Fable 151
Hen and Swallow
A foolish hen sat brooding upon a nest of serpent's eggs.
A swallow observing it, told her the danger of it, and that she was hatching her own
destruction: But the hen not heeding the advice, persisted sisted in her folly, and the end
verified the swallow's prediction.
MORAL
It is the hard fortune of many a good-natured man to breed up a bird to pick'out his own
eyes, in despite of all cautions to the contrary.
Fable 152
Pigeon and Painter
A Pigeon, seeing the picture of a glass with water in it, and taking it to be water indeed,
flew rashly and eagerty to it, for a sup to quench her thirst.
But stunning herself against the frame of the picture, she fell to the ground, and was
taken up by the bye-standers, who instantly wrung her neck off.
MORAL
Rash men do many things in baste, which they repent of at leisure.
Fable 153
Pigeon and Crow
A Pigeon was bragging to a crow how fruitful she was. Never value yourself, says the
crow, upon that vanity; for as you bring up your young principally for the pot, the pye, or
the spit, I should think, that the more children you have the more should be your sorrow.
MORAL
Children are called blessings; and they are truly such when dutiful and hopeful,
and attended with good fortune in the world; but otherwise they are the greatest
discomforts an indulgent parent can have.
Fable 154
Jupiter and Herdsman
A Herdsman, who had lost a calf out of his grounds, when he could get no tidings of it
betook himself at last to his prayers: Great Jupiter, says he, do but shew me the thief
who stole my calf, and I'll give thee a kid for a sacrifice.
The word was no sooner passed, but the thief appeared; which was indeed a lion.
This put him to his prayers once again.
I have not forgotten my vow, says he; but now thou hast brought me to the thief,
I'll make that kid a bull, if thou wilt but set me quit of him again.
MORAL
We cannot be too careful and confiderate what vows and promises we make; for the very
granting of our prayers would turn many times to utter ruin.
Fable 155
Gnat and Lion
As a lion was blustering in the forest, up comes a gnat to his very beard, and challenges
him to a single combat.
The challenge was accepted, and the gnat charged into the nostrils of the lion, and there
twinged him, till he made him tear himself with his own paws, and at last to run away.
The gnat with no little pride, flew away; but as he was glorying in his victory, he struck
into a cobweb, and fell a prey to a pitiful spider.
The disgrace went to the heart of him, after he had got the better of a lion, to be worsted
by such an insect.
MORAL
It is in the power of Providence to humble the pride of the mighty, even by the most
despicable means; wherefore let no creature, how great or how little soever, presume on
the one side, or despair on the other.
Fable 156
Lion and Frog
A Lion raging about for prey, started all of a sudden at a strange noise he heard; but as
he was looking about, preparing for an encounter with some terrible monster,
what should he see but a pitiful frog come crawling out from the side of a pond! And is
this all? says the lion; and so betwixt shame and indignation, vowed never to give way
for the future to a terror, which had no better ground than a weak imagination.
MORAL
First motions are bard to be resisted; but a wise man will arm himself against imaginary
dangers; and not suffer himself to be disturbed by little surprises and apprehensions.
Fable 157
Peacock and Magpye
The birds being assembled to choose a king, were so taken with the gaudy appearance of
a strutting peacock, that they were inclinable to make choice of him. The magpye
hereupon desired the assembly to consider what they were about:
For if, says he, the eagle, the vulture, or the hawk should invade us, what assistance can
we hope for from the peacock? This being duly weighed, by the rest, they changed their
minds, and made another choice.
MORAL
A gaudy outside so generally indicates an empty mind, that wise men will never be
misted by it.
Fable 158
Lion, Ass and Fox a hunting
In a hunting match agreed upon betwixt a lion, an ass, and a fox, who were to go equal
shares in the booty, they ran down a brave stag, and the ass was to divide the prey;
which he did very innocently into three equal parts, and left the lion to take his choice;
who never minded the dividend, but in a rage worried the ass, and then bade the fox
divide.
He thrust all the three parts together, and made but one share of the whole, reserving
only a few of the entrails ser himself. The lion highly approved of his way of distribution:
Bat prithee, Reynard, says he, who taught thee to carve! Wy truly, says the fox, I had
the ass before me for my master.
MORAL
The folly of one man makes another man wise; as one man grows frequently rich upon
the ruins of another.
