Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/111

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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; OldAge