THE HARE AND THE COWHERD
A swift-footed hare was fleeing from a hunter. A cowherd happened to see where
the hare had concealed himself in a thicket. The hare then said to the cowherd,
'I beg you by the power of the gods on high and all that you hold dear, do not
give me away! I have never done any harm to this field.' The cowherd replied,
'Do not be afraid! Hide yourself, and do not worry.' Then the hunter arrived
hot on the trail of the hare, shouting, 'Hey there, cowherd, did a hare happen
to come this way?' 'He did,' said the cowherd, 'but then he ran off that way,
to the left.' Yet as he spoke, the cowherd actually turned his head to the right
and winked. The hunter did not take the hint and quickly vanished out of sight.
At this point the cowherd said to the hare, 'So, are you going to thank me for
having concealed you?' The hare replied, 'Well, I cannot deny that I am grateful
to your tongue, many thanks. But as for your lying eyes, I wish someone would
just rip them right out of your head!' |