Foreword:
This fable represents flattery, and its ills. It is numbered 124 in the Perry Index (as 124. The Fox and the Crow), and this fable is used as a warning against listening to flattery. An Indian version exists in the Jataka Tales, and a depiction of this tale is excavated from the Indus Valley Civilization suggesting its origin at least a thousand years earlier than any other source.
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Once, a crow was searching for food.
As he flew around a nearby village, he got lucky and chanced upon a piece of cheese from the window of a cottage.
Happy with his find, he looked around for a safe place to eat his meal.
He knew, that once the owners discovered the stolen piece of cheese, they would come after him with stones and sticks.
So, he flew deep into the jungle, and sat on the branch of a big tree, where he was confident that he can finally eat in peace.
About the same time, a fox followed his sharp nose in search of food. He followed the smell of fresh cheese, and observed the crow sitting above with the piece of cheese.
He sat down beneath the tree, observing the crow, who was yet to start eating and became concious of the fox's attention.
The fact that the crow held the piece of cheese in his beak, especially drew the fox's attention. He thought, "I have to search no further, but only to fool the crow to drop the cheese."
And so, with this cunning intent, the fox initiated a conversation.
Feigning complete disinterest on the piece of cheese, or his own hunger, he started praising the crow, and all crows, in general.
The unsuspecting crow started falling for the fox's trap. Flaterred on hearing such praise, and wanting to hear more, the crow got interested and turned towards the fox.
Confident that he had the crow's undivided attention, the fox continued in praise - how black is a royal color, how crows are the most beautiful creatures, how he has always been friends with crows, and how majestic the crow looks, that he can sit and watch the crow for an entire day, and so on.
The crafty fox continued to tell lies, not betraying for one moment that he was interested in the piece of cheese.
He started describing how his best childhood friend was a crow, and all the fun and laughter they had together.
And, the fox described how the crows are blessed with the most beautiful and musical voice, and how his childhood friend would often sing to him, and how he misses the lovely voice now.
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"How I wish that some crow will sing me a song, one day", the fox requested, "If you will please sing with your musical voice, I will forever remain in your debt."
Until now, the crow had remained silent, and was happy to only listen to the praises. But now, the crow was flattered beyond imagination, got emotional, and decided to sing for the fox.
Expecting more praises, he cleared his throat and started to sing.
But, as soon as the crow opened his beak to sing, the piece of cheese he was holding in his beak, got released and fell down. This is the moment that the fox was waiting for, and he caught the falling piece of cheese with his mouth to gulp it entirely.
Licking his lips clean and completely disinterested in the crow now, the fox laughed and started off, as the crow realized how he was fooled all along.
Moral:
Do not trust flatterers.
Or,
The flatterer lives at the expense of those who will listen to him.
Summary:
A crow had somehow got hold of a piece of cheese, and sat on a branch of a tree to eat it. A fox, on the other hand, observed the piece of cheese that the crow had, and wanted to eat it himself. The fox started to chat with the crow, all by himself, and kept showering praises on the crow's voice. Flattered with all the praises, the crow stopped eating, and sat listening to all the good words being spoken about him. The fox convinced the crow into singing a song. As soon as the crow opened his mouth to sing, the piece of cheese fell from his mouth - that the fox readily ate.
