The Fox And The Goat 여우와 염소

The Fox And The Goat

A FOX having fallen into a deep well, was detained a prisoner there,as he could find no means of escape. A Goat, vercome with thirst, came to the same well, and, seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good. The Fox, concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was beyond measure excellent, and encouraged him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, when just as he quenched 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 afterwards." On the Goat readily assenting to this second proposal, the Fox leapt upon his back, and steadying himself with the Goat's horns, reached in safety the mouth of the well, when he immediately made off as fast as he could. The Goat upbraided him with the breach of his bargain, when he turned round 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."

 

여우와 염소

 

여우가 우물에 빠졌는데 나올 수가 없었다.
목이 마른 염소가 우물 안을 들여다 보고
여우를 발견하자 여우에게 물맛이 좋으냐고 물었다.
여우는 난처한 표정을 감추더니 물맛이 좋다고 갖은 찬사를 늘어 넣으면서
염소에게 내려오라고 했다.
우물 안으로 가까스로 기어 내려온 염소가 물을 실컷 마신 후
여우에게 어떻게 다시 나가느냐고 물었다.

"우리가 서로 돕기만 하면 간단한 일이지."
여우가 대답했다.

"자네가 앞발로 벽을 짚고 서서 머리를 똑바로 치켜 세우면
내가 너를 타고 먼저 올라가서 너를 끌어 올리면돼."

염소는 다른 생각 없이 여우의 말대로 하기로 했다.
여우는 염소의 어깨와 머리와 뿔을 사다리처럼 밟고 우물벽을 넘어가 버렸다.
염소는 여우가 당초의 약속을 지키지 않은 것에 대해 욕을 했다.
여우가 제 갈길을 가면서 소리쳤다.
"이봐,이 친구야.뿔만 달렸지 아무 짝에도 쓸모 없는 머리로군.
우물 속으로 들어 올땐 나갈 방법도 생각해 놓았어야 하잖아."