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Aesop's Fables, translated by Laura Gibbs (2002)

86. THE WOLF, THE FOX AND THE GIFT
Perry 345 (Babrius 130)

A fox was standing not far from a trap, pondering every possible approach. A nearby wolf noticed the fox and approached her. He then asked the fox if he might be allowed to take the meat, and the fox replied, 'Go ahead and help yourself! You're welcome to it, seeing as you are one of my very dearest friends.' The wolf rushed up without a moment's hesitation and as he learned forward over the trap he released the trigger so that the rod sprang free, striking his snout and forehead. 'If this is the sort of gift you give you to your friends,' said the wolf, 'why would anyone ever want to be your friend?'

Note: For a similar trick played by the fox on the monkey, see Fable 24.

Source: Aesop's Fables. A new translation by Laura Gibbs. Oxford University Press (World's Classics): Oxford, 2002.
NOTE: New cover, with new ISBN, published in 2008; contents of book unchanged.