We have seen what opinion the ancients had of our Author, and hiswritings. Now, as to the manner of conveying instruction by Fables ingeneral, though many good vouchers of antiquity sufficiently recommendit, yet to avoid tiring the reader's patience, I shall wave allquotations from thence, and lay before him the testimony of a modern;whose authority, in point of judgment, and consequently, in the presentcase, may be as readily acknowledged as that of any ancient of them all."Fables[4]," says Mr. Addison, "were the first pieces of wit that madetheir appearance in the world; and have been still highly valued, notonly in times of the greatest simplicity, but among the most polite agesof mankind. Jotham's Fable of the Trees is the oldest that is extant,and as beautiful as any which have been made since that time. Nathan'sFable of the poor Man and his Lamb, is likewise more ancient than anythat is extant, besides the above-mentioned, and had so good an effect,as to convey instruction to the ear of a king, without offending it,and to bring the man after God's own heart to a right sense of hisguilt, and his duty. We find AEsop in the most distant ages of Greece.And, if we look into the very beginning of the commonwealth of Rome, wesee a mutiny among the common people appeased by the Fable of the Bellyand the Members[5]; which was indeed very proper to gain the attentionof an incensed rabble, at a time, when, perhaps, they would have torn topieces any man who had preached the same doctrine to them, in an openand direct manner. As Fables took their birth in the very infancy oflearning, they never flourished more than when learning was at itsgreatest height. To justify this assertion, I shall put my reader inmind of Horace, the greatest wit and critic in the Augustan age; and ofBoileau, the most correct poet among the moderns; not to mention LaFontaine, who, by this way of writing, is come more into vogue than anyother author of our times." After this, he proceeds to give some accountof that kind of Fable in which the passions, and other imaginary beings,are actors; and concludes with a most beautiful one of that sort, of hisown contriving. In another place, he gives us a translation from Homerof that inimitable Fable comprised in the interview between Jupiter andJuno, when the latter made use of the girdle of Venus, to recall theaffection of her husband; a piece never sufficiently to be recommendedto the perusal of such of the fair sex, as are ambitious of acquittingthemselves handsomely in point of conjugal complacence. But I must notomit the excellent Preface, by which the Fable is introduced, "Readingis to the mind[6]," says he, "what exercise is to the body: as by theone, health is preserved, strengthened, and invigorated; by the othervirtue (which is the health of the mind) is kept alive, cherished, andconfirmed. But, as exercise becomes tedious and painful when we make useof it only as the means of health, so reading is too apt to grow uneasyand burdensome, when we apply ourselves to it only for our improvementin virtue. For this reason, the virtue which we gather from a Fable oran allegory, is like the health we get by hunting, as we are engaged inan agreeable pursuit that draws us on with pleasure, and makes itsinsensible of the fatigues that accompany it."
[4] Spect. No. 183.
[5] Fab. liv.
[6] Tatler, No. 147.
AESOP'S FABLES.
FABLE I.
THE COCK AND THE JEWEL.]
A brisk young Cock, in company with two or three pullets, hismistresses, raking upon a dunghill for something to entertain them with,happened to scratch up a Jewel. He knew what it was well enough, for itsparkled with an exceeding bright lustre; but, not knowing what to dowith it, endeavoured to cover his ignorance under a gay contempt; so,shrugging up his wings, shaking his head, and putting on a grimace, heexpressed himself to this purpose:--'Indeed, you are a very fine thing;but I know not any business you have here. I make no scruple ofdeclaring that my taste lies quite another way; and I had rather haveone grain of dear delicious barley, than all the Jewels under the sun.'
APPLICATION.
