One day King Leo called all the animals and said:
“When I go hunting, all of you are seized with blind fear, and meanwhile, to satisfy my hunger, I kill only one of you. If you agree to allocate one of you to my table every day, it will be better for everyone. You will be freed from fear and uncertainty, and I will not have to go hunting.
So they decided. It was barely morning before another victim appeared to Leo. The animals agreed among themselves that every evening they would draw lots.
And for many, many days the Lion did not leave his lair; the animals walked through the forest without any fear.
One evening the lot fell on the Rabbit, and he said to himself:
- Why should I go into the mouth myself? We need to come up with something and rid the forest of the tyrant.
The Rabbit didn't sleep all night, he kept thinking and thinking. Having woken up, Leo began to wait for his next victim. But no one showed up. The king of beasts roared and was about to go into the forest to accuse his subjects of treason, when suddenly the out of breath Rabbit came running.
- Breakfast has finally arrived! – Lev exclaimed joyfully. - Why are you so late?
- My lord! - answered the Rabbit, - be patient. I can't help but tell you a story. On the way to you I met another lion. He was about to eat me, but I explained to him that I was hurrying to you, O king of the forest. Then he got angry and said that you are a usurper. And he let me go on the condition that I would run around the entire forest and tell all the animals that their rightful king had returned to punish you with death.
- Show me this villain, this liar! - the Lion ordered, and the Rabbit led him to a deep well.
- Look down, my lord. “He’s there,” said the Rabbit.
The lion leaned over the water and saw his own reflection. Deciding that this was his rival, he jumped into the well with a furious roar and drowned.
The animals, having learned about the Rabbit's feat, were incredibly delighted with his wisdom. And from that day on they called him the Wise Rabbit.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru