IN Old Time, when a Generous Beast made more Conscience of his Word then many a Modern Christian has done of an Oath; a Lionshook Hands with an Ass, and so they agreed upon't to Jog on up and down in the Woods, Lovingly and Peaceably together. As they were upon this Adventure, they discover'd a Herd of Wolves; the Ass immediately sets up a Hideous Bray; and fetches a Run at them Open Mouth, as if he would have Eaten ‘em. The Wolves only Snear'd at him for his Pains, but Scamper'd away however as hard as they could drive. By and by comes the Ass back again, Puffing and Blowing from the Chase. Well, says the Lion, and what was that Horrid Scream for, I prithee?. Why (says ’tother,) I frighten’d 'em all away, you see. And did they run away from you, says the Lion, or from me, d'ye think?
The Moral.
Noise and Bluster is so far from doing Business, that instead of Awing and Frighting People, it serves only to make them Sport, when the Vanity of it comes to be Discover'd.
REFLEXION.
There are Braying Men in the World, as well as Braying Asses; for what's Loud and Senselefs Talking, Huffing, Damming and Blaspheming, any other then a more fashionable way of Braying; Only the one is that to the Ear, which the other is to the Mind, and a Man may better endure the Shocking of his Sense, then the Affronting of his Reason. The Lion, ’tis true, might have kept better Company; but so long as it was only for his Diversion, it gives us to Understand how far Great Men may be allow'd to make themselves Merry with Buffoons. The Wolves running away from the Ass, while the Lion was looking on, tells us in the Allegory, that Favourite Asses have the Privilege of Favorite Dogs; they may Snap and Snarl where they please, Gratis: But ‘tis for their Master's sake at last, that they come off with a whole Skin. And what's the Issue now of all this Noise in the Conclusion, but the making of the Noise-Maker still the more Ridiculous?
