Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable LXXV
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Fab. LXXV.
An Eagle and a Daw.
AN Eagle made a Stoop at a Lamb; Truss’d it, and took it Cleverly away with her, A Mimical Daw, that saw This Exploit, would needs try the same Experiment upon a Ram: But his Claws were so Shackled in the Fleece with Lugging to get him up, that the Shepherd came in, and Caught him before he could Cleare Himself; He Clipt his Wings, and carry'd him Home to his Children to Play withal. They came Gaping about him, and ask’d their Father what Strange Bird that Was? Why, says he, He'l tell you Himself that he's an Eagle; but if you'll take My Word for't; I know him to be a Daw.
The Moral.
'Tis a High Degree of Vanity and Folly, for men to take More upon them then they are able to go thorough withall; And the End of Those Undertakings is only Mockery and Disappointment in the Conclusion.
REFLEXION.
‘Tis Vain and Dangerous to Enter into Competitions with our Superiors, in What Kind soever, whether it be in Arms, Letters, Expence, Strength of Body, Arts and Sciences, or the like. 'Tis Imposlible for any man, in fine, to take a True Measure of Another, without an Exact Knowledge and a True Judgment of Himself. Nay the Attempt of any thing above our Force, with Vanity, and Presumption, most certainly ends in a Mis-carriage that makes the Pretender Ridiculous. The Our-doing of a Great Man in his Own Way, Savours in some degree of Ill Manners, as it is upon the Main, a High Point of Indiscretion. One man cakes it for an Affront to be Out-witted; Another to be Out-Fool'd, as Nero could not Endure to be Out-Fiddled; But in short, be the Matter never so Great, or never so Trivial, 'tis the same Case as to the Envy of the Competition.