The Kingdom of the Lion
獅子的王國
A lion proclaims peace among all the creatures of the forest, yet the hare, after hearing the wonderful promise, still runs for his life.
The story
Long ago, the beasts of field and forest all agreed to make the lion their king. He was not, like some fierce rulers, quick to rage, nor did he ever wish to trouble the weak without cause. He liked best to rest upon a broad stone in a sunny clearing, his golden mane catching the light, looking every bit as noble as he was calm — and many creatures hoped that quieter days were finally coming.
Soon after he took the throne, the lion sent word for every bird and beast to gather in a wide clearing in the wood. Birds settled on the branches, the deer and a little kid stood close by the grass, and the wolf, the panther, and the tiger stepped slowly out from the shade. The dog and the hare pressed in at the very back of the crowd, stretching their necks to see, waiting to hear what the new king would say.
Standing upon the stone, the lion declared in a great voice that a "universal peace" would now be kept throughout the forest: the wolf should live in friendship with the lamb, the panther should be companion to the little kid, the tiger must no longer chase the deer, and the dog must never harm the hare. The strong, he said, would lay down their claws, and the weak could live safely at their side.
The words sounded wonderful, like a spring breeze drifting over the grass. Some animals glanced at one another with hope in their eyes; others only lowered their heads, uncertain. At the very edge of the crowd stood the hare, his long ears raised high, listening to every word the lion spoke, his heart beginning to race.
At last the hare could not help but speak. "Oh," he said, "how I have longed to see this very day — when the weak may stand beside the strong without fear of harm!" His voice trembled with excitement, and his eyes shone as though he truly believed the promise.
But no sooner had he finished speaking than the hare spun around and dashed off toward the bushes as fast as his legs would carry him, vanishing into the distant thicket without so much as a backward glance.
The other animals watched the place where he had disappeared, and for a moment none of them spoke. Each of them understood, in their own heart, that a noble proclamation may sound splendid, yet true safety is never made real by words alone. Until the claws of the strong had truly been laid to rest, such a fine promise would need more time, and more proof in action, before a timid little hare could ever feel safe enough to stay.
Story takeaway
Fine promises must be proved by conduct before they can make the fearful feel safe; how secure the weak truly feel often reveals more than any grand proclamation.
Talk together
Why do you think the hare says he longs for peace, and then runs away at once?
For grown-ups
Parent note
A good story to share when talking with your child about promises and trust. The lion's proclamation is well-meant, but the hare understands that fine words alone cannot make a small, weak creature feel truly safe — real trust needs time and proof through action. It's a nice chance to talk about how we can tell whether a promise is really being kept, and to notice that the hare isn't being rude — he simply isn't ready to trust his safety to words just yet.
Words to learn
- alliance: an agreement where everyone promises to work together. e.g. The lion announced a peaceful alliance for the whole forest.
- uncertain: not fully sure whether to believe something. e.g. Some animals looked uncertain after hearing the lion's promise.
- timid: easily frightened, not quick to feel safe. e.g. The timid hare still wasn't ready to stay and see for himself.
Reading activity
Play a quick "trust it now, or wait and see" game with your child — read a few lines and decide which promises can be trusted right away, and which still need proof: "A classmate says 'we'll never fight again,' but grabs your pencil again at recess." → Wait and see — saying it doesn't mean it's already true. "A friend promises to keep your secret, and really never tells anyone." → That's a promise you can trust. "Mom and Dad say 'we'll be on time to pick you up,' and they really are." → That's keeping a promise too. Finish by wondering together: why do you think the hare says he hopes for peace, and then runs away at once?
Source information
Aesop · Project Gutenberg public-domain fables
Public-domain fables and short tales from Project Gutenberg.
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