Aesop's fables generally communicate some kind of moral message, often through the depiction of animals, who speak or otherwise take on human characteristics.
The Cock and the Pearl The Wolf and the Lamb The Dog and the Shadow The Lion’s Share The Wolf and the Crane The Man and the Serpent The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse The Fox and the Crow The Sick Lion The Ass and the Lapdog The Lion and the Mouse The Swallow and the Other Birds The Frogs Desiring a King The Mountains in Labour The Hares and the Frogs The Wolf and the Kid The Woodman and the Serpent The Bald Man and the Fly The Fox and the Stork The Fox and the Mask The Jay and the Peacock The Frog and the Ox Androcles The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts The Hart and the Hunter The Serpent and the File The Man and the Wood The Dog and the Wolf The Belly and the Members The Hart in the Ox-Stall The Fox and the Grapes The Horse, Hunter, and Stag The Peacock and Juno The Fox and the Lion The Lion and the Statue The Ant and the Grasshopper The Tree and the Reed The Fox and the Cat The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing The Dog in the Manger The Man and the Wooden God The Fisher The Shepherd’s Boy The Young Thief and His Mothers The Man and His Two Wives The Nurse and the Wolf The Tortoise and the Birds The two Crabs The Ass in the Lion’s Skin The Two Fellows and the Bear The Two Pots The Four Oxen and the Lion The Fisher and the Little Fish Avaricious and Envious The Crow and the Pitcher The Man and the Satyr The Goose With the Golden Eggs The Labourer and the Nightingale The Fox, the Cock, and the Dog The Wind and the Sun Hercules and the Waggoner The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey The Miser and His Gold Fox and the Mosquitoes The Fox Without a Tail The One-Eyed Doe Belling the Cat The Hare and the Tortoise The Old Man and Death The Hare With Many Friends The Lion in Love The Bundle of Sticks The Lion, the Fox, and the Beasts The Ass’s Brains The Eagle and the Arrow The Milkmaid and Her Pail The Cat-Maiden The Horse and the Ass The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner The Buffoon and the Countryman The Old Woman and the Wine- Jar The Fox and the Goat

The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner

A Trumpeter during a battle ventured too near the enemy and was captured by them. They were about to proceed to put him to death when he begged them to hear his plea for mercy. ‘I do not fight,’ said he, ‘and indeed carry no weapon; I only blow this trumpet, and surely that cannot harm you; then why should you kill me?’

‘You may not fight yourself,’ said the others, ‘but you encourage and guide your men to the fight.’

Words may be deeds.

The Lion, the Fox, and the Beasts - Stories for Kids : Aesop's Fables
Aesop's fables generally communicate some kind of moral message, often through the depiction of animals, who speak or otherwise take on human characteristics.
The Cock and the Pearl The Wolf and the Lamb The Dog and the Shadow The Lion’s Share The Wolf and the Crane The Man and the Serpent The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse The Fox and the Crow The Sick Lion The Ass and the Lapdog The Lion and the Mouse The Swallow and the Other Birds The Frogs Desiring a King The Mountains in Labour The Hares and the Frogs The Wolf and the Kid The Woodman and the Serpent The Bald Man and the Fly The Fox and the Stork The Fox and the Mask The Jay and the Peacock The Frog and the Ox Androcles The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts The Hart and the Hunter The Serpent and the File The Man and the Wood The Dog and the Wolf The Belly and the Members The Hart in the Ox-Stall The Fox and the Grapes The Horse, Hunter, and Stag The Peacock and Juno The Fox and the Lion The Lion and the Statue The Ant and the Grasshopper The Tree and the Reed The Fox and the Cat The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing The Dog in the Manger The Man and the Wooden God The Fisher The Shepherd’s Boy The Young Thief and His Mothers The Man and His Two Wives The Nurse and the Wolf The Tortoise and the Birds The two Crabs The Ass in the Lion’s Skin The Two Fellows and the Bear The Two Pots The Four Oxen and the Lion The Fisher and the Little Fish Avaricious and Envious The Crow and the Pitcher The Man and the Satyr The Goose With the Golden Eggs The Labourer and the Nightingale The Fox, the Cock, and the Dog The Wind and the Sun Hercules and the Waggoner The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey The Miser and His Gold Fox and the Mosquitoes The Fox Without a Tail The One-Eyed Doe Belling the Cat The Hare and the Tortoise The Old Man and Death The Hare With Many Friends The Lion in Love The Bundle of Sticks The Lion, the Fox, and the Beasts The Ass’s Brains The Eagle and the Arrow The Milkmaid and Her Pail The Cat-Maiden The Horse and the Ass The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner The Buffoon and the Countryman The Old Woman and the Wine- Jar The Fox and the Goat

The Lion, the Fox, and the Beasts

The Lion once gave out that he was sick unto death and summoned the animals to come and hear his last Will and Testament. So the Goat came to the Lion’s cave, and stopped there listening for a long time. Then a Sheep went in, and before she came out a Calf came up to receive the last wishes of the Lord of the Beasts. But soon the Lion seemed to recover, and came to the mouth of his cave, and saw the Fox, who had been waiting outside for some time. ‘Why do you not come to pay your respects to me?’ said the Lion to the Fox.

‘I beg your Majesty’s pardon,’ said the Fox, ‘but I noticed the track of the animals that have already come to you; and while I see many hoof-marks going in, I see none coming out. Till the animals that have entered your cave come out again I prefer to remain in the open air.’

It is easier to get into the enemy’s toils than out again.