Aesop | Greece
The Wolf and the Lamb
A wolf accuses a lamb of wrongdoing to justify eating him, despite the lamb's innocence.
Once upon a time, a Wolf was drinking from a stream when he noticed a Lamb downstream also drinking from the same stream. The Wolf desired to eat the Lamb and searched for an excuse to do so. He accused the Lamb of muddying the water and making it difficult for him to drink.
The Wolf stood above the Lamb and said, "How dare you muddy the water that I am drinking from!"
Frightened by the Wolf's angry tone, the Lamb replied, "Sir, I do not intend to offend you in any way. The water is flowing from you to me, so it is impossible for me to muddy it."
The Wolf, unwilling to admit his fault, continued, "Well then, last year you insulted me."
The Lamb, confused, replied, "That is impossible, sir. I was not even born last year."
The Wolf, unsatisfied with the Lamb's response, barked, "Well, if it wasn't you, it must have been one of your family members who insulted me!"
The Lamb, knowing there was no point in arguing further, stammered, "I'm sorry if that's the case, but I haven't done anything wrong."
Despite the Lamb's protestations of innocence and attempts to reason with the Wolf, it was ultimately devoured. The Lamb realized the injustice of its situation and how the stronger and more ruthless wolf was able to impose its will on the weaker animal.
