The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE SLY FOX

A SICK LION WHO HAD NOT EATEN FOR A LONG TIME ACQUIRED A BAD
BREATH. IN THE FOREST HE MET AN ASS. "DOES MY BREATH SMELL
BADLY?" HE ASKED HIM. "IT DOES," REPLIED THE SIMPLE-MINDED ASS.
"HOW DARE A COMMON CREATURE LIKE YOU INSULT ME, THE KING OF THE
BEASTS!" ROARED THE LION, AND IMMEDIATELY DEVOURED THE ASS. A
WHILE LATER HE MET A BEAR. "DOES MY BREATH SMELL BADLY?" THE
LION ASKED HIM. "OH NO!" EXCLAIMED THE BEAR. "YOUR BREATH IS
SWEETER THAN HONEY." "FLATTERER!" ROARED THE LION. "HOW DARE
YOU DECEIVE ME?" AND HE DEVOURED THE BEAR, TOO. AT LAST HE MET
A FOX. "SMELL ME, MY FRIEND," ASKED THE LION, "AND TELL ME
WHETHER MY BREATH IS SWEET." NOW THE SLY FOX SAW THE PITFALL
AND WAS WARY. "PARDON ME, O KING OF THE FOREST," SAID THE FOX
MOST POLITELY, "FOR I CANNOT SMELL AT ALL! I HAVE A BAD COLD."

Submitter comment: ORIGIN: INFORMANT'S MOTHER, REBECCA, WHO KNEW THE STORY AS A
CHILD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT