Of the asse and of the lyon

4.10. De asino et leone
Caxton: Of the asse and of the lyon
The grete callers by theyr hyghe and lowd crye supposen to make folke aferd / as recyteth this fable / Of an asse whiche somtyme mette with a lyon / to the whiche the asse sayd / lete vs clymme vpon the montayne / and I shalle shewe to the / how the beestes ben aferd of me / and the lyon beganne to smyle / and he ansuerd to the asse / Goo we my broder / And whan they were vpon the top of the hylle / the asse byganne to crye / And the foxe and hares beganne to flee / And whanne thasse sawe them flee sayd to the lyon / Seest thou not how these beestes dreden and doubten me / and the lyon sayde / I had ben also ferdfull of thy voys / yf I had not knowen veryly that thow arte but an asse /
And therfore men nede not doubte ne drede hym that auaunceth hym self for to do that that he can not doo / For god kepe the mone fro the wulues / Ne also men nede not doubte a foole for his menaces / ne for his hyghe crye
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The Ass and the Lion Hunting

072. THE ASS AND THE LION HUNTING. The lion took a fancy to hunt in company with the ass; and to make him the more useful, gave him instructions to hide himself in a thicket, and then to bray in the most frightful manner that he could possibly contrive. “By this means,” says he, “you will rouse all the beasts within the hearing of you; while I stand at the outlets, and take them as they are making off.”
This was done; and the stratagem took effect accordingly. The ass brayed most hideously; and the timorous beasts, not knowing what to make of it, began to scour off as fast as they could, when the lion, who was posted at a proper avenue, seized and devoured them as he pleased.
Having got his belly full, he called out to the ass, and bid him leave off, telling him he had done enough. Upon this, the lop-eared brute came out of his ambush, and approaching the lion, asked him, with an air of conceit, how he liked his performance?
“Prodigiously?’” says he; “you did it so well, that, I protest, had I not known your nature and temper, I might have been frightened myself.” [more info]

The Ass and the Lion Hunting

1.11. THE ASS AND THE LION HUNTING. A dastard, who in his talk brags of his prowess, and is devoid of courage, imposes upon strangers, but is the jest of all who know him.
A Lion having resolved to hunt in company with an Ass, concealed him in a thicket, and at the same time enjoined him to frighten the wild beasts with his voice, to which they were unused, while he himself was to catch them as they fled. Upon this, Long-ears, with all his might, suddenly raised a cry, and terrified the beasts with this new cause of astonishment. While, in their alarm, they are flying to the well-known outlets, they are overpowered by the dread onset of the Lion; who, after he was wearied with slaughter, called forth the Ass from his retreat, and bade him cease his clamour. On this the other, in his insolence, inquired: “What think you of the assistance given by my voice?”
“Excellent!” said the Lion, “so much so, that if I had not been acquainted with your spirit and your race, I should have fled in alarm like the rest.” [more info]

The Ass and the Lion Hunting

1.11. THE ASS AND THE LION HUNTING.
A coward, full of pompous speech,
The ignorant may overreach;
But is the laughing-stock of those
Who know how far his valor goes.
Once on a time it came to pass,
The Lion hunted with the Ass,
Whom hiding in the thickest shade
He there proposed should lend him aid,
By trumpeting so strange a bray,
That all the beasts he should dismay,
And drive them o’er the desert heath
Into the lurking Lion’s teeth.
Proud of the task, the long-ear’d loon
Struck up such an outrageous tune,
That ’twas a miracle to hear—
The beasts forsake their haunts with fear,
And in the Lion’s fangs expired:
Who, being now with slaughter tired,
Call’d out the Ass, whose noise he stops.
The Ass, parading from the copse,
Cried out with most conceited scoff,
“How did my music-piece go off?”
“So well—were not thy courage known,
Their terror had been all my own!” [more info]

The Lion and the Ass Hunting

02.19: THE LION AND THE ASS HUNTING.
The king of animals, with royal grace,
Would celebrate his birthday in the chase.
'Twas not with bow and arrows,
To slay some wretched sparrows;
The lion hunts the wild boar of the wood,
The antlered deer and stags, the fat and good.
This time, the king, t' insure success,
Took for his aide-de-camp an ass,
A creature of stentorian voice,
That felt much honour'd by the choice.
The lion hid him in a proper station,
And order'd him to bray, for his vocation,
Assured that his tempestuous cry
The boldest beasts would terrify,
And cause them from their lairs to fly.
And, sooth, the horrid noise the creature made
Did strike the tenants of the wood with dread;
And, as they headlong fled,
All fell within the lion's ambuscade.
'Has not my service glorious
Made both of us victorious?'
Cried out the much-elated ass.
'Yes,' said the lion; 'bravely bray'd!
Had I not known yourself and race,
I should have been myself afraid!'
If he had dared, the donkey
Had shown himself right spunky
At this retort, though justly made;
For who could suffer boasts to pass
So ill-befitting to an ass?
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The Lion and the Ass Hunting

004. THE LION AND THE ASS HUNTING.
The king of animals, with royal grace,
Would celebrate his birthday in the chase.
'Twas not with bow and arrows,
To slay some wretched sparrows;
The lion hunts the wild boar of the wood,
The antlered deer and stags, the fat and good.
This time, the king, t' insure success,
Took for his aide-de-camp an ass,
A creature of stentorian voice,
That felt much honour'd by the choice.
The lion hid him in a proper station,
And order'd him to bray, for his vocation,
Assured that his tempestuous cry
The boldest beasts would terrify,
And cause them from their lairs to fly.
And, sooth, the horrid noise the creature made
Did strike the tenants of the wood with dread;
And, as they headlong fled,
All fell within the lion's ambuscade.
'Has not my service glorious
Made both of us victorious?'
Cried out the much-elated ass.
'Yes,' said the lion; 'bravely bray'd!
Had I not known yourself and race,
I should have been myself afraid!'
If he had dared, the donkey
Had shown himself right spunky
At this retort, though justly made;
For who could suffer boasts to pass
So ill-befitting to an ass?
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The Lion and the Ass

THE LION AND THE ASS. A Lion and an Ass agreed to go hunting together. In their search for game the hunters saw a number of Wild Goats run into a cave, and laid plans to catch them. The Ass was to go into the cave and drive the Goats out, while the Lion would stand at the entrance to strike them down.
The plan worked beautifully. The Ass made such a frightful din in the cave, kicking and braying with all his might, that the Goats came running out in a panic of fear, only to fall victim to the Lion.
The Ass came proudly out of the cave.
"Did you see how I made them run?" he said.
"Yes, indeed," answered the Lion, "and if I had not known you and your kind I should certainly have run, too." [more info]