No great Enterprize ſhould be Undertaken without conſidering beforehand the Good or the Ill that may come of it.
REFLEXION.
This Fable ſhews the great Overſight of Engaging in Quarrels, without Conſidering from what Quarter the Danger may come. Where Adverſaries are unequally Match’d, it will behove the Weaker to ſupply the want of Force and Courage, by Invention and Addreſs. Preſumption can never Juſtify either Temerity or Careleſſneſs; for every Creature has its Weak Side, and lies open to be Impos'd upon by Craft or Surprize. There’s an Infamy in the very Challenge of ſo Baſe and Timerous a Creature; but then to be Worſted by an Animal that's the Scorn of all the Reſt, is Shameful and Ridiculous to the Higheſt Degree.
Fab. CCCCXIX.
A Cuckow and Littie Birds.
ACuckow was asking ſeveral Little Birds, what made them ſo Shy of coming into her Company. They told her, that ſhe was ſo like a Hawk, they did not care to have any thing to do with her.
The Moral.
A Wiſe Man Searches into the Nature of Things, and does not Govern himſelf by outward Semblances and Appearances.
REFLEXION.
Thereſhould a Regard be had in all our Actions and Counſels, to the Nicety of the matter in Queſtion. This is to tell us, that the very Appearances of Evil are to be Avoided, and all the Semblances of Danger to be well Examin'd and Confider'd. Why ſhould not a Bird as well truſt a Hawk that's like a Cuckow, as truſt a Cuckow that's like a Hawk? Two Likes may be Miſtaken, and a Man cannot be too wary where the Error is Mortal. There may be a Diſguiſe ‘tis true, in the one caſe, and a miſapprehenſion in the other; but it is ſafer yet to ſtand upon our Guard againſt an Enemy in the likeneſs of a Friend, then to Embrace any Man for a Friend in the likeneſs of an Enemy. There’s No Snare like Credulity, when the Bait that's laid for us is cover'd with the pretence of a Good Office. Neither are there any Impoſtures fo Pernicious, as thoſe that are put upon us by Fair Reſemblances, He that isnot