There are several people in the world that pass, with some, for wellaccomplished gentlemen, and very pretty fellows, though they are asgreat strangers to the true uses of virtue and knowledge as the Cockupon the dunghill is to the real value of the Jewel. He palliates hisignorance by pretending that his taste lies another way. But, whatevergallant airs people may give themselves upon these occasions, withoutdispute, the solid advantages of virtue, and the durable pleasures oflearning, are as much to be preferred before other objects of thesenses, as the finest brilliant diamond is above a barley-corn. Thegreatest blockheads would appear to understand what at the same timethey affect to despise: and nobody yet was ever so vicious, as to havethe impudence to declare, in public, that virtue was not a fine thing.
But still, among the idle, sauntering young fellows of the age, who haveleisure as well to cultivate and improve the faculties of the mind, asto dress and embellish the body, how many are there who spend their daysin raking after new scenes of debauchery, in comparison of those few whoknow how to relish more reasonable entertainments! Honest, undesigninggood sense is so unfashionable, that he must be a bold man who, at thistime of day, attempts to bring it into esteem.
How disappointed is the youth who, in the midst of his amorous pursuits,endeavouring to plunder an outside of bloom and beauty, finds a treasureof impenetrable virtue concealed within! And why may it not be said, howdelighted are the fair sex when, from among a crowd of empty, frolic,conceited admirers, they find out, and distinguish with their goodopinion, a man of sense, with a plain, unaffected person, which, atfirst sight, they did not like!
FABLE II.
THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.]
One hot, sultry day, a Wolf and a Lamb happened to come, just at thesame time, to quench their thirst in the stream of a clear, silver brookthat ran tumbling down the side of a rocky mountain. The Wolf stood uponthe higher ground, and the Lamb at some distance from him down thecurrent. However, the Wolf, having a mind to pick a quarrel with him,asked him, what he meant by disturbing the water, and making it so muddythat he could not drink? and, at the same time demanded satisfaction.The Lamb, frightened at this threatening charge, told him, in a tone asmild as possible, that, with humble submission, he could not conceivehow that could be; since the water which he drank, ran down from theWolf to him, and therefore it could not be disturbed so far up thestream. 'Be that as it will,' replies the Wolf, 'you are a rascal, and Ihave been told that you treated me with ill language, behind my back,about half a year ago.'--'Upon my word,' says the Lamb, 'the time youmention was before I was born.' The Wolf, finding it to no purpose toargue any longer against truth, fell into a great passion, snarling andfoaming at the mouth, as if he had been mad; and drawing nearer to theLamb, 'Sirrah,' says he, 'if it was not you, it was your father, andthat is all one.'--So he seized the poor innocent, helpless thing, toreit to pieces, and made a meal of it.
APPLICATION.
The thing which is pointed at in this fable is so obvious, that it willbe impertinent to multiply words about it. When a cruel ill-natured manhas a mind to abuse one inferior to himself, either in power or courage,though he has not given the least occasion for it, how does he resemblethe Wolf! whose envious, rapacious temper could not bear to seeinnocence live quietly in its neighbourhood. In short, wherever illpeople are in power, innocence and integrity are sure to be persecuted:the more vicious the community is, the better countenance they have fortheir own villanous measures. To practise honesty in bad times, is beingliable to suspicion enough; but if any one should dare to prescribe it,it is ten to one but he would be impeached of high crimes andmisdemeanors: for to stand up for justice in a degenerate and corruptstate, is tacitly to upbraid the government, and seldom fails of pullingdown vengeance upon the head of him that offers to stir in its defence.Where cruelty and malice are in combination with power, nothing is soeasy as for them to find a pretence to tyrannize over innocence, andexercise all manner of injustice.
FABLE III.
THE LION AND THE FOUR BULLS.]
Four Bulls, which had entered into a very strict friendship, kept alwaysnear one another, and fed together. The Lion often saw them, and asoften had a mi
nd to make one of them his prey; but, though he couldeasily have subdued any of them singly, yet he was afraid to attack thewhole alliance, as knowing they would have been too hard for him, andtherefore contented himself, for the present, with keeping at adistance. At last, perceiving no attempt was to be made upon them, aslong as this combination held, he took occasion, by whispers and hints,to foment jealousies, and raise divisions among them. This stratagemsucceeded so well, that the Bulls grew cold and reserved towards oneanother, which soon after ripened into a downright hatred andaversion; and, at last, ended in a total separation. The Lion had nowobtained his ends; and, as impossible as it was for him to hurt themwhile they were united, he found no difficulty, now they were parted, toseize and devour every Bull of them, one after another.
APPLICATION.
The moral of this fable is so well known and allowed, that to go aboutto enlighten it, would be like holding a candle to the sun. "A kingdomdivided against itself cannot stand;" and as undisputed a maxim as itis, was, however, thought necessary to be urged to the attention ofmankind, by the best Man that ever lived. And since friendships andalliances are of so great importance to our well-being and happiness, wecannot be too often cautioned not to let them be broken by tale-bearersand whisperers, or any other contrivance of our enemies.
FABLE IV.
THE FROG AND THE FOX.]
A Frog, leaping out of a lake, and taking the advantage of a risingground, made proclamation to all the beasts of the forest, that he wasan able physician, and, for curing all manner of distempers, would turnhis back to no person living. This discourse, uttered in a parcel ofhard, cramp words, which nobody understood, made the beasts admire hislearning, and give credit to every thing he said. At last the Fox, whowas present, with indignation asked him, how he could have theimpudence, with those thin lantern-jaws, that meagre pale phiz, andblotched spotted body, to set up for one who was able to cure theinfirmities of others.
APPLICATION.
A sickly, infirm look, is as disadvantageous in a physician, as that ofa rake in a clergyman, or a sheepish one in a soldier. If this moralcontains any thing further, it is, that we should not set up forrectifying enormities in others, while we labour under the sameourselves. Good advice ought always to be followed, without our beingprejudiced upon account of the person from whom it comes: but it isseldom that men can be brought to think us worth minding, when weprescribe cures for maladies with which ourselves are infected."Physician, heal thyself," is too scriptural not to be applied upon suchan occasion; and, if we would avoid being the jest of an audience, wemust be sound, and free from those diseases of which we would endeavourto cure others. How shocked must people have been to hear a preacher,for a whole hour, declaim against drunkenness, when his own infirmityhas been such, that he could neither bear nor forbear drinking; and,perhaps, was the only person in the congregation who made the doctrineat that time necessary! Others too have been very zealous in explodingcrimes, for which none were more suspected than themselves: but let suchsilly hypocrites remember, that they whose eyes want couching, are themost improper people in the world to set up for oculists.
FABLE V.
THE ASS EATING THISTLES.]
An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in timeof harvest, he was carrying into the field for his master and thereapers to dine upon. By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and,being very hungry, began to mumble it; which, while he was doing, heentered into this reflection--'How many greedy epicures would thinkthemselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I nowcarry! But to me, this bitter prickly Thistle is more savoury andrelishing than the most exquisite and sumptuous banquet.'
APPLICATION.
Happiness and misery, and oftentimes pleasure and pain, exist merely inour opinion, and are no more to be accounted for than the difference oftastes. "That which is one man's meat, is another man's poison," is aproposition that ought to be allowed in all particulars, where theopinion is concerned, as well as in eating and drinking. Our senses mustinform us whether a thing pleases or displeases, before we can declareour judgment of it; and that is to any man good or evil, which his ownunderstanding suggests to him to be so, and not that which is agreeableto another's fancy. And yet, as reasonable and as necessary as it is togrant this, how apt are we to wonder at people for not liking this orthat, or how can they think so and so! This childish humour of wonderingat the different tastes and opinions of others, occasions muchuneasiness among the generality of mankind. But, if we considered thingsrightly, why should we be more concerned at others differing from us intheir way of thinking upon any subject whatever, than at their likingcheese, or mustard; one, or both of which, we may happen to dislike? Intruth, he that expects all mankind should be of his opinion, is muchmore stupid and unreasonable than the Ass in the fable.
FABLE VI.
THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES.]
A Lark, who had Young Ones in a field of corn which was almost ripe, wasunder some fear lest the reapers should come to reap it before her youngbrood were fledged, and able to remove from the place: wherefore, uponflying abroad to look for food, she left this charge with them--thatthey should take notice what they heard talked of in her absence, andtell her of it when she came back again. When she was gone, they heardthe owner of the corn call to his son--'Well,' says he, 'I think thiscorn is ripe enough; I would have you go early to-morrow, and desire ourfriends and neighbours to come and help us to reap it.' When the OldLark came home, the Young Ones fell a quivering and chirping round her,and told her what had happened, begging her to remove them as fast asshe could. The mother bid them be easy; 'for,' says she, 'if the ownerdepends upon friends and neighbours, I am pretty sure the corn will notbe reaped to-morrow.' Next day she went out again, upon the sameoccasion, and left the same orders with them as before. The owner came,and stayed, expecting those he had sent to: but the sun grew hot, andnothing was done, for not a soul came to help him. 'Then,' says he tohis son, 'I perceive these friends of ours are not to be depended upon;so that you must even go to your uncles and cousins, and tell them, Idesire they would be here betimes to-morrow morning to help us to reap.'Well, this the Young Ones, in a great fright, reported also to theirmother. 'If that be all,' says she, 'do not be frightened, children, forkindred and relations do not use to be so very forward to serve oneanother; but take particular notice what you hear said the next time,and be sure you let me know it.' She went abroad the next day, as usual;and the owner, finding his relations as slack as the rest of hisneighbours, said to his son, 'Hark ye! George, do you get a couple ofgood sickles ready against to-morrow morning, and we will even reap thecorn ourselves.' When the Young Ones told their mother this, 'Then,'says she, 'we must be gone indeed; for, when a man undertakes to do hisbusiness himself, it is not so likely that he will be disappointed.' Soshe removed her Young Ones immediately, and the corn was reaped the nextday by the good man and his son.
APPLICATION.
Never depend upon the assistance of friends and relations in any thingwhich you are able to do yourself; for nothing is more fickle anduncertain. The man, who relies upon another for the execution of anyaffair of importance, is not only kept in a wretched and slavishsuspense while he expects the issue of the matter, but generally meetswith a disappointment. While he, who lays the chief stress of hisbusiness upon himself, and depends upon his own industry and attentionfor the success of his affairs, is in the fairest way to attain his end:and, if at last he should miscarry, has this to comfort him--that it wasnot through his own negligence, and a vain expectation of the assistanceof friends. To stand by ourselves, as much as possible, to exert our ownstrength and vigilance in the prosecution of our affairs, is god-like,being the result of a most noble and highly exalted reason; but they whoprocrastinate and defer the business of life by an idle dependance uponothers, in things which it is in their own power to effect, sink downinto a kind of stupid abject slavery, and show themselves unworthy ofthe talents with which human nature is dignif
ied.
FABLE VII.
THE COCK AND THE FOX.]
The Fox, passing early one summer's morning near a farm-yard, was caughtin a springe, which the farmer had planted there for that end. The Cock,at a distance, saw what happened; and, hardly yet daring to trusthimself too near so dangerous a foe, approached him cautiously, andpeeped at him, not without some horror and dread of mind. Reynard nosooner perceived it, but he addressed himself to him, with all thedesigning artifice imaginable. 'Dear cousin,' says he, 'you see what anunfortunate accident has befallen me here, and all upon your account:for, as I was creeping through yonder hedge, in my way homeward, I heardyou crow, and was resolved to ask you how you did before I went anyfurther: but, by the way, I met with this disaster; and therefore now Imust become an humble suitor to you for a knife to cut this plaguystring; or, at least, that you would conceal my misfortune, till I havegnawed it asunder with my teeth.' The Cock, seeing how the case stood,made no reply, but posted away as fast as he could, and gave the farmeran account of the whole matter; who, taking a good weapon along withhim, came and did the Fox's business, before he could have time tocontrive his escape.