The Hunter and the Tiger

7.13. De tigride et venatore
Caxton: Of the hunter and of the tygre
Werse is the stroke of a tonge / than the stroke of a spere as hit appiereth by this fable / Of a hunter / whiche with his arowes hurted the wyld beestes / in suche wyse that none scaped for hym / to the whiche bestes a tygre fyers and hardy sayd in this manere / Be not aferd / For I shalle kepe yow wel / And as the Tygre came in to the wode / the hunter was hyd within a busshe / the whiche whan he sawe passe the tygre before the busshe / he shote at hym an arowe / and hytte hym on the thye / wherfore the tygre was gretely abasshed And wepynge and sore syghynge sayd to the other beestes / I wote not from whens this cometh to me / And whanne the foxe sawe hym soo gretely abasshed / al lawhynge sayd to hym / Ha a tygre / thow arte so myghty and so stronge / And thenne the tygre sayd to hym / My strengthe auaylled me not at that tyme / For none may kepe hym self fro treason And therfore some secrete is here / whiche I knewe not before But not notwithstandynge this I maye wel conceyue / that there is no wors arowe / ne that letteth more the man / than tharowe whiche is shotte fro the euyll tongue / For whanne som persone profereth or sayth som wordes in a felauship / of somman of honest & good lyf / alle the felauship supposeth that that whiche this euylle tongue hath sayd be trewe / be hit trewe or not / how be it that it be but lesynge / but notwithstondynge the good man shalle euer be wounded of that same arowe / whiche wound shalle be Incurable / And yf hit / were a stroke of a spere / hit myght be by the Cyrurgyen heled / but the stroke of an euylle tongue may not be heled / by cause that Incontynent as the word is profered or sayd / he that hath sayd hit / is no more mayster of hit /
And for this cause the stroke of a tongue is Incurable and withoute guaryson
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The Tiger and the Fox

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

The Fox and the Tiger

051. THE FOX AND THE TIGER. A skilful archer coming into the woods, directed his arrows so sucessfully, that he slew many wild beasts, and pursued several others. This put the whole savage kind into a fearful consternation, and made them fly to the most retired thickets for refuge. At last the tiger resumed a courage, and bidding them not be afraid, said, that he alone would engage the enemy, telling them they might depend upon his valour and strength to revenge their wrongs.
In the midst of these threats, while he was lashing himself with his tail, and tearing up the ground for anger, an arrow pierced his ribs, and hung by its barbed point in his side. He set up a hideous and loud roar, occasioned by the anguish which he felt, and endeavoured to draw out the painful dart with his teeth; when the fox, approaching him, inquired with an air of surprise, who it was that could have strength and courage enough to wound so mighty and valorous a beast!
“Ah!” says the tiger, “I was mistaken in my reckoning; it was that invincible man yonder.” [more info]

The Fox and the Tiger

031. THE FOX AND THE TIGER. A skilful archer coming into the woods, directed his arrows so sucessfully, that he slew many wild beasts, and pursued several others. This put the whole savage kind into a fearful consternation, and made them fly to the most retired thickets for refuge. At last the tiger resumed a courage, and bidding them not be afraid, said, that he alone would engage the enemy, telling them they might depend upon his valour and strength to revenge their wrongs.
In the midst of these threats, while he was lashing himself with his tail, and tearing up the ground for anger, an arrow pierced his ribs, and hung by its barbed point in his side. He set up a hideous and loud roar, occasioned by the anguish which he felt, and endeavoured to draw out the painful dart with his teeth; when the fox, approaching him, inquired with an air of surprise, who it was that could have strength and courage enough to wound so mighty and valorous a beast!
“Ah!” says the tiger, “I was mistaken in my reckoning; it was that invincible man yonder.” [more info]

The Bowman and Lion

176. THE BOWMAN AND LION. A VERY SKILLFUL BOWMAN went to the mountains in search of game, but all the beasts of the forest fled at his approach. The Lion alone challenged him to combat. The Bowman immediately shot out an arrow and said to the Lion: “I send thee my messenger, that from him thou mayest learn what I myself shall be when I assail thee.” The wounded Lion rushed away in great fear, and when a Fox who had seen it all happen told him to be of good courage and not to back off at the first attack he replied: “You counsel me in vain; for if he sends so fearful a messenger, how shall I abide the attack of the man himself?”
Be on guard against men who can strike from a distance. [more info]

The Fox and the Tiger

19. THE FOX AND THE TIGER
One day in the woods an archer most skillful
Shot without fail at the tame and the willful,
So that all the beasts in very great dismay
Fled with much haste, when again he came their way.
The tiger, however, told them not to fear,
For all harm he did, the archer would pay dear.
"Never be afraid of a hunter like that;
Why, I will fight with him in single combat!"
Scarce had he spoke when an arrow struck his ribs,
Which made poor tiger look as if he told fibs.
Then the fox asked him, looking at him slyly:
"Don't you think that archer a bit too wily?"
"Oh," replied the tiger, writhing with great pain,
"That I was mistaken now seems much more plain."
Don't boast of your power all fights to settle,
'Till you have tested your enemy's mettle.
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