Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CXVI
Fab. CXVI.
An Ape and a Fox.
UPon the Decease of a Lyon of Late Famous Memory, the Beasts Met in Councel to Chuse a King. There were Several Put up; but One was not of a Make for a King, Another Wanted either Brains, or Strength, or Stature, or Humour, or something else; but in fine, the Buffon Ape with his Grimaces and Gamboles, carry‘d it from the Whole Field by I know not how many Voices. The Fox (being one of the Pretenders) Stomach'd it Extremely to see the Choice go against him, and presently Rounds the New-Elect in the Ear, with a piece of Secret Service that he could do him. Sir, says he, I have Discoverd some Hidden Treasure Yonder: But tis a Royalty that belongs to Your Majesty, and I have nothing to do with it. So he Carryd the Ape to take Possession: And what should This Treasure be, but a Bayte in a Ditch. The Ape lays his Hand upont, and the Trap springs and Catches him by the Fingers. Ah thou Persidious Wretch, cryes the Ape! Or thou simple Prince, rather, replyes the Fox. You a Governour of Others, with a Vengeance, that han't Wit enough to look to your own Fingers.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
Rashness, and Want of Consideration, is ever Unfortunate. Men should not take a Charge upon them that they are not Fit for as if Singing, Dancing, and Shewing of Tricks, were Qualifications for a Governor. Baudoin says, that This Fable, shews not only the Envy and Malignity of the Fox; but the Imprudence of the Electors in the Choice of Ministers and Officers, that are not made for Bus’ness. Here’s first an Ape made a King, for shewing Tricks, and making Fools Faces; And the Fox is then to put a Slurr upon him, in Exposing him for Sport, to the Scorn of the People.
Here's an Ape chosen King, in Succession to a Lyon; which stands for a Short, and a Plain Representation of the Best and the Worst of Governments under the Dignity of the One, and the Indignity of the Other. It sets forth the Case and Unhappiness of Elective Kingdoms, where Canvassing and Faction has commonly too great a hand in the Election. Nor is there any Wonder, to see Drolls and Tumblers Advane'd to Charges of Honor and Profit, where Ignorance and Popularity sways the Choice: And nothing so fit as an Ape, for a Commission of State, where a Gimbole, or a Grimace passes for a Qualifying Title to the Exercise of Power.
It is no Wonder again, where People are so Mistaken in the Faculties and Capacities of Government, that they depart also from the Veneration that's due to’t; and when the Main Ends of it shall come to be Disappointed, For every Jack-Pudding, with Æsop's Fox here, will be Ridiculing Palpable Weaknesses, and Exposing those (almost Sacred) Imperfections, and Defects which they ought to Cover. What's a Character of Honor upon the Shoulders of a Man that has neither a Soul Answerable to’t, nor a True Sense of the Dignity, but a Mark set up for every Common Fool to shoot his Bolt at! When Apes are in Power, there will never want Foxes to Play upon them.