Fab. CXCIX.
A Shepherd and his Sheep.
IN Old time when Sheep fed like Hogs upon Acorns, a Shepherd drove his Flock into a Little Oak-Wood, ſpread his Coat under a Tree, and up he went to ſhake 'em down ſome Maſt. The Sheep were ſo Keen upon the Acorns, that they Gobbled up now and then a Piece of the Coat along with ’em. When the Shepherd took Notice of it: What a Company of Ungrateful Wretches are you, ſays he, that Cloath all Other People that have No Relation to you, and yet Strip Your Maſter, that gives ye both Food and Protection!
The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
'TIS a Freak mightily in Faſhion among ſome People to Affect a Singularity in their Lives and Manners, and to Live in a Direct Oppoſition to the Ordinary Rules of Prudence and Good Nature, As in returning Evil for Good for the Purpoſe; Nay, and in ſome Caſes, Good for Evil too; where ’tis done more to be ſeen of Men then for God fake, and where the Vanity of Doing it Deſtroys the Merit of the Vertue. The Fable will alſo bear This Moral, That Eager Appetites have not a Right Taft of Things; for the Coat goes down as well as the Acorns: But the main Streſs of it falls upon Thoſe that Rob Peter, as we ſay, to Pay Paul, and take the Bread out of their Maſters Mouths to give it to Strangers. And the Kindneſs of the Maſter is yet a Further Aggravation of the Crime. We have abundance of Caſes in Practice, as well as in Story, that ſtrike upon This Topique. Have we never read of a Sacrilegious Convocation of Divines, that at the ſame Time that they liv’d upon the Altar, Betray’d it; and while they Robb’d God himſelf of his Due, Divided the Spoils of the Church among the Rabble. Have we never heard of Men that Gobbled the Privileges and Revenues of the Crown, and then Squander’d them away in Donatives upon the Common People? Or, What ſhall we ſay of the Scofling Atheiſt, that turns all the Powers and Faculties of his Soul, as much as in him lies, to the Reproach of his Maker, and yet at the ſame time too as Pleaſant Company to the World as the Wit of a Libertine can make him. What is all This now but a Sheep Stripping his Maſter, and Cloathing Strangers.
Fab.
