Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable LVI and LVII

by Roger L'Estrange

Fab. LVI.

A Boare and a Horse.

A Boar happen'd to be Wallowing in the Water where a Horse was going to Drink, and there grew a Quarrel upon't. The Horse went presently to a Man,to Assist him in his Revenge. They agreed upon the Conditions, and the Man immediately Arm'd himself, and Mounted the Horse, who carry'd him to the Boare, and had the satisfaction of seeing his Enemy Kill'd before his Face. The Horse Thank'd the Cavalier for his Kindness, but as he was just about to take leave, the Man say'd he should have further Occasion for him, and so Order'd him to be Ty'd up in the Stable. The Horse came by This Time, to Understand, that his Liberty was gone, and No Help for't, and that he had payd Dear for his Revenge.

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Fab. LVII.

A Stag and a Horse.

UPon a Dispute betwixt a Stag and a Horse about a piece of Pasture, the Stag got the Better on't, and beat the Other out of the Field. The Horse, upon This Affront, Advis'd with a Man what Course to Take; who told him, that if he would Submit to be Bridled, and Sadled, and take a Man upon his Back with a Lance in his Hand, he would Undertake to give him the Satisfaction of a Revenge. The Horse came to his Terms, and for the Gratifying of a Present Passion, made himself a Slave all the days of his Life. Stesichorus made use of This Fable, to Divert the Himerenses from Chusing Phalaris the Tyrant for their General. This Horse's Case, says he, will be Yours, if you go on with your Proposals. 'Tis true, You'l have your Revenge, but youl lose your Liberties; Upon which Words the Motion fell.

The Moral of the two Fables above.

Let every man take a True Measure of Himself, what he is Able to do, and what Not; before be comes to any Peremptory Resolution how to Proceed. He is a Madman, that to Avoid a Present, and a Less Evil, runs Blindfolded into a Greater; and for the Gratifying of a Froward Humour, makes himself a Slave All the days of his Life.

REFLEXION.

These Fables lay Open to us the Folly of Thofe People that make themselves Slaves to their Revenge; for no man should be so Angry with Another, as to Hurt Himself for't. We should likewise Consider, that there’s More Hazzard in the succour of a New Powerful Friend, then in the Hostility of an Old Dangerous Enemy; and that the Greatest Empires upon the face of the Earth have had their Rise from the Pretence of Taking up Quarrels, or Keeping the Peace.

These Fables tell us, that it is a Rule of Good Discretion in all Matters of Quarrel, and Controversie, for Him that is Worsted to have a Great Care Whom he calls to his Aid: Especially when there's more of Passion then Necessity in the Case. The Horse might have Quench'd his Thirst with Troubled-Water; or he might have stay’d the Clearing of it; Or Chang’d his Wat'ring Place; Or when he was forc'd out of One Pasture he might have taken-up in Another, which would have Preserv'd his Liberty upon the Main, though not as to This Particular: But his Stomach was too Great, it seems, to Digest the Affront, without having his Enemy at his Feet: so that he gives up his Freedom to Gain his Revenge. He has Fair Words however, Rich Trappings, and Large Promises; but Works only for his Master; and if at any time he does but Slacken his Pace, or abate, either in his Zeale, or in his Mettle, the Spurr is presently in the Flank of him: Or if he be Unruly, the Bit’s upon the Check to Keep him to his Duty. The Stag was too Hard for the Horse; and the Horse flyes for Succour to One that's to Hard for Him, and Rides the One to Death, and Outright Kills the Other? It were Well, if Possible, to keep All Potent Enemies to the Behaviour in such a Case as This, Especially if they Appear under the Shape of Friends: But if People will Venture Life, Liberty and All, for the Clawing of an Itch, and lay Violent Hands upon Themselves, there's no Fence for't.

That which Men are to Horses, in the Scale of Creatures, Men in Power and Authority, are in some Proportion to the Poor and Weak: That is to say in the Analogy of Servitude, and Drudgery; and in the carrying of some sort of Burdens that are a Shame to the Bearer. They Toyle and Moyle for the Interest of their Masters, that in requital, break the very Hearts of them for their Pleasure; and the Freer they are of their Flesh, the more Scandalous is the Bondage. When they have done All that Horses can do, they are Lath'd, Spurr'd, Revil'd, and Ill Treated, for not being able to do More: They are Hurry'd on without either Respite or Reason; And after they have carry'd thcir Riders safe over All Leaps, and thorough All Dangers, and by All Ways and Means Contributed to the Ease, Credit, and Security of their Masters, what comes of them in the End, but to be Strain'd, Founder'd or Broken Winded; Old Age Overtakes them, and they are e’en Glad to take up in a Mill at last with Grains and Thistles, and there spend the Remainder of a Wretched Life in a Circulation of Misery and Labour. If any Man of War, or State shall find This Case to be his Own, and Himself Touch’d in the Moral of This Fable, let him keep his Own Councel, and learn to be Wiser here-after. And we may learn This Lesson of the Horse too, not to Sacrifice our Honour, Liberty, and Conscience, to a Freak.