Clever fox complimenting a crow holding cheese

Master Crow, perched on a tree, Held a cheese in his beak. Master Fox, enticed by the smell, Said to him in roughly these words: “Hey! Good day, Mr. Crow, How handsome you are! How beautiful you seem to me! Truly, if your song Matches your plumage, You are the phoenix of these woods.” At these words, the crow was beside himself with joy; And to show off his beautiful voice, He opened his beak wide and dropped his prey. The fox seized it and said: “My good sir, learn that every flatterer Lives at the expense of the one who listens to him: This lesson is surely worth a cheese.” The crow, ashamed and confused, Swore, but a little too late, that he would never be caught again.