The Moral.
REFLEXION.
This may ſerve for a Leſſon to men in Power, that they Treaſure up Friends in their Proſperity, againſt a time of Need; for He that does not Secure himſelf of a flock of Reputation in his Greatneſs, ſhall moſf Certainly fall Unpity'd in his Adverſity: And the Baſer his Enemies are, the more inſupportable is the Inſolence, and the forwarder will they be to Trample upon him.
The Caſe of this Miſerable Old Lion may ſerve to put Great Men in mind, that the Wheele of Time, and of Fortune is ſtill Rolling, and that they themſelves are to lie down at laſt in the Grave with Common Duſt: And without any thing to ſupport them in their Age, but the Reputation, Virtue and Conſcience of a well ſpent Youth. Nay Age it ſelf, is well-nigh ſufficient to Deface every Letter and Action in the Hiſtory of a Meritorious Life. For Old Services are Bury'd under the Ruines of an Old Carcaſs: But there are None yet that fall to Unpity'd; ſo Juſt, ſo Neceſſary, and ſo Grateful a Sacrifice to the Rage and Scorn of the common People, as thoſe that have rais'd themſelves upon the Spoiles of the Publick: Eſpecially when that Oppreſtion is Aggravated with a Wanton Cruelty, and with Blood and Rapine, for the very love of Wickedneſs. It is a kind of Arrogance, in ſuch a caſe, to be Honeſt, where 'tis both a Faſhion, and a Credit to be Other.
The Lion is here upon his Death Bed; Not a Friend left him, nor ſo much as an Enemy, with either Fangs or Claws, that does not ſtand Gaping and Waiting for a Collop of him. Here he lies, Faint, Poor, and Defenceleſs, under the Judgment of Divine Vengeance, and the Animadverſion of Humane Juſtice, both at once; ſtung in his own Thoughts with the Guilty Remembrance of the Pride and Riot of his Youth, Abandon'd and Deſpis'd, by the Righteous Retaliation of Heaven it ſelf: All his Sins, as well as all his Adverſaries; his Frauds, and Cruelties; Broken Vows, Promiſes and Contracts, his Tyranny and Hypocriſie, and the Iniquity, in fine, of All his Councels, and Practices for the Ruine of the Guiltleſs flying in the face of him.
Fab. XV.
An Aſſe and a Whelp.
A Gentleman had got a Favourite Spaniel, that would be ſtill Toying, and Leaping upon him, Licking his Cheeks, and playing a Thouſand pretty Gambles, which the Maſter was well enough pleas'd withall. This Wanton Humour ſucceeded ſo well with the Puppy, that an Aſſe in the Houſe would needs go the
