Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CCXXI and CCXXII

by Roger L'Estrange

Fab. CCXXI.

An Old Crab and a Young.

CHild, (says the Mother) You must Use your self to Walk Streight, without Skewing, and Shailing so Every step you set: Pray Mother (says the Young Crab) do but set the Example your self, and I'll follow ye.

Fab. CCXXII.

The Goose and Gosselin.

WHY do you go Nodding, and Waggling so like a Fool, as if you were Hipshot? says the Goose to her Gosselin. The Young One try’d to Mend it, but Could not; and so the Mother ty’d Little Sticks to her Legs, to keep her Upright: But the Little One Complain’d then, that she could neither Swim, nor Dabble with em. Well, says the Mother, Do but hold up your Head at least. The Gosselin Endeavour'd to do That too; but upon the Stretching out of her Long Neck, she complain'd that she could not see the Way before her: Nay then, says the Goose, if it will be no Better, e'en carry your Head and your Feet, as your Elders have done before ye.

The Moral of the Two Fables above.

Ill Examples Corrupt even the Best Dispositions, but we must Distinguish betwixt Natural and Moral Actions.

REFLEXION.

IT is Time Lost to Advise Others to do what we either Do not, or Cannot do Our Selves. There's no Crossing of Nature; but the Best way is to rest Contented with the Ordinary Condition of Things. 'Tis but so much Labour thrown away, to Attempt the Altering of Inslincts, or the Curing of Ill Habits.

Example Works a great Deal more then Precept; for Words without Practice, are but Councels without Effect. When we Do as we say, 'tis a Confirmation of the Rule; but when our Lives and Doctrines do not Agree, it looks as if the Lesson were either too Hard for us, or the Advice, not worth the While to Follow. We should see to Mend our Own Manners, before we Meddle to Reform our Neighbours, and not Condemn Others for what we do our Selves: Especially where they follow the Nature of their Kind, and in so doing, Do as they Ought to do. Let Every thing Move, March, and Govern it self, according to the Proper Disposition of the Creature; for it would be Every Jot as Incongruous, for a Crab to Walk like a Man, as for a Man to Walk like a Crab. This may be apply to the Lessons that are given us for the Ordering of our Lives and Families, But above All Things, Children should not be Betray'd into the Love and Practice of any thing that is Amiss, by Setting Evil Examples before them; for their Talent is only Imitation; and ‘tis ill Trusling Mimicks in such a Case, without a Judgment to Distinguish.

This Allegory may pass for a very Good Lecture to Governors, Parents, and Tutors, to behave themselves Reverently both in Word and Deed, before their Pupils, with a kind of Awful Tenderness for the Innocency and Simplicity of Youth. For Examples of Vices, or Weaknessles, have the same Effect upon Children, with Examples of Vertue; Nay it holds in Publique too as well as in Private, that the Words and Actions of our Superiors have the Authority and Force of a Recommendation. Regis ad Exemption, is so True, that ‘tis Morally Impossible to have a Sober People under a Mad Government. For where Lewdness is the Way to Preferment, Men are Wicked by Interest, as well by Imitation: But to Return to the Stress of the Fable, Let a Goose Walk like a Goose, and leave Nature to do her Own Bus'ness her Own Way,