The Fox and the Cat

by The Brothers Grimm

　　

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It happened that the cat met the fox in a forest, and as she thoughtto herself, "He is clever and full of experience, and much esteemed inthe world," she spoke to him in a friendly way. "Good-day, dear Mr. Fox,how are you? How is all with you? How are you getting through this dearseason?" The fox, full of all kinds of arrogance, looked at the cat fromhead to foot, and for a long time did not know whether he would give anyanswer or not. At last he said, "Oh, thou wretched beard-cleaner, thoupiebald fool, thou hungry mouse-hunter, what canst thou be thinkingof? Dost thou venture to ask how I am getting on? What hast thoulearnt? How many arts dost thou understand?" "I understand but one,"replied the cat, modestly. "What art is that?" asked the fox. "When thehounds are following me, I can spring into a tree and save myself." "Isthat all?" said the fox. "I am master of a hundred arts, and have intothe bargain a sackful of cunning. Thou makest me sorry for thee; comewith me, I will teach thee how people get away from the hounds." Justthen came a hunter with four dogs. The cat sprang nimbly up a tree, andsat down on top of it, where the branches and foliage quite concealedher. "Open your sack, Mr. Fox, open your sack," cried the cat to him,but the dogs had already seized him, and were holding him fast. "Ah,Mr. Fox," cried the cat. "You with your hundred arts are left in thelurch! Had you been able to climb like me, you would not have lostyour life."

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