Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CCCCXXX

by Roger L'Estrange

Fab. CCCCXXX.

A Lion and a Man.

AMong other good Counsels chat an Old Experiencd Lion gave to his VVhelp, this was One; that he should never Contend with a Man; for says he, if ever you do, you'll be Worsted. The Little Lion gave his Father the Hearing, and kept the Advice in his Thought, but it never went near his Heart. When he came to be grown up afterward, and in the Flower of his Strength and. Vigour, About and About he Ranges to look for a Man to Grapple with: In his Ramble he chances to Spy a Yoak of Oxen; so up to ‘em he goes presently; Heark ye Friends, says he, are yon MEN? They told him No; but their Master was a Man. Upon leaving the Oxen, he went to a Horse, that he saw Bridled, and Ty'd to a Tree, and ask'd him the same question; No, says the Horse, I am no Man my Self, but he that Bridled and Saddled me, and ty'd me up here, He's a Man. He goes after this, to one that was Cleaving of Blocks. Dye hear, fays the Lion, You seem to be a Man. And a Man I am, says the Fellow. That's well, quoth the Lion, and dare you Fight with Me? Yes, says the Man, I dare Fight with ye: VVhy I can Tear all these Blocks to Pieces ye see. Put your Feet now into this Gap, where you see an Iron Thing there, and try what you can do. The Lion presently put his Claws into the Gaping of the Wood, and with One Lusty Pluck, made it give way, and out drops the Wedge, the Wood immediately Closing upon't; and there was the Lion caught by the Toes. The Woodman presently upon this, Raises the Country, and the Lion finding what a Streight he was in, gave one Hearty Twitch, and got his Feet out of the Trap, but left his Claws Behind him. So away he goes back to his Father, all Lame and Bloody, with this Confession in his Mouth; Alas, my Dear Father, fays he, This had never been, if I had follow'd your Advice.

The Moral.

Disobedience to Parents is against the Laws of Nature and of Nations; Common Juftice, Prudence and Good Manners; and the Vengeance of Heaven, Sooner or Later, Treads upon the Heels on't.

REFLEXION.

People are not to Reason upon Obedience to Parents, and Submission to Governors, provided there be nothing in the Command, or in the Imposition that is simply Evil. Reason in Man, does abundantly supply the Defect of other Faculties wherein we are Inferior to Beasts; and what we cannot compass by Force, we bring about by Stratagem. The Intent of this Fable, is to set forth the Excellency of Man above all Creatures upon the Earth; and to shew that he is Lord and Ruler over all the rest; their Teeth, Claws, Stings, and other means of Offence, notwithftanding. The Young Lion himself is Charg’d by his Sire not to Contend with him; so that consequently no Creature of less Force is upon any Terms to Encounter him. Not but that there are some special Instances to the contrary, in Exception to the General Rule. The Moralist makes the Event to confirm the Reason, and to support the Authority of the Lions Council. It may pass likewise in some sort, for a Punishment of Disobedience to a Parent; but there's the Voice of Providence and Wisdom in't, as well as the Voice of a Father; which is intimated in shewing us, that the Yoak of Oxen, and the Horse that stood Bridled and Sadled, had a Man still to their Master.