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130. A WOLF AND A LION (Perry 15)

As a Wolf and a Lion were abroad upon Adventure together, Hark (says the Wolf) don’t you hear the Bleating of Sheep? My Life for yours, Sir, I’ll go fetch ye Purchase. Away he goes, and follows his Ear, till he came just under the Sheepfold; but it was so well fortify’d, and the Dogs asleep so near it, that back he comes sneaking to the Lion again, and tells him, There are Sheep yonder (says he) ‘tis true, but they are lean as Carrion, and we had e’en as good let ‘em alone till they have more Flesh on their Backs.

THE MORAL OF THE TWO FABLES ABOVE. ‘Tis Matter of Skill and Address, when a Man cannot honestly compass what he would be at, to appear easy and indifferent upon all Repulses and Disappointments.

131. A BOY AND A SNAKE (Perry 199)

A Boy was groping for Eels, and laid his hand upon a Snake, but the Snake, finding that it was pure Simplicity, and not Malice, admonish’d him of his Mistake: Keep your self well while you are well, says the Snake; for if you meddle with me, you’ll repent your Bargain.

THE MORAL. ‘Tis the Intention, morally speaking, that makes the Action good or bad; and even Brutes themselves, will put a Difference betwixt Harms of Ill-Will and Mischance.

132. A HARE AND A TORTOISE (Perry 226)

What a dull heavy Creature (says a Hare) is this same Tortoise! And yet (says the Tortoise) I’ll run with you for a Wager. ‘Twas done and done, and the Fox, by Consent, was to be the Judge. They started together, and the Tortoise kept jogging on still till he came to the End of the Course. The Hare laid himself down about Midway, and took a Nap; for, says he, I can fetch up the Tortoise when I please: But he over-slept himself, it seems, for when he came to wake, though he scudded away as fast as ‘twas possible, the tortoise got to the Post before him, and won the Wager.

THE MORAL. Up and be doing, is an edifying Text; for Action is the Business of Life, and there’s no Thought of ever coming to the End of our Journey in time, if we sleep by the Way.

133. A MOLE AND HER DAM (Perry 214)

Mother (says a Mole to her Dam) here’s a strange Smell methinks. And then she was at it again, there’s a Mulberry Tree I perceive. And a third time, what a clattering of Hammers do I hear. Daughter, says the old one, you have now quite betray’d yourself; for I thought you had wanted only one Sense, and now I find you want three; for you can neither hear, nor smell, any more than you can see.

THE MORAL. Men labour under many Imperfections that no body would take notice of, if themselves were not over-solicitous to conceal.

134. A FOWLER AND A PARTRIDGE (Perry 265)

A Fowler had taken a Partridge, and the Bird offer’d her self to decoy as many of her Companions into the Snare as she could, upon Condition that he would give her Quarter. No, says he, you shall die the rather for that very Reason, because you would be so base as to betray your Friends to save your self.

THE MORAL. Of all scandalous and lewd Offices, that of a Traitor is certainly the basest; for it undermines the very Foundations of Society.

135. APPLES AND HORSE-TURDS (not in Perry)

Upon a very great Fall of Rain, the Current carried away a huge Heap of Apples, together with a Dunghill that lay in the Watercourse. They floated a good while together like Brethren and Companions; and as they went thus dancing down in the Stream, the Horse-Turds would be every foot crying out still, Alack-a-day! How we Apples swim!

136. A PEACH, AN APPLE, AND A BLACKBERRY (Perry 213)

There happen’d a Controversy once betwixt a Peach and an Apple, which was the fairer Fruit of the two. They were so loud in their Discourse, that a Blackberry, from the next Hedge, over-heard them. Come (says the Blackberry) we are all Friends, and pray let’s have no jangling among ourselves.

THE MORAL OF THE TWO FABLES ABOVE. Every thing would be thought greater in the World than it is; and the Root of it is this, that it first thinks itself so.

137. WASPS, PARTRIDGES, AND A HUSBANDMAN (Perry 215)

A Flight of Wasps, and a Covey of Partridges that were hard put to’t for Water, went to a Farmer, and begg’d a Soup of him to quench their Thirst. The Partridges offer’d to dig his Vineyard for’t, and the Wasps to secure him from Thieves. Pray hold your Hand, says the good Man; I have Oxen and Dogs that do me these Offices already, without standing upon Terms. And therefore it will become me to provide for them in the first Place.

THE MORAL. Charity begins at home, but the necessary Duty of it in one place does not discharge the christian Exercise of it in another.

138. A FLEA AND A MAN (Perry 272)

A Fellow finding somewhat prick him, popt his finger upon the Place, and it prov’d to be a Flea. What art thou, says he, for an Animal, to suck thy Livelyhood out of my Carcass? Why ‘tis the Livelyhood (says the Flea) that Nature has allotted me, and my stinging is not mortal neither. Well, says the Man, but ‘tis troublesome however: And now I have ye, I’ll secure ye for ever hurting me again, either little or much.

THE MORAL. Live and let live, is the Rule of common Justice; but if People will be troublesome on the one hand, the Obligation is discharg’d on the other.

139. A FLEA AND HERCULES (Perry 231)

There was a Fellow, that upon a Flea-biting call’d out to Hercules for Help. The Flea gets away, and the Man expostulates upon the Matter. Well, Hercules; (says he) you that would not take my part against a sorry Flea, will never stand by me in a time of Need, against a more powerful Enemy.

THE MORAL. We neglect God in greater Matters, and petition him for Trifles, nay, and take pet at last if we cannot have our Askings.