Fab. CCVI.
A Lyon, Aſs and Fox.
THere was a Hunting-Match agreed upon betwixt a Lyon; an Aſs, and a Fox, and they were to go Equal Shares in the Booty. They ran down a Brave Stag, and the Aſs was to Divide the Prey; which he did very Honeſtly and Innocently into Three Equal Parts, and left the Lyon to take his Choice: Who never Minded the Dividend; but in a Rage Worry'd the Aſs, and then bad the Fox Divide; who had the Wit to make Only One Share of the Whole, ſaving a Miſerable Pittance that he Reſerv'd for Himſelf. The Lyon highly approv’d of his Way of Diſtribution; but Prethee Reynard, ſays he, who taught thee to Carve? Why truly ſays the Fox, I had an Aſs to my Maſter; and it was His Folly made me Wiſe.
The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
THIS Fable is ſufficiently Moralliz'd Elſewhere; but it gives us further to Underſtand, that Experience is the Miſtreſs of Knaves as well as of Fools. Here was the Innocence of the Aſs, and the Craft of the Fox; Both in One. He ſav'd his Skin by the Modeſty of the Diviſion, and left enough for himſelf too, over and above! For Affes are No great Veniſon Eaters.
Fab. CCVII.
A Wolfe and a Kid.
AS a Wolfe was paſſing by a Poor Country Cottage, a Kid ſpy’d him through a Peeping-Hole in the Door; and ſent a Hundred Curſes along with him. Sirrah (ſays the Wolfe) if had ye out of your Caſtle, I'd make ye give Better Language.
The
