Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CXIX

by Roger L'Estrange

Fab. CXIX.

A Dog and a Wolfe.

A Wolfe took a Dog napping at his Masters Door, and when he was just about to Worry him, the Poor Creature begged hard, only for a Reprieve. Alas (says he) I'm as Lean at present_as Carryon; but we have a Wedding at our House within these Two or Three Days, that will Plump me up you shall see with Good Cheare, Pray have but Patience 'till Then, and when I'm in a Little Better Case, I'l throw my self in the very Mouth of ye. The Wolfe took his Word, and so let him go; but passing some Few Days after by the same House again, he spy'd the Dog in the Hall, and bad him Remember his Promise. Heark ye, my Friend, says the Dog; Whenever you Catch me Asleep again, on the Wrong side of the Door, never Trouble your Head to Wait for a Wedding.

The Moral.

Experience Works upon Many Brutes more then upon Some Men. They are not to be Gull'd twice with the same Trick; And at the Worst, a Bad Shift is Better than None.

REFLEXION.

'Tis good to Provide against All Chances both Sleeping and Waking; for a Man cannot be too Circumspect, upon Condition on the other hand, that his Caution do not make him Over-sollicitous, Past Dangers make us Wiser for the Future; As the Dog, after he had been snipt at the Door, had the Wit to lye in the Hall; which tells us that a Wise Body is not to be Caught Twice by the same Snare and Trick. His Promise to the Wolf was a kind of a Dog-Case of Conscience, and the Wolfe play'd the Fool in Taking his Word, for That which he was oblig'd not to Perform.