The Cat's Judgment

In a certain forest, a partridge lived in a nest she had built for herself. One day, she went away for several days in search of food. While she was gone, a hare wandered by and decided to move into her empty nest.

When the partridge returned, she found the hare living in her home. "This is my nest," she said. "Please leave it." But the hare refused. "This is my home now," he replied. "You'll have to find somewhere else to live."

The two argued bitterly, but neither would back down. Just then, a cat happened to pass by, walking with her eyes half closed, putting on an air of deep piety and calm. She spoke gently of righteousness and fairness, saying, "I can help settle your dispute peacefully. Come to me, and I shall give you a fair judgment."

Both the partridge and the hare were impressed by the cat's apparent holiness and trustworthiness, and they agreed to let her decide. The cat said, "Come closer, please — my hearing isn't what it used to be. Step nearer so I can hear your sides of the story clearly."

Despite their mutual distrust of one another, both creatures trusted the cat's seemingly saintly demeanor and stepped closer. The instant they were within reach, the cat moved with astonishing speed, seizing them both with her claws and teeth, and devoured them one after another.

In the end, the partridge and the hare, who had been quarreling with each other, lost their lives by placing blind trust in an unfamiliar and deceitful "judge."

Moral: Placing blind faith in a stranger to settle a dispute can be extremely dangerous. It is always wiser to resolve our own conflicts together rather than relying on an unknown party.