狐假虎威(A Tiger in Tow)
a tiger was looking for food in a large forest when a fox ran by. the tiger sprang forward and caught it.
the fox was frightened, but it had an idea in a blink. "you dare not eat me." it said.
"why?" the tiger asked.
"i was sent by god to rule all the animals. if you eat me, you're disobeying the god's order. then you're not a good animal."
the tiger was silent, thinking whether it was true that the fox had been sent the god. seeing the tiger still in doubt, the fox said seriously, " if you don't think what i said is not true, i can take you to see all the animals. i'll walk in front and you follow me. let's see if all of them are afraid of me."
so the fox led the tiger into the forest. it was true that all the animals, such as deer, sheep, rabbits and so on, ran away as soon as they saw them.
thus the fox borrowed the tiger's terror and showed its authority before the animals. but tiger did not know that all the animals ran away only because they were afraid of itself.
the story tells us that there is always someone who tries to swagger about in borrowed plumes.