Hukumusume fairy tale collection > Foreign language (English) > Aesop’s Fables

Illustration　myi

The stag and the lion at the fountain

(Aesop’s Fables)

Translation　ちいさな翻訳屋さん

Japanese　←→　Japanese ＆ English　←→　English

　A stag felt thirsty and went to a fountain.

　After taking a gulp of water, the stag found his reflection in the water.

　The stag was admiring and praising his large and branching antlers.

　He was so proud of himself and felt as if he was sitting on top of the world.

　However, when he looked at his legs, he was so disappointed because the legs were so spindly and undependable.

“This is pathetic. I have such majestic antlers, but see my legs.”

　While he was contemplating his reflection in the water, a lion appeared all of sudden.

　The stag immediately fled the lion.

　As the lion chased the stag, however he was running his utmost speed, the lion could not catch him.

　In fact, he left the lion far behind him.

　As long as he ran on the smooth plain, he could keep himself at a safe distance from the loin.

　Then he entered a wood.

　His large antlers got tangled in the branches and he was stuck in the wood.

　While he was struggling to pull himself free, the lion captured and caught him.

　As the stag was dying, he said to himself,

“Woe is me. These legs I despised could have saved me,

　while I am dying by the antlers I boasted about.”


　The story shows when people are in danger, the friends who are less trustworthy would be a help,

　while the friends whom they trusted would abandon them.

The end

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