THE STAG, THE CROW, AND THE WOLF.
A wolf saw a plump stag, and thought, How can I feast on his flesh? Then he drew near, and said, “All hail be to thee!” and made friends with the stag. “Hey day! whom have you here?” quoth a crow that flew by. The stag told him that he was a good wolf. “Have a care!” said the crow; “trust him not.” Yet the stag took no heed of his words, but let the wolf lead him at night to feed in a field that had a crop of ripe wheat in it. Now, there was a trap in the field, and the poor stag was caught by the feet. “This is well,” thought the wolf; “for when his flesh is cut up, the bones, and what is left, will be for me.” The crow flew to the spot, but could give his friend no aid. The next day the man who set the snare came with a knife in his hand to kill the stag. “If you care for your life,” quoth the crow, “lie quite still, and seem to be dead; but when I give a caw, start up at once, and take to your heels as fast as you can.” So the stag lay down quite stiff, held his breath, and shut his eyes. When the man came up, he thought the stag was dead, and took him from the toils, and went a few steps off to fold up the net, when the crow’s voice was heard, and the stag ran off at full speed. In the mean time the wolf came up to seek for his feast, and was slain by the man.
Bad faith is like to fall back on the head of those who make use of it.