449- The Wise Monkey

Sam noticed that his son is nosy and interferes in many people’s lives. He told him carefully, “Love everyone but don’t interfere in his or her business unless they ask of you and to a limit. This way you’ll be loved, respected and you’ll save yourself from many afflictions.”

Sam told his son the story of the wise monkey:

A lion caught a certain disease, which rendered him very weak, and a nasty smell came out of his mouth. He could hardly walk in the desert to find a prey. When he saw a donkey, he asked him, “Dear donkey, I feel very tired and wish to ask you, does my breath smell bad?”

The stupid donkey answered, “Yes it is unbearable,” thinking he ought to say the truth no matter what the price is. At this moment, the lion roared and attacked the donkey while saying, “How do you dare ignorant animal to disrespect the king of lions?” Then, he devoured him.

Two days later, the lion passed by a bear that had heard what had happened with the donkey. As soon as the lion asked him, he feared the lion and said, “My lord king of the forest, and master of all the animals, I am smelling from your mouth a sweet aroma I have never smelled before,” Thinking that he answered wisely. The lion roared and said, ” O deceitful bear, you’re a hypocrite. How do you say this when I can smell the terrible smell coming out of my mouth? How do you dare to deceive the king of the forest?” He attacked and ate him also.

A few days later, the lion passed by a monkey. As he saw him the monkey fled and climbed a tree. Since the lion was hungry, he begged him to come down and smell his breath. The monkey having heard what the lion had done with the donkey and the bear said to the lion, “My master the king of beasts, I wish I could serve you and fulfill your request, but I apologize for I am suffering from a flu and cannot smell anything at all because of my illness.”

The monkey was saved from the teeth of the lion only because he did not wish to venture into what does not concern him.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: القرد الحكيم.

May I serve all people.

May I be a slave to all.

But grant me not to interfere in their lives,

Or be obsessed with what is of no concern to me.

The Fox and the Gluttonous Wolf

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

A Battle between a Cat and a Dog