The Bowman and The Lion
Aesop | Greece
A skilled bowman frightens the animals in a forest, except the Lion who vows to protect them but underestimates the bowman's power.
Once upon a time in a great forest, there lived a skillful bowman. This man was so good with his bow and arrow, he could hit anything he aimed at. The animals in the forest were scared of him, because of his sharp arrows. They would run away as soon as they saw him.
But the mighty Lion, king of the forest, wasn't afraid. He said to all the animals, "Don't worry, my friends. I will protect you. I'll face the bowman alone and chase him away from our home."
Not long after the Lion said these words, a sharp arrow zipped through the air. It hit the Lion on his side, causing him great pain. The Lion groaned and fell to the ground, an arrow sticking out of his side.
Seeing this, the Fox, who was known for his wit and cunning, came forward. He looked at the Lion and asked, "What do you think about the bowman now?"
The Lion, gasping in pain, answered, "Oh, I was wrong. I thought I was stronger than him. But now I see that I underestimated him."
And so, the animals of the forest realized that it's not wise to underestimate someone's strength, especially when you don't know much about them. The Lion's mistake served as a reminder to all that pride can sometimes lead to a fall.
Anansi and the Turtle
Clever spider Anansi tricked the turtle with soup, but the turtle's underwater house left Anansi wet and hungry.
How the Turtle Saved His Own Life
A king's pond frightened the princes with a mistaken turtle monster, but the clever turtle escaped and swam back to safety.
A Jackdaw and Peacock Feathers
Jackdaw, a plain bird, found and adorned himself with peacock feathers, only to be exposed and ridiculed, returning to his ordinary state in shame.
A Woman and Her Hen
A woman had a special Hen that laid one egg daily, so she tried feeding it more to get two eggs, but it stopped laying altogether.