Fab. CXXIII.
Two Cocks Fighting.
TWO Cocks fought a Duell for the Maſtery of a Dunghill. He that was Worſted, ſlunk away into a Corner, and Hid himſelf; T'other takes his Flight up to the Top of the Houſe, and there with Crowing and Clapping of his Wings makes Proclamation of his Victory. An Eagle made a Stoop at him in the Middle of his Exultation, and carry'd him away. By This Accident, the Other Cock had a Good Riddance of his Rival; took Poſſeſſion of the Province they Contended for, and had All his Miſtreſſes to Himſelf again.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
This Combat of Two Cocks for a Dunghill, may be Moraliz’d by an Application of it to the Competition of the Greateſt Princes, for Empire and Dominion. For what’s the World more then a Maſs of Dirt on the One hand, as to the Subect of the Quarrell; and there's the ſame Thirſt of Blood too, betwixt the Combatants, on the Other. We have again, the Various Chance of Warr Exhibited on Both Sides: For ’tis with Kings, as with Theſe Cocks. He that’s a Victor This Moment, may be a Slave the Next: And this Volubility of Human Affaires, what is it, bur either the Sport, or the Judgment of Providence, in the Puniſhment of Arrogance and Oppreſſion! We are given finally to Underſtand, that as the Levity of Fortune leaves us Nothing to Truſt to, or to Preſume upon, ſo at the ſame Time there's Nothing to Deſpair of. The Conguering Cock was Cat off in the very Song of his Triumph: and the Conuer'd, re-inſtated in the Poſſeſſion of his former Pretenſes.
Fab.
