Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/111

Rh 

Fables lay Open to us the Folly of Thofe People that make themelves Slaves to their Revenge; for no man hould be o Angry with Another, as to Hurt Himelf for't. We hould likewie Conider, that there’s More Hazzard in the uccour of a New Powerful Friend, then in the Hotility of an Old Dangerous Enemy; and that the Greatet Empires upon the face of the Earth have had their Rie from the Pretence of Taking up Quarrels, or Keeping the Peace.

Thee Fables tell us, that it is a Rule of Good Dicretion in all Matters of Quarrel, and Controverie, for Him that is Worted to have a Great Care Whom he calls to his Aid: Epecially when there's more of Paion then Neceity in the Cae. The Hore might have Quench'd his Thirt with Troubled-Water; or he might have tay’d the Clearing of it; Or Chang’d his Wat'ring Place; Or when he was forc'd out of One Pature he might have taken-up in Another, which would have Preerv'd his Liberty upon the Main, though not as to This Particular: But his Stomach was too Great, it eems, to Diget the Affront, without having his Enemy at his Feet: o that he gives up his Freedom to Gain his Revenge. He has Fair Words however, Rich Trappings, and Large Promies; but Works only for his Mater; and if at any time he does but Slacken his Pace, or abate, either in his Zeale, or in his Mettle, the Spurr is preently in the Flank of him: Or if he be Unruly, the Bit’s upon the Check to Keep him to his Duty. The Stag was too Hard for the Hore; and the Hore flyes for Succour to One that's to Hard for Him, and Rides the One to Death, and Outright Kills the Other? It were Well, if Poible, to keep All Potent Enemies to the Behaviour in uch a Cae as This, Epecially if they Appear under the Shape of Friends: But if People will Venture Life, Liberty and All, for the Clawing of an Itch, and lay Violent Hands upon Themelves, there's no Fence for't.

That which Men are to Hores, in the Scale of Creatures, Men in Power and Authority, are in ome Proportion to the Poor and Weak: That is to ay in the Analogy of Servitude, and Drudgery; and in the carrying of ome ort of Burdens that are a Shame to the Bearer. They Toyle and Moyle for the Interet of their Maters, that in requital, break the very Hearts of them for their Pleaure; and the Freer they are of their Fleh, the more Scandalous is the Bondage. When they have done All that Hores can do, they are Lath'd, Spurr'd, Revil'd, and Ill Treated, for not being able to do More: They are Hurry'd on without either Repite or Reaon; And after they have carry'd thcir Riders afe over All Leaps, and thorough All Dangers, and by All Ways and Means Contributed to the Eae, Credit, and Security of their Maters, what comes of them in the End, but to be Strain'd, Founder'd or Broken Winded; Old