FABLE XXIV.
THE FATAL MARRIAGE.]
The Lion aforesaid, touched with the grateful procedure of the Mouse,and resolving not to be outdone in generosity by any wild beastwhatsoever, desired his little deliverer to name his own terms, for thathe might depend upon his complying with any proposal he should make. TheMouse, fired with ambition at this gracious offer, did not so muchconsider what was proper for him to ask, as what was in the power of hisprince to grant; and so presumptuously demanded his princely daughter,the young Lioness, in marriage. The Lion consented: but, when he wouldhave given the royal virgin into his possession, she, like a giddy thingas she was, not minding how she walked, by chance set her paw upon herspouse, who was coming to meet her, and crushed her little dear topieces.
APPLICATION.
This fable seems intended to show us how miserable some people makethemselves by a wrong choice, when they have all the good things in theworld spread before them to choose out of. In short, if that oneparticular of judgment be wanting, it is not in the power of thegreatest monarch upon earth, nor of the repeated smiles of fortune, tomake us happy. It is the want or possession of a good judgment whichoftentimes makes the prince a poor wretch, and the poor philosophercompletely easy. Now, the first and chief degree of judgment is to knowone's self; to be able to make a tolerable estimate of one's owncapacity, so as not to speak or undertake any thing which may eitherinjure or make us ridiculous: and yet (as wonderful as it is) there havebeen men of allowed good sense in particular, and possessed of alldesirable qualifications in general, to make life delightful andagreeable, who have unhappily contrived to match themselves with womenof a genius and temper necessarily tending to blast their peace. Thisproceeds from some unaccountable blindness: but when wealthy plebeians,of mean extraction and unrefined education, as an equivalent for theirmoney, demand brides out of the nurseries of our peerage, their beingdespised, or at least overlooked, is so unavoidable, unless inextraordinary cases, that nothing but a false taste of glory could makethem enter upon a scheme so inconsistent and unpromising.
FABLE XXV.
THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG.]
A certain man had a Dog, which was so fierce and mischievous, that hewas forced to fasten a heavy clog about his neck, to keep him fromrunning at and worrying people. This the vain cur took for a badge ofhonourable distinction; and grew so insolent upon it, that he lookeddown with an air of scorn upon the neighbouring dogs, and refused tokeep them company. But a sly old poacher, who was one of the gang,assured him, that he had no reason to value himself upon the favour hewore, since it was fixed upon him rather as a mark of disgrace than ofhonour.
APPLICATION.
Some people are so exceeding vain, and at the same time so dull ofapprehension, that they interpret every thing by which they aredistinguished from others in their own favour. If they betray anyweaknesses in conversation, which are apt to excite the laughter oftheir company, they make no scruple of ascribing it to their superiorityin point of wit. If want of sense or breeding (one of which is alwaysthe case) disposes them to give, or mistake, affronts, upon whichaccount all discreet sensible people are obliged to shun their company,they impute it to their own valour and magnanimity, to which they fancythe world pays an awful and respectful deference. There are severaldecent ways of preventing such turbulent men from doing mischief, whichmight be applied with secrecy, and many times pass unregarded, if theirown arrogance did not require the rest of mankind to take notice of it.
FABLE XXVI.
THE OX AND THE FROG.]
An Ox, grazing in a meadow, chanced to set his foot among a parcel ofyoung Frogs, and trod one of them to death. The rest informed theirmother, when she came home, what had happened; telling her, that thebeast which did it was the hugest creature that they ever saw in theirlives. 'What, was it so big?' says the old Frog, swelling and blowing upher speckled belly to a great degree. 'Oh! bigger by a vast deal,' saythey. 'And so big?' says she, straining herself yet more. 'Indeed,mamma,' say they, 'If you were to burst yourself, you would never be sobig.' She strove yet again, and burst herself indeed.
APPLICATION.
Whenever a man endeavours to live equal with one of a greater fortunethan himself, he is sure to share a like fate with the Frog in thefable. How many vain people, of moderate easy circumstances, burst andcome to nothing, by vying with those whose estates are more ample thantheir own? Sir Changeling Plumstock was possessed of a very considerableestate, devolved to him by the death of an old uncle, who had adoptedhim his heir. He had a false taste of happiness, and, without the leasteconomy, trusting to the sufficiency of his vast revenue, was resolvedto be outdone by nobody in showish grandeur and expensive living. Hegave five thousand pounds for a piece of ground in the country to set ahouse upon; the building and furniture of which cost fifty thousandmore; and his gardens were proportionably magnificent. Besides which, hethought himself under a necessity of buying out two or three tenementswhich stood in his neighbourhood, that he might have elbow-room enough.All this he could very well bear; and still might have been happy, hadit not been for an unfortunate view which he one day happened to take ofmy Lord Castlebuilder's gardens, which consisted of twenty acres,whereas his own were not above twelve. From that time he grew pensive;and, before the ensuing winter, gave five and thirty years purchase fora dozen acres more to enlarge his gardens; built a couple of exorbitantgreenhouses, and a large pavilion at the further end of a terrace-walk.The bare repairs and superintendencies of all which call for theremaining part of his income. He is mortgaged pretty deep, and paysnobody; but, being a privileged person, resides altogether at a privatecheap lodging in the City of Westminster.
FABLE XXVII.
THE FOX AND THE LION.]
The first time the Fox saw the Lion, he fell down at his feet, and wasready to die with fear. The second time, he took courage, and could evenbear to look upon him. The third time, he had the impudence to come upto him, to salute him, and to enter into familiar conversation with him.
APPLICATION.
From this fable we may observe the two extremes in which we may fail, asto a proper behaviour towards our superiors: the one is a bashfulness,proceeding either from a vicious guilty mind, or a timorous rusticity;the other, an over-bearing impudence, which assumes more than becomesit, and so renders the person insufferable to the conversation ofwell-bred reasonable people. But there is this difference between thebashfulness that arises from a want of education, and the shamefacednessthat accompanies conscious guilt; the first, by a continuance of timeand a nearer acquaintance, may be ripened into a proper liberalbehaviour; the other no sooner finds an easy practicable access, but itthrows off all manner of reverence, grows every day more and morefamiliar, and branches out into the utmost indecency and irregularity.Indeed, there are many occasions which may happen to cast an awe, oreven a terror, upon our minds at first view, without any just andreasonable grounds; but upon a little recollection, or a nearer insight,we recover ourselves, and can appear indifferent and unconcerned, where,before, we were ready to sink under a load of diffidence and fear. Weshould, upon such occasions, use our endeavours to regain a due degreeof steadiness and resolution; but, at the same time, we must have a carethat our efforts in that respect do not force the balance too much, andmake it rise to an unbecoming freedom and an offensive familiarity.
FABLE XXVIII.
THE APE AND THE FOX.]
The Ape meeting the Fox one day, humbly requested him to give him apiece of his fine, long, brush tail, to cover his poor naked backside,which was exposed to all the violence and inclemency of the weather;'For,' says he, 'Reynard, you have already more than you have occasionfor, and a great part of it even drags along in the dirt.' The Foxanswered, 'That as to his having too much, that was more than he knew;but be it as it would, he had rather sweep the ground with his tail, aslong as he lived, than deprive himself of the least bit to cover theApe's nasty stinking posteriors.'
APPLICATION.
One cannot hel
p considering the world, in the particular of the goods offortune, as a kind of lottery; in which some few are entitled to prizesof different degrees; others, and those by much the greatest part, comeoff with little or nothing. Some, like the Fox, have even largercircumstances than they know what to do with, insomuch that they arerather a charge and incumbrance than of any true use and pleasure tothem. Others, like the poor Ape's case, are all blank; not having beenso lucky as to draw from the wheel of fortune wherewith to cover theirnakedness, and live with tolerable decency. That these things are left,in a great measure, by Providence, to the blind uncertain shuffle ofchance, is reasonable to conclude from the unequal distribution of them;for there is seldom any regard had to true merit upon these occasions;folly and knavery ride in coaches, while good sense and honesty walk inthe dirt. The all-wise Disposer of events does certainly permit thesethings for just and good purposes, which our shallow understanding isnot able to fathom; but, humanly thinking, if the riches and power ofthe world were to be always in the hands of the virtuous part ofmankind, they would be more likely to do good with them in theirgeneration, than the vile sottish wretches who generally enjoy them. Atruly good man would direct all the superfluous part of his wealth, atleast, for the necessities of his fellow-creatures, though there were noreligion which enjoined it: but selfish and avaricious people, who arealways great knaves, how much soever they may have, will never thinkthey have enough: much less be induced, by any consideration of virtueand religion, to part with the least farthing for public charity andbeneficence.
FABLE XXIX.
THE DOG IN THE MANGER.]
A Dog was lying upon a manger full of hay. An Ox, being hungry, camenear, and offered to eat of the hay; but the envious ill-natured cur,getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it. Uponwhich the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, 'A curse light onthee, for a malicious wretch, who wilt neither eat hay thyself, norsuffer others to do it.'
APPLICATION.
Envy is the most unnatural and unaccountable of all the passions. Thereis scarce any other emotion of the mind, however unreasonable, but mayhave something said in excuse for it; and there are many of theseweaknesses of the soul, which, notwithstanding the wrongness andirregularity of them, swell the heart, while they last, with pleasureand gladness. But the envious man has no such apology as this to make;the stronger the passion is, the greater torment he endures; andsubjects himself to a continual real pain, by only wishing ill toothers. Revenge is sweet, though cruel and inhuman; and though itsometimes thirsts even for blood, yet may be glutted and satiated.Avarice is something highly monstrous and absurd; yet, as it is a desireafter riches, every little acquisition gives it pleasure; and to beholdand feel the hoarded treasure, to a covetous man, is a constantuncloying enjoyment. But envy, which is an anxiety arising in our minds,upon our observing accomplishments in others which we want ourselves,can never receive any true comfort, unless in a deluge, a conflagration,a plague, or some general calamity that should befal mankind: for, aslong as there is a creature living, that enjoys its being happily withinthe envious man's sphere, it will afford nourishment to his distemperedmind; but such nourishment as will make him pine, and fret, and emaciatehimself to nothing.
FABLE XXX.
THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT.]
Once upon a time there commenced a fierce war between the Birds and theBeasts; when the Bat, taking advantage of his ambiguous make hoped, bythat means, to live secure in a state of neutrality, and save his bacon.It was not long before the forces on each side met, and gave battle;and, their animosities running very high, a bloody slaughter ensued. TheBat, at the beginning of the day, thinking the birds most likely tocarry it, listed himself among them; but kept fluttering at a littledistance, that he might the better observe, and take his measuresaccordingly. However, after some time spent in the action, the army ofthe Beasts seeming to prevail, he went entirely over to them, andendeavoured to convince them, by the affinity which he had to a Mouse,that he was by nature a beast, and would always continue firm and trueto their interest. His plea was admitted; but, in the end, the advantageturning completely on the side of the Birds, under the admirable conductand courage of their general the Eagle, the Bat, to save his life, andescape the disgrace of falling into the hands of his deserted friends,betook himself to flight; and ever since, skulking in caves and hollowtrees all day, as if ashamed to show himself, he never appears till thedusk of the evening, when all the feathered inhabitants of the air aregone to roost.
APPLICATION.
For any one to desert the interest of his country, and turn renegado,either out of fear, or any prospect of advantage, is so notoriously vileand low, that it is no wonder if the man, who is detected in it, is forever ashamed to see the sun, and to show himself in the eyes of thosewhose cause he has betrayed. Yet, as there is scarce any vice, even tobe imagined, but there may be found men who have been guilty of it,perhaps there have been as many criminals in the case before us, as inany one particular besides, notwithstanding the aggravation andextraordinary degree of its baseness. We cannot help reflecting upon itwith horror: but, as truly detestable as this vice is, and must beacknowledged to be, by all mankind, so far are those that practise itfrom being treated with a just resentment by the rest of mankind, thatby the kind reception they afterwards meet with, they rather seem to beencouraged and applauded, than despised and discountenanced, for it.
FABLE XXXI.
THE FOX AND THE TIGER.]
A skilful archer coming into the woods, directed his arrows sosuccessfully, that he slew many wild beasts, and pursued several others.This put the whole savage kind into a fearful consternation, and madethem fly to the most retired thickets for refuge. At last, the Tigerresumed a courage, and, bidding them not to be afraid, said, that healone would engage the enemy; telling them, they might depend upon hisvalour and strength to revenge their wrongs. In the midst of thesethreats, while he was lashing himself with his tail, and tearing up theground for anger, an arrow pierced his ribs, and hung by its barbedpoint in his side. He set up an hideous and loud roar, occasioned bythe anguish which he felt, and endeavoured to draw out the painful dartwith his teeth; when the Fox, approaching him, inquired with an air ofsurprise, who it was that could have strength and courage enough towound so mighty and valorous a beast?--'Ah!' says the Tiger, 'I wasmistaken in my reckoning: it was that invincible man yonder.'
APPLICATION.
Though strength and courage are very good ingredients towards the makingus secure and formidable in the world, yet, unless there be a properportion of wisdom or policy to direct them, instead of beingserviceable, they often prove detrimental to their proprietors. A rashfroward man, who depends upon the excellence of his own parts andaccomplishments, is likewise apt to expose a weak side, which hisenemies might not otherwise have observed, and gives an advantage toothers by those very means which he fancied would have secured it tohimself. Counsel and conduct always did, and always will, govern theworld; and the strong, in spite of all their force, can never avoidbeing tools to the crafty. Some men are as much superior to others inwisdom and policy, as man, in general, is above a brute. Strengthill-concerted, opposed to them, is like a quarter staff in the hands ofa huge, robust, but bungling fellow, who fights against a master of thescience. The latter, though without a weapon, would have skill andaddress enough to disarm his adversary, and drub him with his own staff.In a word, savage fierceness and brutal strength must not pretend tostand in competition with finesse and stratagem.
FABLE XXXII.
THE LIONESS AND THE FOX.]
The Lioness and the Fox meeting together fell into discourse; and theconversation turning upon the breeding and the fruitfulness of someliving creatures above others, the Fox could not forbear taking theopportunity of observing to the Lioness, that, for her part, she thoughtFoxes were as happy in that respect as almost any other creatures; forthat they bred constantly once a year, if not oftener, and always had agood litter of cubs at ever
y birth: 'and yet,' says she, 'there arethose who are never delivered of more than one at a time, and thatperhaps not above once or twice through their whole life, who hold uptheir noses, and value themselves so much upon it, that they think allother creatures beneath them, and scarce worthy to be spoken to.' TheLioness, who all the while perceived at whom this reflection pointed,was fired with resentment, and with a good deal of vehemencereplied--'What you have observed may be true, and that not withoutreason. You produce a great many at a litter, and often; but what arethey?--Foxes. I indeed have but one at a time; but you should rememberthat this one is a Lion.'
APPLICATION.
Our productions, of whatsoever kind, are not to be esteemed so much bythe quantity as the quality of them. It is not being employed much, butwell, and to the purpose, which makes us useful to the age we live in,and celebrated by those which are to come. As it is a misfortune to thecountries which are infested with them, for Foxes and other vermin tomultiply; so one cannot help throwing out a melancholy reflection, whenone sees some particulars of the humankind increase so fast as they do.But the most obvious meaning of this fable, is the hint it gives us inrelation to authors. These gentlemen should never attempt to raisethemselves a reputation, by enumerating a catalogue of theirproductions; since there is more glory in having written one tolerablepiece, than a thousand indifferent ones. And whoever has had the goodfortune to please in one performance of this kind, should be verycautious how he ventures his reputation in a second.