One day, as the Fox was wandering through the forest, he noticed the Crow perched in a tree with a large piece of white cheese clasped in her beak. He thought to himself, “That cheese is perfect for me! After all, I am a Fox.”
Trying to soften his voice, he positioned himself beneath the tree and cheerfully called out, “Good morning, Madam Crow! How magnificent you look today! Your eyes sparkle, and your feathers shine as though freshly polished. I imagine your voice must be just as elegant as your appearance. Please, would you honor me with a song? Let me hail you as the queen of all the animals!”
Swept away by these flattering words, the Crow lifted her head proudly and cried out with all her strength, “Caw!”
At that very moment, the cheese slipped from her beak and tumbled to the ground.
The Fox seized his chance, snatched up the cheese, and turned to the Crow.
“That will do!” he said. “This is all I wanted. Now let me offer you a piece of advice: Never trust flatterers!”
