Stag’s was a Forc'd-Put; and a Chance rather then a Choice, he did not fly from the Huntſmen to the Lyon for Protection; bur it ſo tell out, that while he fled to Avoid a Leſs Danger, he ran into a Greater; We find This to be the Caſe of many Men, as well as Beaſts, that are Forc'd to Fly for Refuge, to Murderers and Oppreſſors, inſtead of Patrons and Protectors.
Fab. CXLIX.
A Goat and a Vine.
A Goat that was hard Prefs'd by the Huntſmen, took Sanctuary in a Vineyard, and there he lay Cloſe, under the Covert of a Vine. So ſoon as he thought the Danger was Over, he fell preſently to Browzing upon the Leaves; and whether it was the Ruſling, or the Motion of the Boughs, that gave the Huntſmen an Occaſion for a Stricter Search, is Uncertain: but a Search there was, and in the End Diſcover'd the Goat, and ſhot him. He dy’d in fine, with this Conviction upon him, that his Puniſhment was Juſt, for offering Violence to his Protector.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
Ingratitude is Abhorr'd both by God and Man, and there is a Certain Vengeance Attends thoſe that Repay Evil for Good, and ſeek the Ruine of their Protectors. This Fable Expoſes the Baſeneſs of That Horrid Vice, and it Preaches Thankfulneſs and Juſtice. The Obligations of Hoſpicality and Protection are ſo Sacred, that Nothing can Abſolve us from the Diſcharge of Thoſe Duties. 'Tis True, that This particular Inſtance holds better in the Morality of the Application, then it does in the Reaſon of the Thing: for the Queſtion is not what the Beaſt does in his Kind; but what Ought to be done, with a reſpect to ſuch a Benefit receiv'd, If a man ſhould Launch into the Hiſtory and Practice of Humane Nature, we ſhould find Nothing more Common there, then one Rebellion Started upon the Pardoning of Another; and the very Minions of Princes Linck’d in Conſpiracies againſt their Maſter. But Thoſe Things ever were, and ever will be, ſo long as Men are Men, and carry their Corruptions about them. There will be Goats, in fine, and there will be Vines, to anſwer This Moral, in Sæculæ Sæculorum.
Fab. CL.
An Aſſe, a Lyon, and a Cock.
AS a Cock and an Aſſe were Feeding together, up comes a Lion Open-Mouth toward the Aſſe: The Cock preſently cryes out;Away
