The Eagle and the Fox

Summary

This short narrative revolves around the themes of friendship, betrayal, and justice. It tells the story of an Eagle and a Fox who become friends and decide to live near each other. The Eagle builds a nest in a tall tree, while the Fox settles in the underwood. When the Eagle, in need of food for her young, preys on one of the Fox's cubs, it breaks their bond. The Fox, unable to directly retaliate, watches as fate turns against the Eagle. When the Eagle unwittingly carries a burning cinder to her nest, a fire ensues, leading to the demise of the young eaglets. In a twist of fate, the Fox consumes the Eagle's offspring, underscoring the moral that betrayal and harmful actions often lead to one's downfall.

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An Eagle and a Fox formed an intimate friendship and decided to live near each other. The Eagle built her nest in the branches of a tall tree, while the Fox crept into the underwood and there produced her young. Not long after they had agreed upon this plan, the Eagle, being in want of provision for her young ones, swooped down while the Fox was out, seized upon one of the little cubs, and feasted herself and her brood. The Fox on her return, discovered what had happened, but was less grieved for the death of her young than for her inability to avenge them. A just retribution, however, quickly fell upon the Eagle. While hovering near an altar, on which some villagers were sacrificing a goat, she suddenly seized a piece of the flesh, and carried it, along with a burning cinder, to her nest. A strong breeze soon fanned the spark into a flame, and the eaglets, as yet unfledged and helpless, were roasted in their nest and dropped down dead at the bottom of the tree. There, in the sight of the Eagle, the Fox gobbled them up.