A bear and a fox are traveling together through a forest. The bear is carrying a load on his back. As they walk, the fox suggests that the bear should take a shortcut through a nearby thicket to save time. The bear agrees and follows the fox into the thicket. However, as soon as they enter, the fox turns around and runs away, leaving the bear trapped in the thorns. The bear tries to free himself but is unable to do so. He calls out for help, but his cries are ignored by the other animals in the forest. Eventually, a group of hunters comes through the forest and sees the bear stuck in the thicket. They shoot him with arrows and kill him. The fox returns to the scene and finds the bear dead. He is surprised that he was not punished for his actions and realizes that he has escaped punishment due to circumstance rather than any inherent justice. This fable highlights the idea that sometimes, people may escape punishment for their wrongdoings simply because of chance or circumstance, rather than any inherent fairness or justice.
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Fantasy