The Crow and the Hungry Dog

(Animal Fable)

A dog was once lost in the forest by hunters.  Not being able to find his way back, he wandered through the forest in search of something to eat.  After a few days of unprofitable search for food, he became very thin and weak.  He had not tasted anything except water, for several days.  One day as he was walking listlessly and staggeringly under the trees, he saw by chance a crow that had a piece of meat in her beak.  Looking up, the dog sat on its legs, and prayed to the crow to give him a piece of her meat.

The dog said: Hey, good friend, please give me a piece of your victual for I am very very hungry.

The crow, in hearing this remark of the dog, opened her beak and laughed.  But when she opened her mouth the piece of meat which she had, fell to the ground.  The hungry dog greedily picked it up and he now had the occasion to laugh at the poor crow.

After having feasted on the meat, the dog said: I thought that you were wiser than I at first, but I see now that it is just the reverse.  And if you would only come down, I will eat you up also, the dog continued.

Upon hearing this, the crow flew away.  She was sorely distressed by the loss of the meat.  She would have sacrificed her life for it but seeing that she could not do anything against the dog, she was contented, though sorely, to spend the whole day without eating anything.

Learn this Filipino word:

saling-pusà