A Fox, having fallen into a well, could find no means of escape. A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the well, and, seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good. The Fox, concealing¹ his sad plight² under a merry guise³, indulged in lavish⁴ praise of the water, saying it was beyond measure excellent, and encouraged him to descend⁵. The Goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, when, just as he quenched⁶ his thirst, 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 fore-feet upon the wall, and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out." On the Goat readily assenting⁷ to this proposal, the Fox leaped upon his back, and steadying himself with the goat's horns reached in safety the mouth of the well, and immediately made off as fast as he could. The Goat upbraided⁸ him with the breach⁹ of his bargain, when he turned round and cried out: "You foolish 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 determined¹⁰ upon no means of escape."

Look before you leap.