the throat and runs toward the forest The hens cry loudly and the widow her daughters and all the farm animals chase after them The peaceful farm becomes full of noise and fear Chauntecleer s Clever Plan As the fox runs away with him Chauntecleer quickly thinks of a plan He speaks to Sir Russell in a calm voice He says that the people are shouting in his honour The fox becomes proud to hear it Chauntecleer tells him to turn and tell them not to shout until he speaks to them The foolish fox opens his mouth to answer He forgets that he is holding the cock The Escape and Moral Lesson When the fox opens his mouth Chauntecleer jumps out and flies up into a tree The fox tries again to trick him with soft words but the wise cock says he will never trust a flatterer again At last the fox learns that pride and talk bring danger The story ends with laughter and the moral that one should beware of flattery Thus Chauntecleer escapes death by his own wisdom Chaucer shows that quick thinking and calm speech can defeat even the cleverest enemy The tale teaches a simple truth never trust sweet words from a cunning tongue