A _Fox_ and a _Goat_.
A _Fox_ and a _Goat_ went down by Consent into a Well to Drink, and when
they had Quench’d their Thirst, the _Goat_ fell to Hunting up and down
which way to get back again. Oh! says _Reynard_, Never Trouble your
Head how to get back, but leave That to Me. Do but You Raise your self
upon your Hinder Legs with your Fore-Feet Close to the Wall, and then
stretch out your Head: I can Easily Whip up to your Horns, and so out of
the Well, and Draw you after me. The _Goat_ puts himself in a Posture
immediately as he was directed, gives the _Fox_ a Lift, and so Out he
Springs; but _Reynard’s_ Bus’ness was now only to make Sport with his
Companion, instead of Helping Him. Some Hard Words the _Goat_ gave him,
but the _Fox_ puts off all with a Jest. If you had but half so much Brain
as Beard, says he, you would have bethought your self how to get up again
before you went down.
The MORAL.
_A Wise Man will Debate Every Thing_ Pro _and_ Con _before he comes to
Fix upon any Resolution. He leaves Nothing to Chance more then Needs
must. There must be No Bantering out of Season_.