Fable 159
Wolf and Kid
A Wolf passing by a poor country cottage, was espied by a kid through a peeping-hole in
the door; who sent a hundred curses along with him. Sirrah, says the wolf, if I had you
out of your castle, I would make you give better language.
MORAL
Security and protection will make a coward give defiace to a hero.
Fable 160
Jupiter and Ass
A Gardener's ass, which did a great deal of work for a very little meat, prayed for another
master. Jupiter turned him over to a potter, where he found clay and tile so much a
heavier burden than roots and cabbage, that he went to prayers once again for another
change.
His next master was a tanner, and there his grievances were still heightened.
For, says he, I have been only pinched in my flesh, and rib-roasted sometimes, under my
former masters; but besides that I have the same causes of complaint under this, I find a
worse superadded; for now I am in for it skin and all.
MORAL
A man who is ever shifting and changing, is not, in truth, so weary of his condition, as of
himself; and he that still carries about him the plague of a restless mind, can never be
pleased.
Fable 161
Woman and her Maids
It was the way of a good housewifely old woman to call up her maids every morning just
at the cock-crowing.
The wenches were loth to rise so soon, and so they laid their heads together, and killed
the poor cock: For, say they, if it were not for bis waking our dame, she would not wake
os: But when the good woman's cock was gone, she would mistake the hour many
times, and call them up at midnight: So that instead of mending the matter, they found
themselves in a worse condition than before.
MORAL
One error makes way for another. First we complain of small thing: Then we shift,
and instead of mending the matter, we find it worse, till it comes at last to the tinker's,
work of stopping one hole, and making ten.
Fable 162
Eagle and Owl
A royal eagle having resolved to preser such of his subjects as as he found most
agreeable for person and address, ordered every bird to bring its young ones to court.
They came accordingly, and every one in its turn was for advancing its own; till at last
the owl fell and mopping and twinkling, and told his majesty. That if a graceful mien and
countenance might intitle any of his subjects to a preference, she doubted not but her
brood would be looked upon in the first place; for, says she, they are all as like me as
they can stare.
MORAL
Self-love it the root of all the vanity that it struck at in this fable, and it is so natural an
infirmity, that it makes us partial even to those that come of us, as well as ourselves:
According to the proverb, every bird thinks her own the fairest.
Fable 163
Oak and Willow
In a controversy between an oak and a willow, the oak upbraided the willow that it was
weak and wavering, and gave way to every blast; while he scorned, he said, to bend to
the most raging tempests, which he despised as they whistled by him.
Some very little while after this dispute it blew a most violent storm.
The willow plied and gave way to the gust, and still recovered itself again, without
receiving any damage; but the oak, stubbornly resisting the hurricane, was torn up by
the roots.
MORAL
A stiff and a stubborn obstinacy is not so much firmness and resolution, as wilfulness.
A wise man ivill yield to the necessity of his affairs, and if the times, in all honest tastes,
rather than expose himself and family to inevitable ruin.
Fable 164
Ant and Grasshopper
As the ants were airing their provisions one winters a hungry grasshopper begged a
charity of them. They told him, that he mould have wrought in summer, if he would not
have wanted in winter.
Well, says the grasshopper, but I was not idle neither: for I sung out the whole season.
Nay then, said they, you will e'en do well to make a merry year of it, and dance in winter
to the tune that you sung in summer.
MORAL
Action and industry is the business of a wise and good man, end nothing is so much to be
despised as slothfulness. Go to the ant, thou fluggard! says the royal Preacher, consider
her ways, and be wise; which in a few words sums up the moral of this fable.
Fable 165
Bull and Goat
A Bull, hard pressed by a lion, ran toward a goatstall to save himself.
The goat made good the door, and head to head disputed the passage with him.
Barbarous wretch, says the bull, how can you thus refuse shelter to one in distress!
I know well what I do, replied the goat: For would it not be high imprudence in me to
give you entrance, and bring the lion upon my own back?
MORAL
Though the duties of humanity oblige us to do all we can to assist a neighbour in
distress, yet are we to take care by the rules of prudence not to ruin ourselves and
families for his sake.
Fable 166
Nurse and froward Child
A Wolf prowling about for his support, passed by a door where a little child was bawling,
and a nurse chiding it.
Leave your vixen tricks, says the woman, or I'll throw you to the wolf.
