There was a lion always in the company of a fox. One day, the lion was severely wounded in a fierce battle with an elephant, after which he could not walk properly. However, he was no longer able to search for prey. There was no food in his cave.
Days passed without food. The fox said: Oh master, I cannot serve you because I have become very weak. I have not eaten for several days. The lion answered: Oh my companion, can you not find an animal that I can kill even in my current weakness, so that we can be nourished by it, you and I, otherwise we will die of hunger.
Thus, he went out of the cave searching for food, wandering through the forest until he reached a nearby village. He noticed there a donkey that had come to the borders of the forest to eat green grass. The fox went to receive the donkey warmly, saying: Greetings, oh cousin. I see that you have eaten ripe grass, and you seem tired. Why is this?
The donkey answered: I have a harsh master who makes me carry heavy loads every day and hardly provides me with a handful of green grass. Despite my knowledge that the forest is full of dangers, I could not stop myself from grazing in these green grasses. The fox answered: Come with me to the forest. My master protects all animals from the harshness of humans, and there are green grasses everywhere, and you will live a life of relaxation, bliss, and comfort.
In this way, the donkey kept following the fox inside the forest to take him to the lion’s cave. On the other hand, the fox saw that he should bring a donkey with him to the lion. The lion was very happy and waiting for them to approach so he could jump on the donkey. But the lion had become weaker than he expected himself. The donkey entered the lion’s cave, and the lion intended to pounce on him but fell on the ground near the donkey. When the donkey saw this, he ran as fast as possible to save his life.
The lion was very ashamed and said to him: Do not be sad. I will try to bring him back to you, but this time, please wait for us until we approach, for you are not strong enough to jump and pounce now.
The fox ran behind the donkey and was able to catch up with him, then stopped him on the road. The donkey said: This is the beautiful place you took me to! You took me to the jaws of death. What is this animal that tried to jump on me?
He slapped his face and said: Is this what you thought of me? You thought badly of me, and therefore I ran behind you because you wrong me! It is a type of female donkey that has not become accustomed to him. It was searching for a donkey of its own kind and did not find one. When it found you, it was very happy, but you could not bear its happiness at meeting its own kind. The fox continued: If there were another animal, a lion or a tiger, for example, would it have left you? Would you be able to escape from it?
Thus, the donkey was convinced by the fox again and followed him again to the cave. But the lion was tired because he was very weak. He asked the fox to guard the prey until he arrived from the river to take a bath and drink some water. On the other hand, the fox could not bear hunger anymore, for he had not eaten for several days, and he saw food directly in front of his eyes. He attacked the head of the foolish donkey and ate its brain.
When the lion returned and saw that the donkey’s brain was not present, he became angry and asked the fox to explain how he dared to eat from his prey. He answered him: Please, oh master, do not be angry. This donkey did not have a brain at all. If he had any brain, would he return to you after you attacked him? The lion was satisfied with the answer, and both of them finally ate a good meal after several days of hunger.
Translated from: The Lion and Foolish Donkey