A lion had come to the end of his days and lay sick unto deathat the mouth of his cave, gasping1 for breath. The animals, hissubjects, came round him and drew nearer as he grew more and morehelpless. When they saw him on the point of death they thought tothemselves: "Now is the time to pay off old grudges2." So the boarcame up and drove at him with his tusks3; then a bull gored4 himwith his horns; still the lion lay helpless before them: so theass, feeling quite safe from danger, came up, and turning his tailto the lion kicked up his heels into his face. "This is a doubledeath," Growled5 the lion. 
Only cowards insult dying majesty6. 