Should he trust him to the Mole? All who speak of that animal say that it is an
extreme admirer of order and regularity; that it never takes a step till it has
examined the ground before it, and that it cleans and shells with its own paws
every grain of corn that comes to its table. In fact, the Mole has the reputation of
being very great in small affairs; but, unfortunately, it cannot see anything at a
distance. The Mole's love of order is an excellent thing for animals of its own
kind, but the Lion's kingdom is considerably more extensive than a mole-run.
Should he choose the Panther? The Panther is brave and strong, and is, besides, a
great master of military tactics; but the Panther knows nothing of politics, is
ignorant of everything that belongs to civil affairs. A king must be a judge and a
minister as well as a warrior. The Panther is good for nothing but fighting; so it,
too, is unfit to educate royal children.
To be brief, not a single beast, not even the Elephant himself, who was as much
esteemed in the forest as Plato used to be in Greece, seemed wise enough to
satisfy the Lion.
By good fortune, or the opposite—we shall find out which—another king, the
king of birds, the Eagle, an old acquaintance and friend of the Lion, heard of that
monarch's difficulty, and, wishing to do his friend a great kindness, offered to
educate the young Lion himself.
The Lion felt a great weight removed from his shoulders. What could be better
than a king as the tutor for a prince? So the Lion-cub was got ready, and sent off
to the Eagle's court, there to learn how to govern.
And now two or three years go by. Ask whom you will, meanwhile, you hear
nothing but praise of the young Lion; and all the birds scatter throughout the
forests the wonderful stories of his merits.
At last the appointed time comes, and the Lion sends for his son. The prince
arrives, and all the people are gathered together, great and small alike.
The king embraces his son before them all, and thus addresses him: "My beloved
son, you are my only heir. I am looking forward to the grave, but you are just
entering upon life. Before I make over my sceptre to you, tell me, in the presence
of this assembly, what you have been taught, and in what manner you propose to
make your people happy."