would do Better they think. Now 'tis Impoſſible to ſatisfie people that would have they know not what. They Beg and Wrangle, and Appeal, and their Anſwer is at laſt, that if they ſhift again, they ſhall be ſtill Worſe; By which, the Frogs are given to Underfſtand the very truth of the Matter as we find it in the World, both in the Nature, and Reaſon of the Thing, and in Policy, and Religion; which is, That Kings are from God, and that it is a Sin, a Folly, and a Madneſs, to ſtruggle with his Appointments.
Fab. XX.
The Kite, Hawk, and Pigeons.
THE Pigeons finding themſelves Perſecuted by the Kite, made Choice of the Hawk for their Guardian. The Hawk ſets up for their Protector; but under Countenance of That Authority, makes more Havock in the Dove-Houſe in Two Days, than the Kite could have done in Twice as many Months.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
It is Highly Dangerous, and Imprudent, for a People in War to call in an Enemy Prince to their Defence. There's no Truſting a Perfidious Man, nor any Enmity like the Pretended Protection of a Treacherous Friend.
There is no Living in this World without Inconveniences, and therefore People ſhould have the Wit, or the Honeſty, to take up with the Lead, and to bear the Lot, which is not to be Avoided, with Honour, and Patience. How many Experiments have been made in the Memory of Man, both in Religion, and in State, to mend Matters, upon pretence that they were Uneaſie, by making them Intolerable, And whence is This, but from a Miſtaken Opinion of the Preſent, and as Falſe a Judgment of the Future! And all for want of Rightly Underſtanding the Nature and the Condition of Things, and for want of Foreſight into Events. But we are Mad upon Variety, and ſo Sick of the Preſent, (how much ſoever Without, or Againſt Reaſon) that we Abandon the Wiſdom, and the Providence of Heaven, and Fly from the Grievances of God's Appointment, to Blind Chance for a Remedy. This Fable in One Word was never more Exactly Moralized than in our Broils of Famous Memory.
The Kite was the Evil Counſellour; The Free-Born People that Complain'd of them were the Pigeons; The Hawk was the Power or Authority that they Appeal'd to for Protection. And what did all this come to at Laſt? The very Guardians that took upon them to Reſcue the Pigeons from the Kite, deſtroy'd the Whole Dove-Houſe, devour'd the Birds, and ſhar'd the Spoil among Themſelves.
