THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE LION
There was a timid old man who had an only child, a son, who was generally high-spirited
and who wanted to go hunting. In a dream the father saw his son lying dead,
killed by a lion. Afraid that this might really happen and that the dream might
actually come true, he built a house for the men of the family, and it was an
extremely beautiful house, with high ceilings and sturdy walls and full of sunlight.
He then enclosed his son inside this house, locked away under guard. To keep
his son from becoming sad, he had the walls decorated with pictures of various
animals, and among all these animals there was a painted lion. Staring at the
lion, the boy felt even more sad, and he eventually approached the lion and
said, 'O you wicked animal, because you showed that lying dream to my father's
eyes you are able to keep me prisoner here, watched by guards as if I were a
woman. But why do I attack you only with words, and not with an act of violence
as well?' The boy then dashed his hands against the lion, intending to scratch
its eyes out, but instead a sliver of wood came off and stabbed him under his
fingernail. This soon brought about a burning inflammation of the flesh, and
although the desperate father did everything he could, it was all to no avail.
The infection spread until it reached the boy's groin, and thus brought his
life to an end. The old man was unable to save his child, who had been destined
to die because of a lion who was not even alive.
You must bravely endure the things that are prepared for you, not trying
to outwit what lies ahead. You will not be able to escape that which must be. |