The Fox and the Partridge

Once upon a time, a fox met a gray partridge at the edge of the forest and asked:

"Tell me, dear, how do you manage to sleep during the day?"

"How? Oh, it's very simple. I tuck my head under my wing and sleep peacefully. Here, look!"

And to make the fox understand better, she tucked her head under her wing. The fox's eyes lit up with excitement. She lunged at the partridge, grabbed her by the wing, and dashed away.

As she ran past the river, some washerwomen saw her and began shouting:

"Look! Look! The fox is carrying a partridge in her teeth!"

The partridge heard the women's cries and whispered to the fox:

"What nosy people! Aren't they ashamed to stick their noses into other people's business?"

"That's true," thought the fox. "What business is it of theirs?" And for a moment, she loosened her grip to scold the washerwomen properly. But before she could utter a word, the partridge broke free and flew up to an oak branch.

The fox looked up at the partridge and muttered through her teeth: "Oh! One should never chatter needlessly!" And the partridge, with a smirk, echoed:

"Indeed! And it's not wise to go to sleep at the wrong time either."

More fairy tales

• The Devil's Scythe
• Ewen Congar
• The White Wolf
• The Pilot of Boulogne
• The Tale of the Father, Mother, and Daughter