Aesop

The Bull and the Goat

Summary

This narrative centers on a Bull that seeks refuge from a Lion in a cave previously occupied by shepherds. Inside the cave, the Bull encounters a He-Goat who aggressively attacks him with its horns. The Bull, unwilling to engage with the Goat, calmly asserts that while it fears the Lion, it is not intimidated by the Goat. The Bull implies that once the Lion, a far greater threat, is gone, it will then demonstrate the significant difference in strength between itself and the Goat. This story serves to illustrate themes of prioritizing threats and understanding one's power dynamics, reminding readers that sometimes the apparent threats are not the ones to truly worry about.

Read Online

A Bull, escaping from a Lion, hid in a cave which some shepherds had recently occupied. As soon as he entered, a He-Goat left in the cave sharply attacked him with his horns. The Bull quietly addressed him: “Butt away as much as you will. I have no fear of you, but of the Lion. Let that monster go away and I will soon let you know what is the respective strength of a Goat and a Bull.”

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