The Lion had a goat on his farm, but the Jackal did not have a goat. He only had one goat. The Jackal went to the Lion and said:
“Great sir, please give me your goat for a few days so that my goat can give birth to a kid.” When she gives birth, I will return your goat to you and thank you generously.
The Lion gave him his goat, and the goat, which belonged to the Jackal, in due time gave birth to two cubs - a kid and a female goat. The jackal brought the goat back to the Lion, and with it the little goat.
“I’m returning your goat to you,” said the Jackal respectfully. - And here is my payment to you.
But Leo menacingly asked the Jackal:
- Was there only one goat born? Jackal replied:
- No, and a kid. -Where did you put him?
“I kept it for myself so that later my goat would have kids.” The king of the forests, hearing this in response, became very angry:
- Well, go home, bring your little goat here immediately!
- How so? Do you want to rob me?
- No, you want to rob me. If it weren't for my goat, your goat wouldn't have given birth to a single baby. Both babies are mine because my goat fathered them!
The jackal said sadly:
“You are unfair, mighty king.” But the two of us cannot decide which of us is right and who is wrong. Let's call the animals of all the forests and fields and hold a court. Let them decide who is right, who wants to rob whom - you me or I you.
The angry king of the forests exclaimed:
- Let the forest animals gather here early in the morning! But look, Jackal, if they admit that I am right, I will deal with you and all your offspring.
The Jackal went to look for the Turtle. Seeing her between the stones, the Jackal said sadly:
“My friend, tomorrow there will be a great trial.” I will sue the lord of our forest, the lion. Help me. You are so smart! Come protect me!
The turtle asked:
– Why are you going to sue him?
And the Jackal answered:
– I asked Leo for a goat so that my goat could give birth to a kid. Now that she has two cubs, Lev says that they both belong to him, because if it were not for his goat, they would not have been born.
“Okay,” said the Turtle, “I’ll come to the trial and help you.” Just make sure they don't start without me. Wait until I come.
The next day, from very early morning, the animals of all the forests and fields came to judgment. When they gathered, the king of the forests asked menacingly:
- Did everyone show up?
- Yes. Everyone showed up.
“Then let’s start the trial.” We'll see who's right. Listen what happened...
But then the Jackal timidly said:
- Wait, sir, let the trial begin: not everyone is ready yet. -Who is missing?
- Turtles...
And the animals began to wait. They waited, waited, waited... Now the sun had already risen very high, but the Turtle was still not there. Some, impatient, began to grumble:
- Let's start the trial! Why are so many animals waiting for one turtle?! You'd think she's smarter than all of us.
And the Turtle is right there! She slowly came out of the forest and just as slowly approached the crowd.
The angry Hyena said:
- Look, because of such an insignificant creature we are sitting idle! We've been waiting for you all morning, like some important lady. What were you doing, what were you so busy with that you didn’t show up on time, like everyone else, from very early in the morning?
The turtle replied:
- Calm down, stop scolding me. I had a lot of things to do at home because my father was about to give birth.
All the animals were very surprised and began to ask each other:
-Have any of you seen a male who has given birth?
But no one could answer in the affirmative. Then the animals turned to the Turtle:
“None of us have ever seen a male give birth.” Only females can give birth to young. Is your father really the only one on our land who will give birth?
And then the Turtle said triumphantly:
- Oh, that's how it is! So only my father can give birth? Or maybe a goat can give birth to two kids? Didn’t you decide to prove all this when you gathered for this trial?
And then all the animals stood up and grumbled:
- Let's all go home. There is no point in holding a trial. And so everything is clear. Leo is wrong.
This is how the Lion was accused by his subjects and the Jackal got both of his goat cubs.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru