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. Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the Fox indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend. 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 assented 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 upbraided 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.” What is the moral of the story?

the speaker versus the boy.

awnser: the oxford dictionary of quotations (oup 1970) has 66 pages of quotations

attributed to the writings of william shakespeare in which there are 2369 quotations,

which may reflect well over 5000 speeches, discussions, observations and comments

that are present in shakespeare’s work. it is largely from those speeches and discussions

on shakespeare’s 37 plays, as well as his, and others’ poems, that examples have been

taken here.

in this book all quotations from his poems and plays have been taken from various

editions of the arden shakespeare.

the writer is very much indebted to the rapid response provided by his son, henry

audley-charles , for cries of , guidance, advice and repairs to his ageing pc, that

henry provided at all hours. without this assistance over the last 3 years this book

could not have been written.

in addition, the writer is much for the kind by discussion and proof readings from

elizabeth macbeth and janet hulse; and for his knowledge of shakespeare’s plays and

poems in discussions with monsieur francis saillart; and especially for years of proof

reading, support and with this book from my wife brenda amy cordeiro. above

all, the debt i owe is to professor david price, vice provost research. he has acted as

the editor and the guide for the whole project. this has been far from easy with

changes repeatedly being made by the author and which continued after professor price

had provided all the editorial structure for this project.