Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CLXXVI
Fab. CLXXVI.
A Musician.
A Man that had a very Course Voice, but an Excellent Musique-Room, would be till Practising in that Chamber, for the Advantage of the Eccho. He took such a Conceit upon't,that he must needs be shewing his Parts upon a Publick Theatre, where he Performed So very ill, that the Auditory Hiss'd him off the Stage, and threw Stones at him.
The MORAL.
A Man may Like himself very Well in his Own Glass, and yet the World not Fall in Love with him in Publick. But the Truth oft is, We are Partial in our own Case, and there's no Reading of Our Selves but with Other Mens Eyes.
REFLEXION.
THERE's a Great Difference betwixt an Orator in the Schools, and a Man of Bus'ness upon a Stage of Action. Many a Man that Passes for a Philosopher in Private, behaves himself most Ridiculously in Publick; as what's more Uncouth (with Respect be it spoken) then a Pedant out of his Element? There are Flattering Chambers, as well as Flattering Glasses, and the One Helps out a Bad Voice, as the Other Countenances an ill Favour'd Face: That is to say, the One Drowns the Harshness of the Pipe, as the Other Covers, or Disguises the Coursness of the Complexion. But Men must not think to Walk upon These Stilts, if they come to set up in Publick once; The One, for an Italian Capon, the Other, for an English Beauty: Where-fore it will become All People to Weigh and Measire Themselves, before they Venture upon any Undertking that may bring their Lives, Honour, or Fortune in Question. Some Songsters can no more Sing in any Chamber but their Own; then some Clarks can Read in any Book but their Own; Put them out of their Road once, and they are Meer Cat-Pipes and Dunces.