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.”
ある日、キツネが深い井戸に落ちて、どうしても抜け出す方法が見つからなかった。のどがかわいてたまらなくなったヤギが同じ井戸にやって来て、キツネを見つけると、水はおいしいかとたずねた。キツネは自分のみじめなありさまを陽気なふりをしてかくし、水をほめちぎった。この上なくおいしい水だと言って、ヤギに下りてくるようすすめたのだ。ヤギはのどのかわきのことしか頭になかったので、よく考えもせずに飛び下りた。ところがヤギが水を飲んだとたん、キツネは、ふたりとも困った立場にあることを打ち明け、いっしょに抜け出す計画をもちかけた。「もしきみが」とキツネは言った。「前足を壁にかけて頭を下げてくれたら、ぼくがきみの背中をかけ上がって外に出る。そのあとで、きみを助け出してあげるよ」。ヤギはすぐに承知し、キツネはヤギの背中に飛び乗った。キツネはヤギの角で体をささえ、無事に井戸の口にたどり着くと、一目散に逃げていった。ヤギが約束を破ったと責めると、キツネはふり返って叫んだ。「このまぬけなおやじめ！あごひげの毛ほどの脳みそが頭にあったなら、上がる道を確かめもしないで下りたりはしなかったろうし、逃げ出す手立てもない危険に身をさらしたりもしなかったろうよ」
Look before you leap.
跳ぶ前によく見よ。