The Fox and the Horse

A peasant once had a faithful horse, but it had grown old and could no longer do its work. Its master grudged it food, and said: “I can’t use you anymore, but I still feel kindly towards you, and if you show yourself strong enough to bring me a lion I will keep you to the end of your days. But away with you now, out of my stable,” and he drove it out into the open country.

The poor horse was very sad, and went into the forest to get a little shelter from the wind and the weather. There he met a fox, who said: “Why do you hang your head, and wander about in this solitary fashion?”