Fab. CCLXXXV.
A Snake to Jupiter.
A Snake that found himſelf Perſecuted by Men, appeal’d to Jupiter for Relief; who told him that it was his Own Fault; for (ſays he) if you had but Bit the Firſt Man that Affronted ye; the ſecond would have taken Warning by’t.
The Moral of the Two Fables above.
The putting up of One Affront draws on Another.
REFLEXION.
THIS is No Ill Emblem of the Common People; that are Inſolent ſo long as they are Fear'd, and Shrink, where they find Danger; for their Courage is Calculated to the Opinion they have of the Enemy. It is the Nature of All ſorts of Mungril Curs, to Bawl, Snarle, and Snap, where the Foe flies before them; and to Clap their Tails between their Legs when an Adverſary makes Head againſt them. There's Nothing, in ſhort, but Reſolution, to carry a Man through All Difficulties: And ſince it is ſo Abſolutely Neceſſary, the ſooner it is Taken up, the Better it ſucceeds. 'Tis a Matter of very Evil Conſequence, to let the Rabble offer Publique Afftonts Gratis. A ſeditious Word leads to a Broyl, and a Ryot Unpuniſh'd, is but next door to a Tumult: So that the Bearing of One Indignity draws on Another. Bite the Firſt Man that Affronts ye, and y'are ſafe for ever after.
Fab. CCLXXXVI.
The Frogs and Tortoiſes.
AS a Company of Frogs were Trifling and Playing up and down in a Meadow, ſome Tortoiſes, that look'd on, were Mightily Troubled that they could not do ſo too, but taking Notice a while after how Theſe Frogs were Pick'd up, and Deſtroy’d, by Birds and Fiſhes: Well (ſays One of ‘em) ‘tis better to Live Dull, and Heavy, then to Dye Light and Nimble.
The
