The Lion and the Statue

"Men are stronger than lions," said the man.

The lion laughed, and all his long teeth showed. "You? With those soft little hands?"

"We are stronger because we are cleverer," said the man, and he tapped the side of his head. "Come with me, and I will soon show you that I am right."

He led the lion into the public gardens and down a long path between the flower beds. There stood a great stone statue of Hercules. His arms bulged. He had a lion pinned to the ground, and he was tearing its jaws apart.

"There!" said the man. He stood back and folded his arms. "What do you say to that?"

The lion walked once around the statue, taking his time, and sniffed at the poor stone lion on the ground. Then he yawned, and all his long teeth showed again. "That is all very well," he said, "but it proves nothing. It was a man who made the statue."