The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox

by Aesop

It sometimes happens that one man has all the toil, and another all the profit.

A LION and a Bear seized a Kid at the same moment, and fought fiercely for its possession. When they had fearfully lacerated each other, and were faint from the long combat, they lay down exhausted with fatigue. A Fox, who had gone round them at a distance several times, saw them both stretched on the ground, with the Kid lying untouched in the middle, ran in between them, and seizing the Kid, scampered off as fast as he could. The Lion and the Bear saw him, but not being able to get up, said, Woe betide us, that we should have fought and belabored ourselves only to serve the turn of a Fox!

Moral:
It sometimes happens that one man has all the toil, and another all the profit.

Source:

Aesop's Fables
Copyright 1881
Translator: unknown
WM. L. Allison, New York
Illustrator: Harrison Weir, John Tenniel, Ernest Griset, et.al.
 

Recommended Works

The Goatherd and the Goats - AesopThe Lion and the Dolphin - AesopThe Bear and the Bee-Hives - AesopThe Bull and the Goat - AesopThe Fox and the Crow - AesopThe Lion and the Fox - AesopThe Fox and the Leopard - AesopThe Fox and the Ape - AesopThe Stag at the Pool - AesopThe Fox and the Hedgehog - AesopThe Fox and the Tiger - AesopThe Gnat and the Lion - AesopThe Bear and the Gardener - AesopThe Wolf, The Goat, And The Kid - AesopThe Cat and the Fox - AesopThe Lion, the Bear, and the Fox - AesopThe Fox and the Grapes - AesopThe Bear and the Two Travelers - AesopThe Lion in Love - AesopThe Dogs and the Fox - AesopThe Lion And The Gnat - AesopThe Bowman and the Lion - AesopThe Lioness - AesopThe Lion, The Ass, And The Fox Hunting - AesopThe Man and the Lion - AesopThe Dog, Cock, and Fox - AesopThe Wild Ass and the Lion - AesopThe Fox and the Mask - AesopThe Vine and the Goat - AesopThe Wolf and the Lion - AesopThe Ass, the Fox, and the Lion - AesopThe Bear and the Fox - AesopThe Eagle and the Fox - AesopThe Ass, the Cock, and the Lion - AesopThe Fox and the Woodcutter - AesopThe King's Son and the Painted Lion - AesopThe Lion and the Ass - AesopThe Goat and the Ass - AesopThe Two Goats - AesopThe Lion and the Three Bulls - AesopThe Cock and the Fox - AesopThe Fox and the Monkey - AesopThe Fatal Marriage - AesopThe Wolf and the Goat - AesopThe Fox and the Stork - AesopThe Herdsman and the Lost Bull - AesopThe Fox and the Lion - AesopThe Wild Boar and the Fox - AesopThe Fox and the Turkeys - AesopThe Lion and the Mouse - AesopThe Kid and the Wolf - AesopThe Leopard and the Fox - AesopThe Lion and the Wolf - AesopThe Hare Afraid Of His Ears - AesopThe Kid and the Wolf (1) - Aesop