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. Concealing1 his sad plight2 under a merry guise3, the Fox indulged in a lavish4 praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend5. 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 assented6 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 upbraided7 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.
1 concealing | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 plight | |
n.困境,境况,誓约,艰难;vt.宣誓,保证,约定 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 guise | |
n.外表,伪装的姿态 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 lavish | |
adj.无节制的;浪费的;vt.慷慨地给予,挥霍 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 descend | |
vt./vi.传下来,下来,下降 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 assented | |
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 upbraided | |
v.责备,申斥,谴责( upbraid的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |