Cobwebs from an Empty Skull

A fox who dwelt in the upper chamber of an abandoned watch-tower, where he practised all manner of magic, had by means of his art subjected all other animals to his will.  One day he assembled a great multitude of them below his window, and commanded that each should appear in his presence, and all who could not teach him some important truth should be thrown off the walls and dashed to pieces.  Upon hearing this they were all stricken with grief, and began to lament their hard fate most piteously.

“How,” said they, “shall we, who are unskilled in magic, unread in philosophy, and untaught in the secrets of the stars—­who have neither wit, eloquence, nor song—­how shall we essay to teach wisdom to the wise?”

Nevertheless, they were compelled to make the attempt.  After many had failed and been dispatched, another fox arrived on the ground, and learning the condition of affairs, scampered slyly up the steps, and whispered something in the ear of the cat, who was about entering the tower.  So the latter stuck her head in at the door, and shrieked: 

“Pullets with a southern exposure ripen earliest, and have yellow legs.”

At this the magician was so delighted that he dissolved the spell and let them all go free.