Ugly and the Broken Promise

A merchant once crossed the forest with many camels. One camel, named Ugly because of his uneven knees, grew tired beneath an overloaded pack. When he could walk no farther, the impatient merchant left him behind. Ugly rested, ate fresh grass and slowly became strong again.

Haughty, the lion king, found him beside a stream. ‘You are safe in my forest,’ the lion promised. ‘No one in my court will harm you.’ Ugly believed him and joined the lion’s companions: a leopard, a crow and a jackal. For a time, the strange group lived peacefully.

Then Haughty hurt his paw while driving away a wild elephant. He could not hunt, and the court grew hungry. The jackal whispered, ‘The camel is not one of us. Let us persuade him to offer his food stores—and perhaps himself—to the king.’ The lion frowned. ‘I promised him safety.’ Yet the advisers kept repeating their plan until his resolve weakened.

Before Ugly, each adviser made a grand show. ‘Let the king take my share,’ cried the crow. Haughty refused because it was tiny. The jackal and leopard made similar offers, certain the lion would reject them. Ugly thought this must be the proper way to show loyalty.

‘Then take what I have,’ Ugly began. But as the advisers crept closer, he saw their hungry eyes and understood. Their offers had been empty; his would not be. Ugly bounded away across the meadow. Haughty watched the frightened camel and suddenly remembered the promise that had earned Ugly’s trust.

‘Stop!’ roared the lion. He ordered the advisers back and let Ugly leave safely. Haughty was ashamed that flattering voices had almost made him break his word. Ugly later joined another caravan where loads were shared fairly. He remained generous, but never again copied a promise without understanding it.

__Moral: __Do not imitate promises you do not understand, and never let clever advisers turn you against your word.