A crow stole a large lump of cheese from a cottage window-still and flew up to a high tree to eat it in comfort.
A fox who was passing by noticed what she had in her beak and, his mouth watering at the sight, began to talk to her.
"O crow" he said, "what beautiful wings you have. how bright your eyes are. Your neck is as graceful as a swan's and your head looks as powerful as an eagle's." The crow wriggled and shifted on the branch with pleasure, fluffing out her feathers and trying to look fierce and noble.
"What a pity," continued the fox, "that a beautiful bird like you cannot speak. If only you could make a sound as beautiful as the color of your feathers." This was too much for the crow. Determined to prove that her voice was as good as her looks, she opened her beak and gave a loud "crew".
Down fell the cheese right into the fox's open mouth "You may have a voice, crow, but you certainly haven't any brains,"
he said as he walked away with the cheese.
MORAL LESSON: VANITY IS EXPENSIVE.