AS an Ass and a Fox were together upon the Ramble, a Lyon Meets them by the Way. The Foxes Heart went Pit-a-Pat; but however, to make the Best of a Bad Game, he sets a Good Face on’t, and up he goes to the Lyon. Sir, says he; I am come to Offer Your Majesty a Piece of Service, and I'll Cast my self upon Your Honour for my Own Security. If you have a Mind to my Companion, the Ass here, ’tis but a Word Speaking, and You shall have him Immediately. Let it be Done then says the Lyon. So the Fox Trepann’d the Ass into the Toyl, and the Lyon, when he found he had Him sure, began with the Fox Himself, and after that, for his Second Course, made up his Meal with the Other.
The MORAL.
We Love the Treason, but we hate the Traytor.
REFLEXION.
THIS Fable Advises Every Man in Prudence to be sure of Knowing his Company before he Embarque with them in any Great Matter; Tho He that Betrays his Companion, has the Fortune commonly to be Betray'd Himself. Here's the Folly of the Ass in Trusting the Fox that he knew to be a Treacherous Companion; and here’s the Knavery of the Fox in Betraying the Ass, which was but according to his Nature. Now this does not Hinder yet, but that the Lyon Forfeited a Point of Honour in the Worrying of him; And this Fiction throughout is but the Emblem of Things that are Familiar to us in the World. The Lyon might have been Allow’d an Aversion to the Fox, as a Perfidious Creature, but the Devouring of him upon these Terms, was Another Treachery in Himself There may be this said at last for the Congruity of the Fancy, that a Just and a Generous Lyon, would not have Sunk to Low as to hold any Communication with a Fox, much less to Concett with him in his False Dealing. But this Lyon was meant for the Figure of a Wicked Governor, Conferring upon Frauds with Wicked Ministers. Now if he had spar'd the Ass, for his Simplicity, and Pinch’d the Fox for his Perfidy, the Proceeding might have had some Semblance of a Generous Equity: But an Honourable Mind will scorn to make Advantage of a Treacherous Intsrument. That is to say, by Assenting to the Treachery: So that the Moral seems to carry more Force with this Biass. Upon the Whole Matter, here’s the Silly Ass pays Dear for the Credulity and Folly of Keeping Ill Company. The Fox is Met withal in his Own Way, for Breaking the Faith of Society; but still there wants some Judgment Methinks, to Attend the Lyon; for He that Encourages once Treason, does not only Practice, but Promote Another; and lays the Foundation of a Doctrine, that will come Home to Himself in the Conclusion. When a Prince fails in Point of Honour and Common Justice, ‘tis enough to Stagger his People in their Faith, and Allegance. But the Lyon here in the Fable, came off better then our Political Lyons usually do in the World.
