'The Lion and the Hare'

'The Lion and the Hare', an illustration by John Vernon Lord 

in Aesop's Fables, Jonathan Cape, 1989, page 83.

The Text:

The Lion and the Hare

A LION came across a Hare, who was fast asleep on her form.  He was just in the act of seizing her, when a fine young Hart trotted by, and he left the Hare to follow him.  The Hare, scared by the noise, awoke and scudded away.  The Lion was not able after a long chase to catch the Hart, and returned to feed upon the Hare.  On finding that the Hare also had run off, he said, “I am rightly served, for having let go the food that I had in my hand for the chance of obtaining more.”

Moral:  Attempting to gain a greater profit elsewhere may cause the loss of what you already have in the bag.

Text: George Fyler Townsend (p111, 1868).

Selected parallels: Chambry 204. Perry 148. Daly 148. TMI J321.3.