The Foxes on the River Maeander
Long ago, clever foxes lived beside an old forest of cool waters. These foxes played happily along the winding river Maeander. On a hot summer day all the foxes grew very thirsty. They wanted to run down to the bank and cool off. But today the river ran very fast and wild. The foxes looked at the foamy water in fear and stayed back.
One of them wanted to look brave and stepped forward. "I am not afraid of water and I drink right now!" he shouted. He came close to the river carefully, but his foot slipped. The fast current took him in and carried him away. The other foxes ran to the river and called after him with worry. "Where are you going without us and without a drink?" they asked.
The fox in the water felt ashamed, but he did not show it. "I must carry an urgent message to the city of Miletus!" he shouted. Saying "I will drink plenty of water on the way back," he vanished among the waves. The foxes on the bank understood his empty pride and grew wiser. Slowly they found a calmer edge of the water and drank their fill. Empty pride puts a person in trouble and makes him look funny. Take a big bite, but never make a big boast.