The wolf hearing this, waited a pretty while, in hopes the woman would be as good as
her word. But the child being frighted into better temper, the tone was turned, and he
had the mortification to heair the nurse say. That's a gopd dear! If the wolf comes for my
child, we'll e'en beat his brains out.
Upon which the wolf went muttering away as fast as he could.
MORAL
An ingenious spirit will be wrought upon by fair words; but a perverse one must be
terrified into its duty, if soft means will not do.
Fable 167
Eagle and Tortoise
A Humour once took a tortoise in the head, and he must needs get an eagle to teach him
to fly.
The eagle told him it was a thing against nature and common sense; but the more the
one was against it, the more the other was for it: Whereupon the eagle took him up
steeple-high into the air, and there dropt him down upon a rock, which dashed him to
pieces.
MORAL
It is a most unnatural vanity for a creature that was made for one condition to aspire to
another. Many a fool has good counsel offered him, who has neither the wit or the grace
to take it; and his wilfulness commonly ends in his ruin.
Fable 168
Old Crab and Young
Child, says a mother-crab to her young one, you must use yourself to walk straight,
without skueing and shailing so every step you set. Pray, mother, says the young crab,
be pleased to set the example yourself, and I'll follow you.
MORAL
It is with a very ill grace that we advise others to da, what we either do not, or cannot do
ourselves.
Fable 169
Sun and Wind
A Controversy betwixt the sun and the wind, which was the stronger of the two, was
agreed to be decided in favour of him which could make a traveller quit his cloak.
The wind fell presently a storming, and threw hail-shot over and above, in the very teeth
of him.
The man wraps himself up the closer, and keeps advancing still in spite of the weather.
The sun then began his part, and darted his beams upon him so strong, that at last the
traveller grew saint with the heat, put off his cloak, and lay down in the shade to refresh
himself.
MORAL
Mildness and persuasion win upon ingenuous minds sooner than a blustering and bullying
behaviour.
Fable 170
Ass in Lion's Skin
An ass having found a lion's skin, threw it about him, and masqueraded it up and down
the woods. The world was his own for a while, and wherever he went, every one fled
before him: But at last taking it into his head to imitate the lion's roar, he fell a braying.
This made the flying foresters turn about, and then they espied his ears too; upon which
they all sell upon him, uncased him, and gave him cause to repent his foolish jesting.
MORAL
Every fool still has some mark or other to be known by through all disguises; and the
more he takes upon him, the arranter sot be makes himself, when be comes to be
unmasqued.
Fable 171
Frog turned Physician
A Frog, raising himself upon the highest bank of a pond, made proclamation of his skill in
physic to an assembly of beasts gathered round him.
Among the rest was a fox, who surveying the aspect of the impostor with an air of
contempt, said. Thou art a pretty fellow indeed, with that wretched complexion,
and hoarse voice, to set up to cure other people.
Practise thy skill upon thyself, and we shall judge of thy pretensions by thy success.
MORAL
Physician heal thyself, is a known aphorism; and a doctor labouring in a consumption or
dropsy, gives no great encouragement for people in the same malady to apply to him for
advice.
Fable 172
A curst Dog
A certain man had a good house-dog, which for that reason he was loth to part with,
though he was very mischievous to strangers.
He therefore put a clog to his neck, as also a bell to warn people in the daytime of his
approach. The dog took this for a particular mark of his master's favour, and prided
himself much upon it, till one of his companions shewed him his mistake.
You are mightily out, says he, to take this for an ornament, or a token of esteem,
which is, in truth, no other than a note of infamy set upon you for your ill manners.
MORAL
This may serve for an admonition to those who glory in their shame.
Fable 173
Two Friends and Bear
Two friends travelling together, under an agree ment of standing by one another,
let what would happen, met a bear upon the way.
They found there was no running for it. So the one whips up a tree, and the other throws
himself flat with his face upon the ground, and held in his breath.
The bear comes directly up to him, muzzles and smells to him, puts his nose to his
mouth and to his ears; and at last, taking for granted that it was only a carcase,
there he leaves him.
The bear was no sooner gone, but down comes his companion with a sneer, and asked
him, what it was the bear whispered him in the ear? He bade me, says he, have a care
how I keep company with those that in time of distress will leave their friends in the lurch.
MORAL
True friendship, like geld in the fire, is tried in the time of our adversity; and he that then
shrinks away from us is never more to be trusted.
