The Ass in the Lion's Skin

157. THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN An Ass having put on a Lion’s skin, roamed about, frightening all the silly animals he met with, and, seeing a Fox, he tried to alarm him also. But Reynard, having heard his voice, said, “Well, to be sure! And I should have been frightened too, if I had not heard you bray.”
They who assume a character that does not belong to them generally betray themselves by overacting it. [more info]

The Fox and the Donkey

109. THE FOX AND THE DONKEY. You will find the fable in English on this page; scroll to see if there are multiple English versions. [more info]

The Fox and the Ass

178. THE FOX AND THE ASS. An ass finding a lion's skin, disguised himself with it and ranged about the forest, putting all the beasts that saw him in bodily fear. After he had diverted himself thus for some time, he met a fox; and being desirous to frighten him too, as well as the rest, he leapt at him with some fierceness, and endeavoured to imitate the roaring of the lion.
“Your humble servant, sir,” says the fox, “if you had held your tongue, I might have taken you for a lion as the others did; but now you bray, I know who you are.” [more info]

The Ass in the Lion's Skin

06. THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN. An Ass dressed in a Lion’s skin was amusing himself ranging about and terrifying other animals, when he happened upon a Fox and endeavored to frighten her, but she by chance having heard his voice before, said, “I too should have feared you had I not been acquainted with your bray.” MORAL. Pretentious persons who, to those who do not know them, appear to be something, seldom fail to betray themselves by their own words. [more info]

The Fox and the Ass

2.32. THE FOX AND THE ASS. An Ass, finding a Lion's skin, disguised himself with it, and ranged about the forest, putting all the beasts that saw him into a bodily fear. After he had diverted himself thus for some time, he met a Fox; and being desirous to fright him too, as well as the rest, he leapt at him with some fierceness, and endeavoured to imitate the roaring of the Lion. "Your humble servant," says the Fox; "if you had held your tongue, I might have taken you for a Lion, as others did; but now you bray, I know who you are."
MORAL. The more distant any person is from the thing he affects to appear, the stronger will the ridicule be which he excites, and the greater the inconveniencies into which he runs himself. [more info]

The Ass in the Lion's Skin

252. THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN. AN ASS, having put on the Lion’s skin, roamed about in the forest and amused himself by frightening all the foolish animals he met in his wanderings. At last coming upon a Fox, he tried to frighten him also, but the Fox no sooner heard the sound of his voice than he exclaimed, “I might possibly have been frightened myself, if I had not heard your bray.” [more info]

The Donkey in the Lion's Skin

44. THE DONKEY IN THE LION'S SKIN.
Once a Donkey, wondering
How it felt to be a King,
Donned a Lion's skin he found
Left by hunters on the ground.
Thus in Regal Robe arrayed,
All the other Beasts, dismayed
When they saw him coming, fled,
Save the Fox, who laughed and said,
"You're no Lion, that I know
By your voice, my friend, for tho'
I've seen some Lions in my day,
I've yet to hear a Lion bray!" [more info]

The Ass in the Lion's Skin

49. THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN. An Ass once found a Lion's skin which the hunters had left out in the sun to dry. He put it on and went towards his native village. All fled at his approach, both men and animals, and he was a proud Ass that day. In his delight he lifted up his voice and brayed, but then everyone knew him, and his owner came up and gave him a sound cudgelling for the fright he had caused.
And shortly afterwards a Fox came up to him and said: "Ah, I knew you by your voice."
Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool. [more info]

The Ass in the Lion's Skin

180. THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN. An Ass, having put on the Lion’s skin, roamed about in the forest and amused himself by frightening all the foolish animals he met in his wanderings. At last coming upon a Fox, he tried to frighten him also, but the Fox no sooner heard the sound of his voice than he exclaimed, “I might possibly have been frightened myself, if I had not heard your bray.”
Moral. Those who assume a character generally over-act. [more info]

The Ass in the Lion's Skin

061. THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN. An Ass found a Lion's Skin, and dressed himself up in it. Then he went about frightening every one he met, for they all took him to be a lion, men and beasts alike, and took to their heels when they saw him coming. Elated by the success of his trick, he loudly brayed in triumph. The Fox heard him, and recognised him at once for the Ass he was, and said to him, "Oho, my friend, it's you, is it? I, too, should have been afraid if I hadn't heard your voice." [more info]

The Ass in the Lion's Skin

144. THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN. An Ass found a Lion's skin left in the forest by a hunter. He dressed himself in it, and amused himself by hiding in a thicket and rushing out suddenly at the animals who passed that way. All took to their heels the moment they saw him.
The Ass was so pleased to see the animals running away from him, just as if he were King Lion himself, that he could not keep from expressing his delight by a loud, harsh bray. A Fox, who ran with the rest, stopped short as soon as he heard the voice. Approaching the Ass, he said with a laugh:
"If you had kept your mouth shut you might have frightened me, too. But you gave yourself away with that silly bray."
A fool may deceive by his dress and appearance, but his words will soon show what he really is. [more info]