Thit mada rua síos i dtobar lá. Bhí an tobar ródhomhain agus na ballaí ina thimpeall róshleamhain agus theip air teacht aníos. Ba é a dhícheall é féin a choinneáil gan dul faoin uisce.
Tharla do mhac tíre bheith ag ghabháil thar an tobar. Chuala sé an rud ag coraí thíos san tobar. D'amharc sé síos.
"Ó! a Reinaird an chroí istigh!" ar seisean, "cad é d'imthigh ort, nó cad é mar a chuaigh ansin síos! Ó! Ó! Ó! Mo thruagh thu, a fhir bhocht! Go deimhin féin agus go dearfa is oth liom go mór a leithéid de mhatalang a thuitim amach duit. Ó! go deimhin agus go dearfa is fada nach dtáinig aon ní crosta orm is mó a chuir de chathú orm ná tu a fheiceáil ina leithéid de chás."
Chomh luath agus fuair an madadh rua caoí ar fhocal a labhairt, labhair sé.
"Is maith an rud trua bheith agat do dhuine, gan amhras, ach dá ndéafá iarracht éigin ar mé tharraingt amach as an áit seo," ar seisean, "ba dhóigh liom gur tairbhí é ná a bhfuil de chaint agat."
Béarla
The Fox in the Well
A fox fell into a well one time. The well was too deep and the walls too slippy for him to get out of it. It was all he could do to stop himself going under water.
A wolf happened to be going past the well when he heared the splasing down in it. He looked down. He started to sympathize with the fox below.
"Oh, dear Reynard," says he, "what happened you you at all that you fell down there. Indeed, in soul, it grieves me sorley that such an accident befell you. Indeed, it's along time since I came on such a sorry sight."
As soon, as the fox got his breath, he said in reply. "Its a fine thing, indeed for you to have pity for me, but if you would do something to get me out, that would be better than all your talk.