Class Exercise 6

THE FOX AND THE CROW

A Crow stole a piece of cheese one day, and
flew with it up into a tree, so as to eat it at
her leisure.
As she sat there, holding it in her beak, a
Fox chanced to pass by, and, looking up, saw
her. "How good that cheese smells," thought
he; "I'll have it, sure as I'm a Fox.'
Coming close to the tree, he said, "Dear
Madam, what a beautiful creature you are! I
was not aware till his moment what rare
beauty your family possesses. What eyes!
What glossy feathers! What grace of form!
Is your voice as charming to hear, as your
person is to look upon? If it is, you well
deserve to be called the Queen of Birds. Will
you not do me the favor to sing to me?"
Now it is well known that the Caw! Caw!
of the Crow family is not musical. She ought
to have been on her guard, but so delighted
was she with the flattery of the Fox that she
forgot to be wary. She opened her mouth to
show the Fox the sweetness of her voice,
when---down fell the bit of cheese, which was
exactly what was expected.
The Fox ate it at one mouthful, then stop-
ped to say, "Thank you, madam. I am quite
satisfied. Your voice is well enough, I have
no doubt. What a pity it is you are so sadly
wanting in wit!"
Be on your guard when people flatter you.

The Fox and the Crow
A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree. "That's for me, as I am a Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree. "Good-day, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking to-day: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds." The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox. "That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future:
Do not trust flatterers."