Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CLXXVII

by Roger L'Estrange

Fab. CLXXVII.

Thieves that Stole a Cock.

A Band of Thieves Brake into a House once,and found Nothing in't to Carry away, but One Poor Cock. The Cock said as much for Himself as a Cock could say; but Insisted Chiefly upon the Services of his Calling People up to their Work, when 'twas time to Rise. Sirrah (says one of the Thieves) You had Better have let That Argument Alone; for Your Waking the Family Spoils our Trade, and We are to be Hang'd forsooth for your Bawling.

The MORAL.

That which is One Body's Meat, is Another Body's Poyson; as the Trussing up of Thieves is the Security of Honest Men. One Foolish Word is Enough to Spoil a Good Cause, and 'tis many a Man’s Fortune to Cut his Own Throat with his Own Argument.

REFLEXION.

'TIS a Hard Matter for a Man that Argues against the Truth, and the Reason of a Thing, to Consist with Himself, for having no Rule to Walk by, 'tis Forty to One but Sometime or Other he will lose his Way: Especially when he is to Accommodate his Story to the Various Circumstances of Times, Persons, and Occasions. But it is One Thing to to forget Matter of Fact, and Another Thing to blunder upon the Reason of it. It is however, well Worthy of a Sober Man's Care, not to let any thing fall that may be turn’d upon him out of his Own Mouth. This Presence of Mind ‘tis true, is not Every bodies Talent; neither does This Consideration Enter into Every bodies Thought; but it were better if it Were so, and so it Ought to be.