Section 60
The Old Lion explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
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A Lion, enfeebled by age and no longer able to procure food for himself by force, determined to do so by cunning. Betaking himself to a cave, he lay down inside and feigned to be sick: and whenever any of the other animals entered to inquire after his health, he sprang upon them and devoured them. Many lost...
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Public-domain original
A Lion, enfeebled by age and no longer able to procure food for
himself by force, determined to do so by cunning. Betaking himself to
a cave, he lay down inside and feigned to be sick: and whenever any of
the other animals entered to inquire after his health, he sprang upon
them and devoured them. Many lost their lives in this way, till one
day a Fox called at the cave, and, having a suspicion of the truth,
addressed the Lion from outside instead of going in, and asked him how
he did. He replied that he was in a very bad way: "But," said he, "why
do you stand outside? Pray come in." "I should have done so," answered
the Fox, "if I hadn't noticed that all the footprints point towards
the cave and none the other way."
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
An old lion tricks animals into entering his cave until a fox notices the one-way footprints.
Why this scene matters
This fable teaches caution: a trap can be seen by studying who comes back out.
Characters in this scene
- Old Lion: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
Simple story version
The lion pretends to be sick so animals visit him. The fox stays outside because all tracks lead in and none lead out.