a wolf, which had begun to accustom its cub to support itself by its father's profession, sent it one day to prowl about the skirts of the wood. at the same time it ordered it to give all its attention to seeing whether it would not be possible, even at the cost of sinning a little, for them both to make their breakfast or dinner at the expense of some shepherd or other. the pupil returns home, and says:

"come along, quick! our dinner awaits us: nothing could possibly be safer. there are sheep feeding at the foot of yon hill, each one fatter than the other. we have only to choose which to carry off and eat; and the flock is so large that it would be difficult to count it over again——"

"wait a minute," says the wolf. "first of all i must know what sort of a man the shepherd of this flock is.

"it is said that he is a good one—painstaking and intelligent. but i went round the flock on all sides, and examined the dogs: they are not at all fat, and seem to be spiritless and indolent."

"this description," says the old wolf, "does not greatly attract me to the flock. for, decidedly, if the shepherd is good, he will not keep bad dogs about him. one might very soon get into trouble there. but come with me: i will take you to a flock where we shall be in less danger of losing our skins. over that flock it is true that a great many dogs watch; but the shepherd is himself a fool. and where the shepherd is a fool there the dogs too are of little worth."