Krilof and His Fables/The Feast

Once, during a year of dearth, the Lion prepared a rich feast as a means of general consolation. Cou­riers and heralds were sent out to invite the guests—the animals both small and great.

From all sides they crowd together on the invitation to the Lion's abode. How could such an invitation possibly be refused? A feast is a good thing even at a time which is not one of dearth.

Well, there came among others a Marmot, a Fox, and a Mole; only they came an hour after the proper time, and found that the guests were already at table. The Fox, un­luckily, had had its hands full of business; the Marmot had lost a great deal of time in getting up and washing itself, and the Mole had lost its way. However, none of them were inclined to go home empty, so, spying a vacant place near the Lion, all three tried to make their way to it.

"Hark ye, brothers!" said the Panther to them; "there is plenty of room there, only it isn't intended for you. The Elephant is coming there, and he will turn you out; or, worse still, will squeeze you to death. So if you don't want to go away hungry, you will stop there on the threshold. ​You will get your fill, and that's a thing to thank God for! The places in front are not for the like of you. They're kept for animals of a large size only; but those of the little ones who don't like to eat standing, had better keep their seats at home."

[This fable was not printed till 1869, when it appeared for the first time in a collection of essays, etc., about Krilof, published at St. Petersburg by the Imperial Academy of Sciences. Appended to the MS. was the following note, by a daughter of Krilof's friend and patron, Olenine.—"At the time when this fable was written by Krilof, the censors would not allow it to be printed."]