Patent@RakutenBlog

A hound who had served his master well for years, and had run down many a quarry in his time, began to lose his strength and speed owing to age.
One day, when out hunting, his master started a powerful wild boar and set the hound at him.
The latter seized the beast by the ear, but his teeth were gone and he could not retain his hold; so the boar escaped.
His master began to scold him severely, but the hound interrupted him with these words: 'My will is as strong as ever, master, but my body is old and feeble. You ought to honour me for what I have been instead of abusing me for what I am.'