man whose eyes greed had blinded came out onto the shore, wet and helpless, and stared after the fox. The cunning fox, meanwhile, was savoring his victory in the orchards on the opposite bank. Those who are carried away by the glitter of empty promises are doomed to face the bitter truths of reality. Lies have short legs.