The Wolf and the Fox in the Well
A free C1-level English story for language learners, readable online in 7 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Trapped at the bottom of a well, a starving fox must talk his way back to the surface — and a thirsty wolf wandering by looks like just the fool for the job.
Why does Aesop give to the fox the reputation of excelling in all tricks of cunning? I have sought for a reason, but cannot find one. Does not the wolf, when he has need to defend his life or take that of another, display as much knowingness as the fox? I believe he knows more, and I dare, perhaps with some reason, to contradict my master in this particular.
¿Por qué le da Esopo al zorro la fama de sobresalir en todas las artimañas del ingenio? He buscado una razón, pero no la encuentro. ¿Acaso el lobo, cuando necesita defender su vida o quitarle la vida a otro, no muestra tanta astucia como el zorro? Creo que sabe incluso más, y me atrevo, quizá con algo de razón, a contradecir a mi maestro en este punto particular.
Nevertheless, here is a case where undoubtedly all the honour fell to the dweller in burrows.
Sin embargo, he aquí un caso en que, sin duda, todo el honor recayó en el morador de las madrigueras.
One evening a fox, who was as hungry as a dog, happened to see the round reflection of the moon in a well, and he believed it to be a fine cheese. There were two pails which alternately drew up the water. Into the uppermost of these the fox leapt, and his weight caused him to descend the well, where he at once discovered his mistake about the cheese. He became extremely worried and fancied his end approaching, for he could see no way to get up again but by some other hungry one, enticed by the same reflection, coming down in the same way that he had.
Una noche, un zorro que tenía tanta hambre como un perro, vio por casualidad el reflejo redondo de la luna en un pozo, y creyó que era un hermoso queso. Había dos cubos que subían el agua alternativamente. El zorro saltó dentro del cubo superior, y su peso lo hizo descender al pozo, donde de inmediato descubrió su error acerca del queso. Se llenó de gran preocupación e imaginó que se acercaba su fin, pues no veía manera de volver a subir sino que algún otro hambriento, atraído por el mismo reflejo, bajara del mismo modo que él había bajado.
Two days passed without any one coming to the well. Time, which is always marching onward, had, during two nights, hollowed the outline of the silvery planet, and Reynard was in despair.
Pasaron dos días sin que nadie se acercara al pozo. El tiempo, que siempre avanza, había, durante dos noches, ido menguando el contorno del astro plateado, y Reinardo se hallaba desesperado.
At last a wolf, parched with thirst, drew near, to whom the fox called from below, "Comrade, here is a treat for you! Do you see this? It is an exquisite cheese, made by Faunus from milk of the heifer Io. If Jupiter were ill and lost his appetite he would find it again by one taste of this. I have only eaten this piece out of it; the rest will be plenty for you. Come down in the pail up there. I put it there on purpose for you."
Por fin se acercó un lobo, sediento, al que el zorro llamó desde abajo: "¡Camarada, aquí hay un manjar para ti! ¿Ves esto? Es un queso exquisito, hecho por Fauno con leche de la ternera Ío. Si Júpiter estuviera enfermo y hubiera perdido el apetito, lo recobraría con solo probar un bocado de este. Yo solo he comido este trozo; el resto te bastará de sobra. Baja en el cubo que está ahí arriba. Lo puse allí a propósito para ti."
A rigmarole so cleverly told was easily believed by the fool of a wolf, who descended by his greater weight, which not only took him down, but brought the fox up.
Un cuento tan hábilmente contado fue fácilmente creído por el necio lobo, quien descendió por su mayor peso, lo cual no solo lo hizo bajar a él, sino que hizo subir al zorro.
We ought not to laugh at the wolf, for we often enough let ourselves be deluded with just as little cause. Everybody is ready to believe the thing he fears and the thing he desires.
No debemos reírnos del lobo, pues nosotros mismos solemos dejarnos engañar con igual de poca razón. Todo el mundo está dispuesto a creer aquello que teme y aquello que desea.
