’tis too much to Superadd Powerful Temptations to do Wrong, to the Force of Vicious Inclinations to do it. The Boar’s Whetting his Teeth, was only an Act of Neceſſary Precaution, for fear of the Worſt: And the Porcupine did Wiſely too, in keeping himſelf upon his Guard when the Enemy was in View.
Fab. CCCXXI.
A Mouſe and a Kite.
A Simple Mouſe had the Fortune to be near at hand, when a Kite was taken in a Net. The Kite begg’d of her to try it ſhe could help her out. The Mouſe Gnaw’d a Hole in’t, and ſet her at Liberty; and the Kite Eat up the Mouſe for her Pains.
The MORAL.
Save a Thief from the Gallows and he’ll Cut your Throat.
REFLEXION.
’TIS No New Thing in the World to Return Evil for Good. Nay, there are ſome Natures ſo ſowre, and ſo Ungrateful, that they are never to be Oblig’d. All Kites of This Humour do not Wear Feathers: Neither do All ſuch Mice wear Long Tayls. There are Caſes, wherein our Very Tenderneſs, and Charity, becomes a Snare to us, and there are People too, that fancy No Blood ſo ſweet, as That of the Perſon to whom they ſtand Indebted for their Lives and Fortunes: But then if One Man ſhould Ceaſe to be Generous, and Charitable, becauſe Another Man is Sordid, and Ungrateful. It would be much in the Power of the Baſeſt of Vices to Extinguiſh the moſt Chriſtian, and Humane of Vertues. Theſe Lewd Examples May however, and Ought to Recommend Prudence and Caution to us; but without Killing, or Quenching Good Nature. There are, ’tis true, ſome People ſo Harden’d in Wickedneſs, as to have No Senſe at all of the moſt Friendly Offices, or the Higheſt Benefits. Now in Theſe Deſperate Caſes, a Man is little Better then Felo-de-ſe, that for the Helping of Another Ventures the Undoing of Himſelf. Nay, and ’tis ſomewhat more then a Venture too, when a Mouſe lays it ſelf at the Mercy of a Kite.
FAB.
