Best of African Folklore, The [S.S. Col.] [Fairy Tales col.] by Savory Phyllis

Author:Savory, Phyllis [Savory, Phyllis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Fiction, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Folklore, Africa
ISBN: 9781432304911
Publisher: Penguin / Random House
Published: 1988-01-01T02:00:00+00:00

KING LION AND KING EAGLE

XHOSA

One day a very long time ago, a young baboon was sitting under a tall spreading tree, scratching himself and thinking of nothing in particular.

Presently he became aware of voices drifting down from the topmost branches. He was a meddlesome creature, always ready to pry into other people’s business, so he pricked up his ears and craned his neck until he caught sight of the speakers. Their conversation interested him, for they were talking about his lord, the King of Beasts.

He peered upwards and could just see a gaunt, bare-necked vulture talking to King Eagle. “Lord of all Feathered Things,” said the vulture, bending his scraggy neck in respect, “no one on earth or in the sky can compare with you. Why do you allow another to say he is a king? Oh, your Feathered Mightiness, no one should dare to challenge your right to rule all things that breathe. Yet that upstart of a lion down below roars boldly that he is king of all!”

King Eagle nodded his head in agreement. “My good Chief Councillor, no one is better fitted to rule than I for, from the heights of the sky, I can safeguard my people from any danger that threatens them. My might is in the strength of my tireless wings. Who can soar to greater heights than I, or see as far?”

“True, oh King,” replied the vulture, “whereas the foolish lion, from his humble position on the ground, can scarcely see beyond his nose. Many is the time his four-footed subjects have been killed by hunters, and never a word of warning has he been able to give them. Trouble is upon them before he is aware of it. With you, my lord, every danger is seen from where you hover in the sky, and your feathered subjects are duly warned.” The eagle preened his feathers and then asked, “Is he, in your opinion, as handsome as I am?”

“Not in all the heavens, your Magnificence!” answered the vulture, wriggling his neck in his desire to please. “He is a drab-looking creature with all that long hair around his neck. While you, oh King!, your wings shine like a royal gown with golden medals, your noble head is crowned with feathers, and the shining black upon your well-groomed body glistens like the blades of spears!”

The eagle’s eyes shone with excitement at his councillor’s praise. “How right you are!” he broke in. “Why should I stand this lion’s cheek? I will declare war upon the fellow, and make him bow before me!”

This was too much for the baboon, who burst out laughing and shouted up, “What fools you are to think that a bird could ever rule over one as mighty as our lord, King Lion. Your councillor’s little head could never contain such wisdom as that of his chief councillor, the elephant. Do you usually crack jokes like this so early in the morning?”

The baboon was well known for his bad manners, but this was too much for the two birds.

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