The Lion and the Shepherd
Long ago, beside an old forest where cool waters flowed, there lived a cheerful shepherd. Every morning this young shepherd grazed his sheep on the bright green meadows and played his silver flute with joy. But one hot noon, when the sun beat down from straight above, he noticed that his plumpest lamb had disappeared. Although he searched every corner of the valley, he could not find even a small trace of his lovely lamb. The helpless man made a sweet promise: if he found the thief, he would offer a sacrifice to the guardian spirit of the forest. To look for his sheep, the shepherd moved toward the deep valley of giant rocks and thick bushes.
While the cool wind made the leaves of the trees whisper, strange sounds rose in front of a dark cave. Defeated by his curiosity, the young man held his breath and looked quietly inside through the bushes. At that very moment he found himself right in front of an enormous lion with a golden mane. The majestic lion was busy devouring with pleasure the tasty lamb that the shepherd had lost. Suddenly the wild animal raised its head and fixed its sharp, shining eyes directly on the shepherd. The poor shepherd was filled with horror; his knees weakened with fear and his hands began to tremble.
"I wish I had not hurried so much to find this thief," he thought with regret. When the powerful roar of the lion echoed through all the mountains, the shepherd no longer knew what to do. Thinking of nothing but saving his life, the man opened his trembling hands toward the sky. "Please save me from this terrible beast, and I will offer you a sacrifice twice as great," he begged. The wise lion, whose stomach was already full, drew back slowly into the depths of the forest without harming the shepherd. The young shepherd, returning from the edge of death, breathed with relief and ran at once to his village. Sometimes a person must be very careful about what he wishes for with all his heart. Eat a big bite, but do not speak a big word.