The Fox and the Stork

"The Fox and the Stork" is a children's fable by Jean de La Fontaine that tells the tale of a cunning fox and a wise stork. The story sets around a mischievous trick played by the fox, inviting the stork to dinner and serving soup in a shallow dish, which the stork couldn't eat with its long beak. Later, the stork invites the fox in return, serving food in a narrow-necked jar, proving the fox a taste of his own mischief. The story carries a moral lesson about treating others the way you want to be treated.

• Fable

								
The Fox invited neighbour Stork to dinner,
    But Reynard was a miser, I'm afraid;
He offered only soup, and that was thinner
    Than any soup that ever yet was made.
The guest--whose lanky beak was an obstruction,
    The mixture being served upon a plate--
Made countless vain experiments in suction,
    While Reynard feasted at a rapid rate.
The victim, bent upon retaliation,
    Got up a little dinner in return.
Reynard accepted; for an invitation
    To eat and drink was not a thing to spurn.
He reached the Stork's at the appointed hour,
    Flattered the host, as well as he was able,
And got his grinders ready to devour
    Whatever dishes might be brought to table.
But, lo! the Stork, to punish the offender,
    Had got the meat cut very fine, and placed
Within a jug; the neck was long and slender,
    Suited exactly to its owner's taste.
The Stork, whose appetite was most extensive,
    Emptied the jug entirely to the dregs;
While hungry Reynard, quite abashed and pensive,
    Walked homewards with his tail between his legs.

    Deceivers reap the fruits of their deceit,
    And being cheated may reform a cheat.


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