The Fox and the Monkey

A MONKEY once danced in an assembly of the Beasts, and so pleased them all by his performance that they elected him their King. A Fox, envying him the honour, discovered a piece of meat lying in a trap, and leading the Monkey to the place where it was, said that she had found a store, but had not used it, she had kept it for him as treasure trove of his kingdom, and counseled him to lay hold of it. The Monkey approached carelessly and was caught in the trap; and on his accusing the Fox of purposely leading him into the snare, she replied, “O Monkey, and are you, with such a mind as yours, going to be King over the Beasts?”

あるとき、サルがけものたちの集まりで踊り、その芸でみんなをすっかり喜ばせたので、けものたちはサルを王に選んだ。その名誉をねたんだキツネは、わなの中に肉が一切れあるのを見つけ、サルをその場所へ連れていってこう言った。食べ物のたくわえを見つけたが、手をつけずにおいた。王国の埋蔵物として王さまのためにとっておいたのだ、と。そしてサルに、それを手に入れるようすすめた。サルが不用意に近づくと、わなにかかってしまった。わざとわなに誘いこんだなとサルがキツネを責めると、キツネは答えた。「おやまあ、サルさん、そんな頭で、けものたちの王になろうというのですか？」