The Ox's Friendship: Lessons in Loyalty and Deceit

In the land of Desteba, there lived a kind old man with three sons who loved to spend their father's money on unnecessary things. One day, the old man had had enough and scolded his sons, teaching them the importance of hard work and responsibility. The eldest son set out on a journey with his oxen, Shetrebe and Bendebe. Along the way, Shetrebe got stuck in the mud, and the sons had to leave him behind. Shetrebe eventually found his way to a lush area where he caught the attention of a lion. The lion, who had never seen an ox before, was frightened by Shetrebe's loud bellowing. Two jackals, Kelile and Dimne, saw an opportunity to impress the lion and gain favor with him. Dimne, the more cunning of the two, befriended the lion and promised to bring Shetrebe to him. As the lion and Shetrebe became friends, Dimne grew jealous and plotted to turn the lion against the ox. His deceitful tales led to the lion distrusting Shetrebe and ultimately killing him in a moment of anger.

When the tiger overheard Dimne and Kelile discussing their schemes, he reported them to the lion. Dimne was eventually found guilty and executed for his treachery. The tale ends with a reflection on the consequences of deceit and betrayal, teaching a valuable lesson about the importance of friendship and the dangers of jealousy. The moral of the story is to always be truthful and loyal to your friends, and to never let jealousy or deceit lead to harm. The old man's sons learned this lesson the hard way, but they eventually became responsible and loyal individuals, earning their father's pride and respect.