The Lion in a Farmyard

Summary

The story is a fable that illustrates the consequences of making reckless decisions without considering potential dangers. A farmer attempts to trap a lion in his farmyard, hoping to catch it, but he underestimates the threat the lion poses. When the lion realizes it is trapped, it attacks and kills the farm's sheep and oxen. In fear for his own life, the farmer eventually lets the lion go, only to rue the loss of his livestock. The farmer's wife observes his folly and points out the imprudence of locking a powerful beast with him, highlighting the theme of forethought and the peril of acting without fully assessing the risks involved. This tale serves as a cautionary narrative about the importance of using sound judgment and the potential repercussions of underestimating danger.

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A Lion entered a farmyard. The Farmer, wishing to catch him, shut the gate. When the Lion found that he could not escape, he flew upon the sheep and killed them, and then attacked the oxen. The Farmer, beginning to be alarmed for his own safety, opened the gate and released the Lion. On his departure the Farmer grievously lamented the destruction of his sheep and oxen, but his wife, who had been a spectator to all that took place, said, “On my word, you are rightly served, for how could you for a moment think of shutting up a Lion along with you in your farmyard when you know that you shake in your shoes if you only hear his roar at a distance?”