asked the monkey , who was enjoying himself immensely . ` Why , he is the beast who has no heart . And as I am not feeling very well , and am afraid to start while the sun is so high lest I should get a sunstroke , if you like , I will come a little nearer and tell you his story . ' ` Very well , ' said the shark sulkily , ` if you wo n't come , I suppose I may as well listen to that as do nothing . ' So the monkey began . ' A washerman once lived in the great forest on the other side of the town , and he had a donkey to keep him company and to carry him wherever he wanted to go . For a time they got on very well , but by and bye the donkey grew lazy and ungrateful for her master 's kindness , and ran away several miles into the heart of the forest , where she did nothing but eat and eat and eat , till she grew so fat she could hardly move . ` One day as she was tasting quite a new kind of grass and wondering if it was as good as what she had had for dinner the day before , a hare happened to pass by . ' `` Well , that is a fat creature , '' thought she , and turned out of her path to tell the news to a lion who was a friend of hers . Now the lion had been very ill , and was not strong enough to go hunting for himself , and when the hare came and told him that a very fat donkey was to be found only a few hundred yards off , tears of disappointment and weakness filled his eyes . ' `` What is the good of telling me that ? '' he asked , in a weepy voice ; `` you know I can not even walk as far as that palm . '' ' `` Never mind , '' answered the hare briskly . `` If you ca n't go to your dinner your dinner shall come to you , '' and nodding a farewell to the lion she went back to the donkey . ' `` Good morning , '' said she , bowing politely to the donkey , who lifted her head in surprise . `` Excuse my interrupting you , but I have come on very important business . '' ' `` Indeed , '' answered the donkey , `` it is most kind of you to take the trouble . May I inquire what the business is ? '' ' `` Certainly , '' replied the hare . `` It is my friend the lion who has heard so much of your charms and good qualities that he has sent me to beg that you will give him your paw in marriage .
He regrets deeply that he is unable to make the request XXXXX person , but he has been ill and is too weak to move . '' '
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