The He-Goat and the Wolf

A wolf some time ran after a he-goat, and the he-goat, to save himself, leapt upon a rock where the wolf besieged him. After they had dwelled there two or three days, the wolf began to wax hungry and the he-goat thirsty. So the wolf went to eat and the he-goat went to drink.

As the he-goat drank he saw his shadow in the water. Spying and beholding his shadow, he said to himself, "Thou hast so fair legs, so fair a beard, and so fair horns, and hast fear of the wolf! If it happen that he come again, I shall correct him well and shall keep him well, that he shall have no might over me."

The wolf, who held his peace and hearkened what was said, took him by one leg, thus saying; "What words be these which I hear, brother he-goat?" When the he-goat saw that he was taken, he began to say to the wolf, "Ha! My lord, I say nothing and have pity on me! I know well that it is to my blame." Yet the wolf took him by the neck and strangled him.

It is great folly when the feeble makes war against the powerful and strong.