
The Fatal Marriage.The Lion, touched with gratitude by the noble procedure of a Mouse, andresolving not to be outdone in generosity by any wild beast whatsoever,desired his little deliverer to name his own terms, for that he mightdepend upon his complying with any proposal he should make. The Mouse,fired with ambition at this gracious offer, did not so much considerwhat was proper for him to ask, as what was in the powers of his princeto grant; and so demanded his princely daughter, the young lioness, inmarriage. The Lion consented; but, when he would have given the royalvirgin into his possession, she, like a giddy thing as she was, notminding how she walked, by chance set her paw upon her spouse, who wascoming to meet her, and crushed him to pieces. Beware of unequal matches. Alliances prompted by ambition often provefatal. From Aesop's Fables |