1. The Lion and the Rabbit



Every day, the lion demanded that the animals send him a victim to eat.
One day, it was the rabbit's turn. The rabbit took his time on the way, thinking of a plan to escape the lion.
"Why are you late?" the lion roared.
"My apologies," said the rabbit. "I saw an even bigger lion, and I was frightened."
"Show me!" the lion commanded.
The rabbit took the lion to a well. "The lion's in there," said the rabbit.
The lion looked in and saw the other lion. Infuriated, he jumped in the well and drowned, attacking his own reflection.

Inspired byThe Panchatantra, translated by Arthur Ryder. It is in Book 1, Story 10. Rumi includes the story also (Arberry, Masnavi Tales 5). This story is told about a tiger and a rabbit in Raju's Indian Fables.
Notes: There are many stories about animals being fooled by reflections in the water as the lion is here. Compare the famous Aesop's fable about the dog crossing the stream: The Dog and the Shadow.

Here is an illustration by E. Boyd Smith:






2 comments: