THE FOXES AT THE RIVER
There were once some foxes who had gathered together on the banks of the River
Meander looking for a drink of water. They urged one another to approach the
river, but no one dared to get too close because of the rushing current. Then
one of the foxes came forward in order to embarrass her fellow foxes. Laughing
at their cowardice and convinced that she was braver than the rest, she boldly
leaped into the water. As the current carried her out into the middle of the
river her companions stood on the riverbank and shouted at her, 'Don't leave
us! Come back and show us how to get down to the water so that we can also take
a drink.' The fox replied as she was being swept downstream, 'I've got a message
to take to Miletus, and I need to carry it there; when I come back I will show
you!'
This is a story for people who get themselves into trouble because of their
boasting. |