Character Index | Proverb Index
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| Character Index | Proverb Index |
When first the Fox saw the Lion he was terribly frightened, and ran away and hid himself in the wood. Next time however he came near the King of Beasts he stopped at a safe distance and watched him pass by. The third time they came near one another the Fox went straight up to the Lion and passed the time of day with him, asking him how his family were, and when he should have the pleasure of seeing him again; then turning his tail, he parted from the Lion without much ceremony.
Townsend version
When a fox who had never yet seen a Lion, fell in with him by chance for the first time in the forest, he was so frightened that he nearly died with fear. On meeting him for the second time, he was still much alarmed, but not to the same extent as at first. On seeing him the third time, he so increased in boldness that he went up to him and commenced a familiar conversation with him.
Moral
Acquaintance softens prejudices.
L'Estrange version
A fox had the hap to fall into the walk of a lyon; (the first of the kind that ever he saw) and he was ready to drop down at the very sight of him. He came a while after, to see another, and was frighted still; but nothing to what he was before. It was his chance, after this, to meet a third Iyon; and he had the courage, then, to accost him, and to make a kind of an acquaintance with him.
Moral
Novelty surprises us, and we have naturally a horror for uncouth misshapen monsters; but 'tis our ignorance that staggers us, for upon custom and experience, all these buggs grow familiar, and easy to us.
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Tom Simondi, All Rights Reserved