Fable 174
The bald Cavalier
When perriwigs were first used, and then chiefly to cover the desect of baldness,
a certain cavalier had one for that purpose, which passed for his own hair.
But as he was one day riding out in company, a sudden puff of wind blew off both his wig
and his hat, and set the company in a loud laugh at his bald pate.
He, for his part, fell a laughing with the rest, and said. Why, really, Gentlemen, this is
merry enough; for how could I expect to keep other peoples hair, who could not preserve
my own?
MORAL
The edge of a jest is quite blunted and turned off when a man has presence os mind to
join in it against himself, or begin it.
Fable 175
Two Pots
A brass pot and an earthen one were by a violent inundation swept off the bank,
and carried down the stream together.
The brass pot seeing the earthen one avoid him, bid him fear nothing, for he would do
him no hurt. Not willingly, I believe, says the other; but we are of constitutions so
different, that if I strike against you, or you against me, I only shall be the sufferer.
MORAL
Unequal fellowships are dangerous.
Not but that great and small, rich and poor, my sort well enough together, so long as the
good humour lasts; but wherever there are men there will be clashing some time or
other, and then the weak one is always sure to suffer.
Fable 176
Good Luck and bad Luck
A Man who had raised himself from a small fortune by successful fraffic to a large one,
was boasting:
Why, aye, says he, this it is when a man understands his business; for I have done all
this by my own skill.
Avarice is infatiable, and so he went pushing on still for more; till, what by wrecks,
bankrupts, and pirates, one upon the neck of another, he was reduced in half the time
that he was a rising, to a morsel of bread.
Why this, says he, is owing to my cursed fortune! Fortune happened to be at that time
within hearing, and told him, that he was an arrogant, ungrateful clown, to charge her
with all the evil that befel him, and to take the good to himself.
MORAL
We are apt to arrogate to ourselves the successes we meet with; but our misfortunes we
ungratefully charge up on Providence, under the name of Fortune.
Fable 177
Peacock and Crane
As a peacock and a crane were in company together, the peacock spread his tail,
and challenged the other to shew him such a fan of feathers.
You brag of your plumes, says the crane, that are fair indeed to the eye, but fit for
nothing but to attract the eyes of children and fools.
Do as I do, if you can; and then, with a suitable contempt, he springs up into the air,
leaving the gaping peacock staring after him till his eyes ached.
MORAL
There cannot be a greater sign of a weak mind, than a person's valuing himself on
a gaudy outside; whether it be on the beauties of person, or the still vainer pride of fine
cloaths.
Fable 178
Tyger and Fox
As a huntsman was upon the chace, and the beasts flying before him; Let me alone,
says the tyger, and I'll put an end to this war myself: He had no sooner said this, but he
found himself struck through the body with an arrow; and while he was trying to draw it
out, a fox asked him, from what bold hand it was that he received this wound?
I believe, says the tyger, it must be from a man; and I find, too late, that there is no
contending against an adversary, who can wound without coming within the reach of
one's revenge.
MORAL
Contests with persons of superior power or ability are studiously to be avoided.
Fable 179
Lion and Bulls
A party of bulls struck up a league to keep and feed I together, and stand by one another
in case of a commoa enemy.
So long as they stuck to this consederacy they were safe; but soon after they fell at
variance among themselves, and the lion made his advantage of it, and one by one
destroyed them all.
MORAL
Intestine divisions are the bane of a commonwealth.
A house or a kingdom, as the sacred text observes, divided against itself cannot stand.
Fable 180
Fir and Bramble
My head, says the boasting fir-tree to the humble bramble, is advanced among the stars;
I furnish beams for palaces, and masts for shipping; the very sweat of my body is a
sovereign remedy for the sick and wounded: Whereas thou. O rascally bramble! run'st
creeping in the dirt, and art good for nothing in the world but mischief.
I pretend not to vie with thee, said the bramble, in the points thou gloriest in.
But, not to insist upon it, that he who made thee a lofty sir, could have made thee an
humble bramble, I pray thee tell me, when the carpenter comes next with the ax into the
wood, to fell timber, whether thou hadst not rather be a bramble than a fir-tree.
MORAL
Poverty secures a man from many dangers: Whereas the rich and the mighty are the
marks of malice and cross fortune; and still the higher they are, the near the thunder.