The Fox and the Crow

One morning, a crow flew over a village searching for food.

Near an open window, she noticed a fresh piece of cheese resting on a plate.

The crow quickly flew down, picked up the cheese in her beak, and carried it away.

She landed on a high branch of an old tree at the edge of the forest.

— This will make a delicious breakfast, — she thought.

At that moment, a hungry fox was walking beneath the trees.

He had been searching for food since sunrise but had found nothing.

Suddenly, he smelled the cheese.

The fox looked up and saw the crow sitting on the branch with the cheese in her beak.

His mouth began to water.

The branch was too high for him to reach, and he knew the crow would fly away if he tried to climb the tree.

The fox sat down and began to think.

Soon, he had a clever idea.

He looked up at the crow and said:

— Good morning, beautiful lady.

The crow looked down at him but kept the cheese firmly in her beak.

— Your feathers are more beautiful than the darkest night, — continued the fox. — They shine wonderfully in the morning light.

The crow lifted her head proudly.

No one had ever praised her feathers so warmly.

The fox saw that his words were working.

— Your wings are graceful, and your eyes are bright and intelligent. Surely you must be the most beautiful bird in the entire forest.

The crow spread her wings slightly so the fox could admire them.

The fox smiled.

— A bird as magnificent as you must also have a wonderful voice.

The crow blinked.

She had always wanted the other animals to admire her singing.

— I have heard the songs of the nightingale and the lark, — said the fox, — but I am certain your voice must be even more beautiful.

The crow became very pleased.

She forgot that the fox was hungry.

She forgot that the cheese was still in her beak.

All she wanted was to prove that her voice was as impressive as her appearance.

The crow raised her head, opened her beak, and gave a loud cry.

— Caw! Caw!

The moment she opened her beak, the cheese fell from the branch.

The fox quickly caught it before it touched the ground.

The crow stared down in surprise.

The fox held the cheese in his mouth and said:

— You may have a voice, dear crow, but you should also learn to recognize dishonest praise.

The fox then walked away with the cheese.

The crow remained silently on the branch.

She understood that the fox had not truly admired her.

He had used flattering words because he wanted something from her.

The crow regretted allowing pride to control her judgment.

From that day forward, she listened carefully whenever someone praised her too eagerly.