ahseegah togh khuhrahd uhlah pohlohr ahnontz vohronk guh chahrakhosehn vohyeveh mehgoun mahseen

Once a lion became sick. All the forest animals came to visit him. Only the fox did not appear. The bear took advantage of the fox’s late arrival to bad- mouth him.

Just then the fox arrived on the threshold of the door. Hearing the bear’s maligning him, he entered the assembly. The fox bowed down in front of the lion.

The lion said to the fox.

Why are you so late, you miserable beast. Tell me why you are so late.”

The fox replied.

“Please don’t be angry, my kind soverign. I swear on your head that I have been seriously concerned about your health.
I went to the trouble of visiting many physicians in order to find the means and medicine to heal your sickness.”

“You are most welcome then, wise fox,” said the lion softening his tone. “Please tell me what is that medicine?”

“It is a very beneficial and easy to find this medicine,” replied the fox. “The expert doctors advised me that you should skin alive the furry skin of a
big bear. Then, wrap yourself in the still warm flesh of that beast so that the bearskin will imbibe the sickness and pain from your body.”

The lion ordered that the bear be seized and skinned alive. When the bear lay on the ground bleeding and writhing in pain and bellowing out frightening sounds of suffering, the fox came close to him and spoke.

“Let this be a warning and advice for you and all others who dare to bad- mouth anyone in a royal assembly.”

This is a fable by Vartan Ayhkegtzee (1142-1235).