第32章 The Fox and the Goat 狐狸和山羊

A FOX one day fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape. A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good. Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the Fox indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the Fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape."If, " said he, "you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards." The Goat readily assented and the Fox leaped upon his back. Steadying himself with the Goat's horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could. When the Goat upbraided him for breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out, "You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape."

Look before you leap.

一天，狐狸不小心掉进了一口很深的井里，想尽了办法也爬不出去，他只好待在那里。一只口渴的山羊来到了井边，看见了井里的狐狸，就向他询问井里的水是否好喝。狐狸暗自庆幸自己的好运气，就对山羊说：“这里井水的味道真是好极了！”并建议山羊到井下喝水。

一心想解渴的山羊毫不犹豫地就跳了下去。山羊喝足了水，才意识到自己所处的困境，只好和狐狸一起商量出去的办法。这时候，狡猾的狐狸说出了他早已盘算好的主意：“首先，你用前肢顶住墙壁，并且低下头，我踩着你的背往上跳，我出去之后再把你拉上去。”山羊一听开心极了，非常愉快地接受了狐狸的建议。狐狸跳上山羊的后背，撑住犄角，用力一跳就出了井口。他一摆脱困境，拔腿就跑。这时，山羊才明白自己上当了，开始痛骂狐狸背信弃义，而狐狸转过身来说道：“愚蠢的老伙计！如果你脑袋里的智慧可以和你下巴上的胡子一样多，那么你跳下井之前就应该想好该如何爬上来。”

三思而后行。