Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CXXVIII

by Roger L'Estrange

Fab. CXXVIII.

Mercury and a Carpenter.

A Carpenter dropt his Axe into a River, and put up a Prayer to Mercury to help him to't again. Mercury Div'd for't, and brought him up a Golden One: but That was nor it the Fellow said: And so he Plung’d a Second Time, and Fetch’d up Another, of Silver. He sayd That was not it neither. He try'd once again, and then Up comes an Axe with a Wooden Handle, which the Carpenter, sayd was the very Tool that he had Lost. Well! (says Mercury) thou art so Just a Poor Wretch, that I'le give thee All Three now for thy Honesty. This Story was got into Every bodies Mouth, and the Rumour being Spread, it came into a Knaves Head to Try the Same Experiment over again. And so away goes He and Down he Sits, Sniv'ling and Whelping upon the Bank of a River, that he had Dropt his Axe into the Water there. Mercury, that was at hand it seems, heard his Lamentation, and Dipping once again for his Axe, as he had done for the Other; up he brings him a Golden Axe, and Asks the Fellow if That were it. Yes, says he, This is it. Oh thou Impudent Sot, cryes Mercury; to think of putting Tricks upon Him that sees through the very Heart of thee.

The Moral.

The Great Searcher of our Hearts is not to be Impos'd upon, but he will take his Own Time either to Reward or Punish.

REFLEXION.

Heaven Hates Dissemblers, and Hypocrites, as it Loves men of Truth and Integrity. He that fancyes he can Impose upon Jupiter takes him for a Cully.

Baudoin Morallizes the Matter thus; that Mercury's called upon, and Sent, as the Patron of Artizans. The Practice of Truth and Justice can never fail of a Reward in the Conclusion, and the bringing in of a God to the Reliefe of a Poor Man, shews that it is from Heaven that the Needy are to Expect Redress.

Here are Two Men at their Prayers; The One a Downright Plain Dealer; and the Other, a Trimming, Designing Hypocrite. The Former has a Reverence in his Heart for the Power that he Invokes; He is not to be Corrupted with Gold, or Silver. He stands in Awe of his Conscience, and makes good his Profession, with his Practice: Receiving in the End, the Blessing of a Reward for his Integrity. The Other Worships with his Eyes, his Hands, and his Voyce; but All This is only to Cover the Cheat of a Rotten-Heart. He acknowledges a Divine Power, but at the Same Time he makes a Mock on’t, and Provokes it. He stands Convinc'd that God knows All the Secrets of his Heart, and yet tells him a Lye to his Face. There is No such Masque, in fine, for the Greatest of Impietyes, as a Veil of Religion. This Praying Carpenter here would have made Mercury a Broaker to his Knavery: and we have a world of Praying Christians too, that write after his Copy.