The Ass in the Lion’s Skin

Aesop

The ass in the lion’s skin

An Ass found a Lion’s Skin, and dressed himself up in it. Then he went about frightening every one he met, for they all took him to be a lion, men and beasts alike, and took to their heels when they saw him coming.

Elated by the success of his trick, he loudly brayed in triumph.

The Fox heard him, and recognised him at once for the Ass he was, and said to him:

“Oho, my friend, it’s you, is it? I, too, should have been afraid if I hadn’t heard your voice.”

From Aesop’s Fables: a new translation by V.S. Vernon Jones, with an introduction by G.K. Chesterton and illustrations by Arthur Rackham. 1912 edition. This work is in the public domain.