A Crow And A Fox

How many times it was repeated to the world that flattery is both nasty and harmful,

but all in vain and therefore some flatterer can always worm oneself into your favor.

Once God sent a slice of cheese to a Crow; having perched on a spruce it was about to have lunch,

but holding cheese in its beck the Crow got into the pensive mood. As bad luck would have it in the vicinity a Fox ran about;

all of a sudden the smell of cheese made it halt: the Fox had seen the cheese and had been seduced with it,

the rogue approached to the fir-tree on tiptoe; it wagged its tail and was all eyes.

Holding its breath it pleasantly said: "My dear, you are so exquisite! What the nice feathers!

And what the lovely beck! As a matter of fact they are truly fantastic! Perhaps you have an angelical voice!

Sing, darling, be not ashamed! If into a bargain with such beauty you are capable to sing splendidly,

well, then you must be a diva!" Out of the praise the head of the prophetic bird had started spinning,

in pleasure the breath was caught in its craw, -

there the Crow cawed with might and main in reply to the friendly words of the Fox:

the piece of cheese dropped out - and the Crow ever beheld neither it, nor the cheat again.