'The Ass in a Lion's Skin'

'The Ass in a Lion's Skin', an illustration by John Vernon Lord 

in Aesop's Fables, Jonathan Cape, 1989.

The text:

The Ass in the Lion’s Skin

AN Ass, accidentally finding a Lion’s skin in the forest, put it on, and in this disguise came into the meadows, where he terrified all the flocks and herds, and drove them all before him. Soon after the Countryman to whom he belonged came out to look for him, when the Ass, thinking to deceive his master also, ran furiously at him, and set up a counterfeit roar. But his long ears unfortunately sticking out, his master laid hold of them, and drubbing hi soundly with a stout oaken plant, soon convinced that he knew the difference between an Ass and a Lion.

Moral: It is pointless to pretend to be someone who is stronger than yourself because, you will soon betray yourself and be found out for who you really are.

Text: Charles Draper (44, 1760).

Selected parallels: Babrius 139. Avianus 5. La Fontaine 5/21. Chambry 279. Perry 358. TMI J951.1.