The Lion and the Hare Fairy Tale

In a certain forest lived a fierce lion. He hunted the animals without mercy, and the whole forest lived in fear. So the animals gathered and went to the lion. "Don't kill us for nothing. Every day we will send one of us to you ourselves."

One day it was the turn of a little hare. The hare walked slowly and thought hard all the way. He arrived late. "Why are you so late?" roared the hungry lion.

"O great king, on the way another lion caught me. He boasted that he was the king of this forest," said the hare. The lion was furious. "Where is he? Show him to me!"

The hare led the lion to a deep well. "He lives inside this fortress," said the hare. The lion looked down the well and saw an angry lion in the water staring straight back at him.

The lion roared, and a roar came back up from the well. In a rage, the lion leapt at his "enemy" and fell into the well.

The animals cheered the hare and marvelled at his wisdom. Ever since, they say in that forest: "It is not strength that wins, but wit."