FABLES. 



THE FOX AND THE SICK LION. 



IT was reported that the Lion was sick, and the 

 beasts were given to understand that they could 

 not make their court better than by going to visit 

 him. Upon this they generally went; but it was 

 particularly taken notice of, that the Fox was not 

 one of the number. The Lion therefore dispatched 

 one of his Jackals to enquire why he had so little 

 charity and respect as never to come near him, at 

 a time when he lay so dangerously ill, and every 

 body else had been to see him ? Why, replies the 

 Fox, pray present my duty to his majesty, and tell 

 him that I have the same respect for him as ever, 

 and have been coming several times, but was fear- 

 ful of being troublesome, as I have observed, from 

 the prints of their footsteps, that great numbers 

 have gone into the royal den; but I have not seen 

 a single trace of their coming out again. 



