Also，there be implanted in my breast a store of love to thee，which biddeth me speak thee fair and obligeth me to solicit thy brothership.What sayest thou in reply？' Answered the crow，'Verily，the truest speech is the best speech；and haply thou speakest with thy tongue that which is not in thy heart；so I fear lest thy brotherhood be only of the tongue，outward，and thy enmity be in the heart，inward；for that thou art the Eater and I the Eaten，and faring apart were apter to us than friendship and fellowship.What，then，maketh thee seek that which thou mayst not gain and desire what may not be done，seeing that I be of the birdkind and thou be of the beastkind？Verily，this thy proffered brotherhood[168] may not be made，neither were it seemly to make it.' Rejoined the fox，'Of a truth whoso knoweth the abidingplace of excellent things，maketh better choice in what he chooseth therefrom，so perchance he may advantage his brethren；and indeed I should love to wone near thee and I have sued for thine intimacy，to the end that we may help each other to our several objects；and success shall surely wait upon our amity.I have a many tales of the goodliness of true friendship，which I will relate to thee if thou wish the relating.' Answered the crow，'Thou hast my leave to let me hear thy communication；so tell thy tale，and relate it to me that I may hearken to it and weigh it and judge of thine intent thereby.' Rejoined the fox，'Hear then，O my friend，that which is told of a flea and a mouse and which beareth out what I have said to thee.' Asked the crow，'How so？'and the fox answered：They tell this tale of The Flea and the Mouse Once upon a time a mouse dwelt in the house of a merchant who owned much merchandise and great stories of monies.One night，a flea took shelter in the merchant's carpetbed and，finding his body soft，and being thirsty drank of his blood.The merchant was awakened by the smart of the bite and sitting up called to his slavegirls and serving men.So they hastened to him and，tucking up their sleeves，fell to searching for the flea；but as soon as the bloodsucker was aware of the search，he turned to flee and coming on the mouse's home，entered it.When the mouse saw him，she said to him，'What bringeth thee in to me，thou who art not of my nature nor of my kind，and who canst not be assured of safety from violence or of not being expelled with roughness and ill usage？' Answered the flea，'Of a truth，I took refuge in thy dwelling to save me from slaughter；and I have come to thee seeking thy protection and on nowise coveting thy house；nor shall any mischief betide thee from me to make thee leave thy home.Nay I hope right soon to repay thy favours to me with all good and then shalt thou see and praise the issue of my words.'
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