A Lion had come to the end of his days and lay sick unto death at
the mouth of his cave, gasping for breath. The animals, his subjects,
came round him and drew nearer as he grew more and more helpless.
When they saw him on the point of death they thought to themselves:
"Now is the time to pay off old grudges." So the Boar came
up and drove at him with his tusks; then a Bull gored him with his
horns; still the Lion lay helpless before them: so the Ass, feeling
quite safe from danger, came up, and turning his tail to the Lion
kicked up his heels into his face. "This is a double death,"
growled the Lion.
Only cowards insult dying majesty.
