The Fox and the Goat 掉在井里的狐狸和公山羊
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.
一只狐狸失足掉到了井里，不论他如何挣扎仍没法爬上去，只好呆在那里。公山羊觉得 口渴极了，来到这井边，看见狐狸在井下，便问他井水好不好喝？狐狸觉得机会来了，心中 暗喜，马上镇静下来，极力赞美井水好喝，说这水是天下第一泉，清甜爽口，并劝山羊赶快 下来，与他痛饮。一心只想喝水信以为真的山羊，便不假思索地跳了下去，当他咕咚咕咚痛 饮完后，就不得不与狐狸一起共商上井的办法。狐狸早有准备，他狡猾地说：“我倒有一个 方法。你用前脚扒在井墙上，再把角竖直了，我从你后背跳上井去，再拉你上来，我们就都 得救了。”公山羊同意了他的提议，狐狸踩着他的后脚，跳到他背上，然后再从角上用力一 跳，跳出了井口。狐狸上去以后，准备独自逃离。公山羊指责狐狸不信守诺言。狐狸回过头 对公山羊说：“喂，朋友，你的头脑如果像你的胡须那样完美，你就不至于在没看清出口之 前就盲目地跳下去。”
这故事说明，聪明的人应当事先考虑清楚事情的结果，然后才去做。
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