Lisica in volk

Besedilo

Lisica in volk

She said, “Know, O King, that a fox and a wolf once shared a den, to which they would retreat together. They lived thus for some time, and the wolf lorded it over the fox. One day the fox urged the wolf to be gentle and cease his wrongdoing, saying, ‘If you persist in your tyranny, God may set the son of Adam upon you, for he is full of cunning, guile, and deceit. He catches birds from the sky and fish from the sea; he cuts through mountains and moves them from their places—all by his ingenuity. Be just, then, and forsake wickedness and oppression, for your food will be the sweeter for it.’ But the wolf would not heed his words and answered him harshly, saying, ‘It is not your place to speak of great and weighty matters.’ Then he struck the fox such a blow that he fell senseless. When the fox came to himself, he smiled in the wolf’s face, apologized for his offensive words, and recited these two verses:

‘If in my love for you I sinned in days gone by, and did some deed deserving blame, I now repent of all my wrongs; your pardon embraces the offender who comes seeking forgiveness.’ The wolf accepted his apology and ceased to ill-treat him, saying, ‘Do not speak of what does not concern you, lest you hear what does not please you.’ And morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.