One bright morning as the Fox was following his sharp nose through the wood in search of a bite to eat, he saw a Crow on the limb of a tree overhead.
This was by no means the first Crow the Fox had ever seen. What caught his attention this time and made him stop for a second look, was that the lucky Crow held a bit of cheese in her beak.
No need to search any farther. Here is a dainty bite for my breakfast.
Up he trotted to the foot of the tree in which the Crow was sitting, and looking up admiringly, he cried,
Good-morning, beautiful creature!
The Crow, her head cocked on one side andwatched the Fox suspiciously. But she kept her beak tightly closed on the cheese and did not return his greeting.
Could she sing just one song, I know I should hail her Queen of Birds!
What a charming creature she is!
How her feathers shine! What a beautiful form and what splendid wings!
Such a wonderful Bird should have a very lovely voice, since everything else about her is so perfect.
Listening to these flattering words, the Crow forgot all her suspicion and also her breakfast. She wanted very much to be called Queen of Birds.
So she opened her beak wide to utter her loudest caw
And down fell the cheese straight into the Fox’s open mouth.
Thank you
Though it is cracked, you have a voice sure enough. But where are your wits?
Moral:The flatterer lives at the expense of those who will listen to him.