The Lion, Prometheus and the Elephant
Long ago a strong lion lived by an old forest. He was brave, and his sharp teeth made him king. But the lion hid a small and very strange fear. He feared the morning rooster and hid at once. This made him sad, and he was always angry. One day he went to Prometheus, his wise maker.
With great sorrow he began to tell his trouble. "You made me strong, but roosters scare me," he said. Prometheus smiled and answered him in a gentle voice. "I gave you a great body and strong muscles." "This small fear is your only weak side," he added. The lion left Prometheus and walked into the forest.
He soon saw a huge elephant that shook its ears. The lion curiously asked why the elephant shook them. The elephant showed a tiny mosquito with frightened eyes. "I fear this small fly inside my ear," he whispered. The lion heard these words and took a deep breath. Even the giant elephant carried a small secret fear. Every strong creature sometimes fears something very small. Every rose has its thorn.