THESEUS: A very gentle beast, and of a good conscience.
DEMETRIUS: The very best at a beast, my lord, that e’er I saw.
LYSANDER: This lion is a very fox for his valour.
THESEUS: True, and a goose for his discretion.
DEMETRIUS: Not so, my lord, for his valour cannot carry his discretion, and the fox carries the goose.
THESEUS: His discretion, I am sure, cannot carry his valour, for the goose carries not the fox; it is well. Leave it to his discretion, and let us listen to the moon.
– William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 5, Scene 1. After Snug tells the women that he is not a real lion and doesn’t want to frighten them, there is a bit of banter and wordplay from members of the audience. Using metaphors they compliment him on being "fox for his valour" and "goose for his discretion." These are sarcastic references to fables, where the fox is crafty and not valorous, and the goose silly and not discreet.