Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CCXLIV
Fab. CCXLIV.
A Country-man and a Boar.
A Country-man took a Boar in his Corn once, and Cut off One of his Ears. He took him a Second Time, and cut off T’other. He took him a Third Time, and made a Present of him to his Landlord. Upon the Opening of his Head, they found he had no Brains, and Every body fell a Wond'ring, and Discoursing upon it. Sir, says the Clown, If This Boar had had any Brains, he would have taken the Loss of Both his Ears for a Warning never to come into My Corn again. These Words of the Silly Bumpkin fet the whole Company a Laughing.
The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
THE Life and Conversation of some Men is so Brutal, as if they had only the Shape, without the Faculties of Reasonable Creatures. What's He better then the Boar in This Fable now, that Abandons himself wholly to his Appetites, and Pleasures; and after so many Repeated Poxes, and Qualms, One upon the Neck of Another, Drinks and Whores on still, in Despite of all Punishments, and Warnings. The Boar's Intemperance, and the Note upon him afterwards, on the Cutting of him up, that he had no Brains in's Head, may be Moraliz’d into the Figure of a Sensual Man, that has neither Grace, nor Knowledge, but runs headlong on to his Ruine, without either Conscicnce, or Consideration.