It was the Cow's turn. The Jackal incited her this way and that against the Lion, but the peace-loving Cow did not want to listen to him.
“The lion feeds me,” she said, “and with all my heart I give my milk to the Lion, who keeps order.”
Then the Jackal returned to the Lion and began to blame the Cow. Leo refused to believe his words:
“I trust the cow like my own mother.” And don't try to quarrel between us.
The embarrassed Jackal became quiet. However, after some time he again appeared to Leo.
“King of beasts,” he began gradually, “it’s true, the Cow is obedient to you, but how can she feed you: you are not a baby who is fed milk, and it’s indecent for the king of beasts to be like a half-starved shepherd.” I myself, okay, am ready to do without meat, but you, how will you live? Especially now, when all the animals have rebelled against you and fled, when the law is powerless. You need to hunt. Otherwise you will not escape death. As for me personally, I am not at all interested in the meat of the Cow. I need her skin more. One wise old man told me that wonderful shoes can be made from cow leather. In such shoes it is as if you are not walking, but flying above the ground. And no animal will run away from you, and hunting will turn into entertainment. If you want to heed my advice, you must sacrifice the Cow: her meat will help you wait for better times, and from her skin I will make you wonderful shoes.
And Lev agreed. They killed the Cow, ate the meat, and kept the skin.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru