The Old Horse

A peasant had a faithful old horse, but winter was harsh and he could not give him anything to eat and to the horse he said, “I can no more feed thee, but still mean well by thee; if thou art strong enough in the spring, I will maintain thee, but now take thyself away out of my stable,” and with that he chased him into the open country.

The horse was sad, and headed to the forest to seek a little protection from the weather, but at seventy-four years of age, he could not make it to safety, and in the middle of a field he fell to the ground and lay on the spot. He thought, firstly, that his master should permit him to live, even if it be a harsh winter. And, second, that when spring comes he should take him an offering, and whatsoever it is would let him stay until he passes of old age, peacefully.

A hare, then, saw the horse and thought to himself, “That old horse dying is not fair,” and cried, “You must get up and run again to your master, or let the lion have you.” And once more he went off like the wind in a storm, so that he seemed to fly. But the horse stayed quietly in his place.

Now a fox saw the old horse and approached him. He said: “In order that the lion does not get you, keep quiet.” And he tied the horses legs together with twine, and twisted and fastened it so well that no strength could break it. When he finished his work, he sprang up, drew him over his shoulder, and began to drag him to the forest.

Then the lion began to roar so that all the birds in the forest flew out in terror, but the horse kept quiet. The lion approached the fox, and when they were both looking towards the tied horse the fox said, “After all, it is not very comfortable for a fox to pull a white horse so large.

Here I tell thee that I will fasten it to thee by the tail, and thou canst drag it into thy cave, and devour it in peace.”

This advice pleased the lion; he lay down, and in order that the fox might tie the horse fast to him, he kept quite quiet. And he tied the lions legs together with the horse’s tale through the twine, so that no one could break it.

Now a hedgehog caught sight of the fox struggling to drag the lion and horse by the tail into the forest, and he bade him a friendly good evening. But the fox, who was in his own way a devious gentlemen, did not return the hedgehog’s greeting, but said to him, “How do you happen to be in the field so late in the evening?” - “I am taking a walk,” said the hedgehog. “A walk!” Said the fox, with a smile. “It seems to me that you might use your legs for a better purpose.” The Hedgehog looked at the fox and said “You seem to imagine that I can do more with my legs than yours!” - “that is just what I do think,” said the fox. “That can be put to the test, a team of four hedgehogs could carry these, those with legs as short as yours!”

But the horse said, “that, my dear, seems to be false, but It is really true for me. In my old age my master didn’t give me a chance, and sent me a great distance, but I used always to carry wagons, fillings, and more, and occasionally even wager golden troughs in fancy leg races. In a half-an-hour I will be back to my strength, and if thee unfasten me I will bring this lion myself back to my master and he will give me peace come spring, and I will help thee until then.” This pleased the fox; who unfastened the horse, and said, “Pull, white horse, pull through the forest and into thy new cave.” Then sprang up the horse, and he drew the lion away with him as the night fell.

There the horse lived safely until spring, when he dragged the lion over the country to his master’s door. When the master saw the lion, he was of a better mind, and said to the horse, “Thou shalt stay with me and fare well,“ and gave him plenty to eat until he died.