Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)
55. THE DOLPHIN AND THE LION
Perry 145 (Chambry
202)
A lion was wandering on the seashore when he saw a dolphin stick his
head out of the water. The lion invited the dolphin to become his ally,
explaining that they were perfectly suited to befriend and assist one
another, given that the dolphin was the king of the sea creatures, while
the lion ruled all the animals of the land. The dolphin agreed. Later
on, the lion, who had long been at war with the wild bull, asked the dolphin
for help. Although he wanted to help, the dolphin was unable to come out
of the sea. The lion then reproached the dolphin for having betrayed him.
The dolphin said in reply, 'I am not to blame! My nature is that of a
sea creature, and it means that I cannot come out onto the land.'
The same is true of people. When we form friendships with one another,
we must choose allies who can come to our aid in moments of peril.
Source:
Aesop's Fables. A new translation by Laura
Gibbs.
Oxford University Press (World's Classics): Oxford, 2002.
NOTE: New
cover, with new ISBN, published in 2008; contents of book unchanged.
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