Fab. CCCCXVI.
An Ape and a Lion in his Kingdom.
WE are told of a Lion, that (after the Laudable Example of other Princes,) paſs'd an Act of Grace upon his Acceſſion to the Crown, wherein he was pleas’d to Declare himſelf wonderfully in favour of the Liberties and Properties of his Subjects. He did not hold in this Mind long; and yet he could not think it convenient neither, to make any Attempts upon the Beaſts by open Force; ſo that he choſe rather to take them One by One in Private to him, and to ſift them all upon this General Queſtion; Put sour Noſe juſt to my Mouth, ſays he, when I Gape, and then tell me truly, is my Breath Sweet or no? Some told him that it was not Sweet, others that it was; and ſo he pick'd a Quarrel with them Both: The one Sort went to Pot for their Hypocriſie; and the other for their Inſolence. It came to the Ape at laſt, to deliver his Opinion upon the Matter; the Ape Smelt and Snuffled, and conſider'd on't: Why certainly Sir, ſays he, You have ſome Rich Perfume in Your Mouth, for I never ſmelt any thing ſo fragrant ſince I was Born. The Roguy Ape in fine, Wheedled him ſo Artificially, that the Lion had not the Face to Chop him up immediately upon the Spot, and yet he was Reſolv'd he ſhould not Scape neither: So the Lion Counterfeited Sick, and there was notable Puzzling among the Doctors I warrant ye, about his Pulſe and his Water: But they told him however upon due conſideration, that they found no Mortal Symptoms about him, only a kind of Heavy Indiſpoſition, that might be eaſily Rectified by a Careful Diet; and ſo they Deſir'd him by all means to bethink himſelf what Fleſh he lov‘d beſt, and e'en make a Hearty Meal on't. Why then (ſays the Lion) I have a ſtrange Fancy for a Mouthful of Good Sound Apes-Fleſh if you find it proper for me: Nothing like it, they cry’d; and ſo the Poor Flattering Ape was preſently Taken up, Dreſs'd and Eaten by way of Preſcription.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
