Fab. CXXIV.
A Fawn and a Stag.
A Fawn was Reaſoning the Matter with a Stag, why he ſhould run away from the Dogs ſtill; for, ſays he, you are Bigger and Stronger then They. If you have a Mind to ſtand, y'are better Arm'd; And then y’are Fleeter if you'll Run fort. I can't Imagine what ſhould make you ſo Fearful of a Company of Pityful Currs. Nay, ſays the Stag, ‘tis All True that you ſay, and 'tis no more then I ſay to my ſelf Many Times, and yet whatever the Matter is, let me take up what Reſolutions I pleaſe, when I hear the Hounds once, I cannot but betake my ſelf to my Heels.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
Natural Infirmities are well nigh Inſupcrable; and Men that are Cowards by Complexion, are hardly ever to be made Valiant by Diſcourte. But They are Conſcious yet of the Scandal of that Weakneſs, and may make a ſhift perhaps to Reaſon themſelves now and then into a kind of Temporary Reſolution, which they have not the Power afterwards to go Thorough with. We find it to be much the ſame Caſe in the Government of our Affections and Appetites, that it is in Theſe Bodyly Frailties of Temperament and Complexion. Providence has Arm'd us with Powers and Faculties, ſufficient for the Confounding of All the Enemies we have to Encounter. We have Life and Death before us: That is to ſay, Good and Evil; And we know which is which too: Beſide that it is at our Choice to Take or to Refuſe. So that we underſtand what we ought to do; but when we come to Deliberate, we play Booty againſt our ſelves: And while our Judgments and our Conſciences direct us One Way, our Corruptions Hurry us Another. This Stag, in fine, is a Thorough Emblem of the State, and Infirmity of Mankind, We are both of us Arm'd and Provided, either for the Combat, or for Flight. We ſee the Danger; we Ponder upon it; and now and then by Fits, take up ſome Faint Reſolutions to Outbrave and break thorough it: But in the Concluſion, we ſhrink upon the Tryal; We betake our ſelves from our Heads to our Heels; from Reaſon to Fleſh and Bloud; from our Strength to our Weakneſſes, and ſuffer under One Common Fate.
Fab.
