The Raven and the Fox

Mister Raven, perched on a tree,

Held a cheese in his beak.

Mister Fox, enticed by the smell,

Addressed him in language like this:

Oh! Good morning, Mr. Raven.

How pretty you are! How beautiful you seem to me!

In truth, if your song

is like your plumage,

You are the phoenix of the hosts of this wood.

At these words the raven becomes overjoyed;

And, to show off his beautiful voice,

He opens his beak wide and lets his prey fall.

The fox grabs it and says: My dear man,

Learn that every flatterer

Lives at the expense of the one who listens to him.

No doubt, that lesson is easily worth a cheese.

The raven, ashamed and confused,

Swore, though somewhat belatedly, that he would never be taken again.