Fable. Ivan Krylov. The Wolf and the Crane.
A Fable. Ivan Andreevich Krylov. The Wolf and the Crane. Everyone knows that wolves are greedy: The Wolf, when eating, never discriminates against bones. But misfortune befell one of them:
He nearly choked on a bone.
But the Wolf could neither groan nor breathe;
He could at least stretch out his legs!
Luckily, the Crane happened to be nearby.
So, the Wolf began to beckon him with signs,
And asked for relief from his misfortune.
The Crane thrust his nose up to the Wolf's neck
Into his mouth and, with great difficulty,
pulled out the bone and began to ask for payment for his troubles.
"Are you joking!" the wily beast cried:
"For your troubles? Ah, you ungrateful one!
And it doesn't matter that you carried away your long nose
And your stupid head intact from the throat!" Go ahead, my friend, get out of here,
And be careful: don't let me run into you again."