Ἀλώπηξ κόλουρος THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL

Ἀλώπηξ κόλουρος

 Ἀλώπηξ ὑπό τινος πάγης τὴν οὐρὰν ἀποκοπεῖσα, ἐπειδὴ δι' αἰσχύνην ἀβίωτον ἡγεῖτο τὸν βίον ἔχειν, ἔγνω δεῖν καὶ τὰς ἄλλας ἀλώπεκας εἰς τὸ αὐτὸ προαγαγεῖν, ἵνα τῷ κοινῷ πάθει τὸ ἴδιον ἐλάττωμα συγκρύψῃ. Καὶ δὴ ἁπάσας ἀθροίσασα παρῄνει αὐταῖς τὰς oὐρὰς ἀποκόπτειν, λέγουσα ὡς οὐκ ἀπρεπὲς μόνον τοῦτο, ἀλλὰ καὶ περισσόν τι αὐταῖς βάρος προσήρτηται. Τούτων δέ τις ὑποτυχοῦσα ἔφη· " Ὦ αὕτη, ἀλλ' εἰ μή σοι τοῦτο συνέφερεν, οὐκ ἂν ἡμῖν τοῦτο συνεβούλευσας."

Οὗτος ὁ λόγος ἁρμόττει πρὸς ἐκείνους οἳ τὰς συμβουλίας ποιοῦνται τοῖς πέλας οὐ δι' εὔνοιαν, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸ ἑαυτοῖς συμφέρον.

Ήταν που λέτε μια φορά
κάποια αλεπού δίχως ουρά.
Κι ήταν χωρίς ίχνος αιδούς
περίγελως κάθ’ αλεπούς.
Για να μη νιώθει πια ντροπή
στις άλλες σκέφτηκε να πει
κι αυτές να γίνουν κολοβές
γιατί είν’ οι ουρίτσες περιττές
κι αστεία δείχνουν τα κορμιά
χάνοντας κάθε ομορφιά…
Κάποια το ίδιο πονηρή
δίνει απάντηση σκληρή:
« Προσέξτε κάθε συμβουλή
που δίνει όποιος σας φθονεί…
αφού οι ουρές μας αν κοπούν
πού ’ναι αυτής δε θα ρωτούν…»

THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL

A Fox that had been caught in a trap, succeeded at last, after much painful tugging, in getting away. But he had to leave his beautiful bushy tail behind him.

For a long time he kept away from the other Foxes, for he knew well enough that they would all make fun of him and crack jokes and laugh behind his back. But it was hard for him to live alone, and at last he thought of a plan that would perhaps help him out of his trouble.

He called a meeting of all the Foxes, saying that he had something of great importance to tell the tribe.

When they were all gathered together, the Fox Without a Tail got up and made a long speech about those Foxes who had come to harm because of their tails.

This one had been caught by hounds when his tail had become entangled in the hedge. That one had not been able to run fast enough because of the weight of his brush. Besides, it was well known, he said, that men hunt Foxes simply for their tails, which they cut off as prizes of the hunt. With such proof of the danger and uselessness of having a tail, said Master Fox, he would advise every Fox to cut it off, if he valued life and safety.

When he had finished talking, an old Fox arose, and said, smiling:

“Master Fox, kindly turn around for a moment, and you shall have your answer.”

When the poor Fox Without a Tail turned around, there arose such a storm of jeers and hooting, that he saw how useless it was to try any longer to persuade the Foxes to part with their tails.

Do not listen to the advice of him who seeks to lower you to his own level.