A Hare one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the Tortoise, who
replied, laughing: “Though you be swift as the wind, I will beat you in a
race.” The Hare, believing her assertion to be simply impossible, assented
to the proposal; and they agreed that the Fox should choose the course and
fix the goal. On the day appointed for the race the two started together. The
Tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady
pace straight to the end of the course. The Hare, lying down by the
wayside, fell fast asleep. At last waking up, and moving as fast as he could,
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he saw the Tortoise had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after
her fatigue.
