Maidin bhreá shamhraidh thárla go raibh madadh rua ag siúl go ciúin agus go haclaí, i gcóngar do chró na gcearc. Is réidh a thógadh sé na cosa agus is réidhe ná sin a ligeadh sé faoi iad. Dá fheabhas aire a thug sé dhóibh níorbh fhada gur chuir sé cos acu san innill a cuireadh san áit d'aon ghnó chun beirthe air.
Bhí an coileach ina sheasamh in airde ar an gcró. Chonaic sé cad é a thit amach agus an crua-chás ina raibh an madadh ruadh.
"Ó! a choiligh an chroí istigh!" arsa an madadh rua, "tar agus bog díom an rud so nó is gearr go mbéidh mé gan chos. Tá ioscaid ghaoíl agam leat. Tar agus uasgail mé. Díolfaidh mé an cómhar leatuair éigin."
Ní dhearna an coileach ach imeacht láithreach agusan scéal a dh'ínsint d'fhear an tighe. Tháinig seisean agus cleith aige agus do mhairbh sé an madadh rua.
Béarla
The Cock and the Fox
A Fox was caught in a trap one fine morning, because he had got too near the Farmer’s hen house. No doubt he was hungry, but that was not an excuse for stealing. A Cock, rising early, discovered what had happened. He knew the Fox could not get at him, so he went a little closer to get a good look at his enemy.
The Fox saw a slender chance of escape.
“Dear friend,” he said, “I was just on my way to visit a sick relative, when I stumbled into this string and got all tangled up. But please do not tell anybody about it. I dislike causing sorrow to anybody, and I am sure I can soon gnaw this string to pieces.”
But the Cock was not to be so easily fooled. He soon roused the whole hen yard, and when the Farmer came running out, that was the end of Mr. Fox.
Lesson
An Teagasc
Truagh don choirpeach! Mo thruagh-sa an té a bhfuil sin aige. Díolfaidh sé as an uair is lú a bheidh coinne aige.
Teagasc
It is foolish to pity a criminal or doer of bad deeds.