Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CCCLXXIX

by Roger L'Estrange

Fab. CCCLXXIX.

An Owl and Little Birds.

THere goes a Story of an Owl that was advised by the Little Birds to Build rather among the Boughs and Leaves as they did, then in Walls and Hollow Trees; and so they shew'd her a Young Tender Plant for her Purpose. No, No, says the Owl, those Twigs in time will come to be Lim'd, and then you're all Lost if you do but touch em. The Birds gave little Heed tot', and so went on Playing and Chirping among the Leaves still, and passing their Time there in Flocks as formerly; till in the conclusion the Sprigs were all Daub'd with Lime, and the Poor Wretches clamm'd and taken, Their Repentance came now too Late; but in Memory of this Notable Instance of the Owls Foresight, the Birds never see an Owl to this very Day, but they Flock about her and Follow her, as if it were for a New Lesson. But our Modern Owls have only the Eyes, the Beak and the Plume of the Owls of Athens, without the Wisdom.

The Moral.

Good Counsel is lost upon those that have not the Grace to Hearken to't; or do not Understand it, or will not Embrace and Follow it in the proper Season.

REFLEXION.

Wholesom Advice is worth nothing, unless it be (in Truth,) Given as well as taken in Season. This Fable shews the Danger and the Mischief of either Rejecting, not Heeding, or not Entertaining it; and likewise at the same time, sets forth how hard a thing it is to fasten Profitable Advice upon Men that Indulge themselves in Ease and Pleasure. They look upon it as so much time lost, to employ the Present upon the thought of the Future; and so by one Delay after another, they spin out their whole Lives, 'till there's no more Future left before 'em. This Dilatory Humour proceeds partly from a Sloathful Laziness of Temper; as I knew a Man that would not be got out of his Bed when the House was afire over his Head. Action is Death to some sort of People, and they'd as live Hang as Work. It arises in a great measure too from an Habitual Heedless Inadvertency, when Men are so intent upon the Present, that they mind nothing else; and Counsel is but cast away upon them. Birds of Pleasure, and Men of Pleasure are too Merry to be Wise; and the case of this Fable is but the common case of the World. Wholsom Advice comes in at one Ear, and goes out at 'tother. Men, in short, of Blood and Appetite, have no Foresight; and so Postpone Prudence as a Vertue of another Season.