Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CCCCIX
Fab. CCCCIX.
A Black-Bird afraid of a Kyte.
A Poor Simple Black-Bird was Frighted almost to Death with a Huge Flopping Kyte that she saw over her Head, Screaming and Scouring about for her Prey. Come Sister, says a Thrush to her, Pluck up a Good Heart; for all chis Fluttering and Scrieking is but Fooling; and you shall fee this Lazy Buzzard at last, e'en take up with some Pitiful Frog or Mouse to her Supper, and be Glad on't too. No, no, the Hawks are the Dangerous Birds Child, that Bite, as they say, without Barking, and do Execution in Silence.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
There's no great Danger in Men of Huff and Bluster: Noise and Pretence without Execution, is only much ado about Nothing; and yet this way of Trifling, is the very Bus'ness and Practice of many that pass in the World for Great Men, though they are much Mistaken that think them so. But there are Reverend Appearers in all manner of Glorious Professions and Adventures, as in Arms, Letters, Religion Law, Policy, &c. There are Quacks, in short, of all sorts, as Bullies, Pedants, Hypocrites, Empyricks , Law-Jobbers, Politicasters, and the like; and there are Men as well as Black-Birds that are Silly enough not to Diftinguish betwixt a Hawk and a Buzzard.