Giraffe Valentine

The Fox and the Goat.

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 ifthe water was good. The Fox, concealing his sad plight under a merryguise, indulged in lavish praise of the water, saying it was beyondmeasure excellent, and encouraged him to descend. The Goat, mindful onlyof his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, when, just as he quenched histhirst, the Fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in, andsuggested a scheme for their common escape. "If," said he, "you willplace your fore-feet upon the wall, and bend your head, I will run upyour back and escape, and will help you out." On the Goat readilyassenting to this proposal, the Fox leaped upon his back, and steadyinghimself with the goat's horns reached in safety the mouth of the well,and immediately made off as fast as he could. The Goat upbraided himwith the breach of his bargain, when he turned round and cried out:"You foolish fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you havehairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you hadinspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from whichyou had determined upon no means of escape."

Look before you leap.

From Aesop's Fables