Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CCCXLII
Fab. CCCXLII.
A Lad Robbing an Orchard.
AN Old Fellow took a Boy Robbing his Orchard. Sirrah, (says he) come down the Tree, and don’t Steal my Apples. The Lad never Minded him, but went on with his Work. Well (says the Matter of the Grounds) they say there are Charms in Herbs, as well as in Words, and so he threw a Handful of Grass at him, which was so Ridiculous, that the Young Thief took the Old Man to be Mop’d. But in Conclusion, if Neither Words, nor Herbs will do, says he, I’ll try what may be done with Stones; for they say there’s Vertue in Them too; And that VVay he did his VVork.
The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
A Wise Man, in All Controversies, will try what may be done by Fair Means before he comes to Foul: And where the One fails, the Other will Certainly do the Work. The Fear of Hell does a great deal toward the Keeping of us in our way to Heaven; and if it were not for the Penalty, the Laws neither of God, nor of Man, would be Obey’d. There would have been a Charm in Wood as well as in Stones, if the Little Thief had but been soundly Drubb'd with a Good Honest Cudgel: For where Conscience and Argument will do no Good, Punishment must : But as it is the Surest, so the Good Man here made it the Last Remedy.