The Sick Lion

英语自学网

The Sick Lion
        A Lion had come to the end of his days and lay sick unto death
        at the mouth of his cave, gasping for breath.  The animals, his
        subjects, came round him and drew nearer as he grew more and more
        helpless.  When they saw him on the point of death they thought to
        themselves: "Now is the time to pay off old grudges."  So the Boar
        came up and drove at him with his tusks; then a Bull gored him
        with his horns; still the Lion lay helpless before them: so the
        Ass, feeling quite safe from danger, came up, and turning his tail
        to the Lion kicked up his heels into his face.  "This is a double
        death," growled the Lion.
       
        Only cowards insult dying majesty.