Without more thought jumped Reynard headlong in.
He reached the bottom at a single bound,
But there no fox beside himself he found:
Upward again he now would gladly spring,
But to ascend was no such easy thing.
He splashes, struggles, and in sad voice cries,
“Fool that I was! I deemed myself more wise.
Ah wretch! will no one come unto my aid?”—
But prayer and effort both were vainly made:
Soon did the water drag him down to death;