Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable LXXII

by Roger L'Estrange

Fab. LXXII.

An Eagle and a Fox.

THere was a Bargain struck up betwixt an Eagle and a Fox, to be Wonderful Good Neighbours and Friends. The One Took up in a Thicket of Brushwood , and the Other Timber’d upon a Tree hard by. The Eagle, One Day When the Fox was abroad a Foraging fell into his Quarters and carry’d away a Whole Litter of Cubbs at a Swoop. The Fox came time enough back to see the Eagle upon Wing, with her Prey in the Foot, and to fend many a Heavy Curse after her; but there was No overtaking her: It happen’d in a very Short time after This, upon the Sacrificing of a Goat, that the same Eagle made a Stoop at a piece of Flesh upon the Altar, and she took it away to her Young: But Some Live Coales it seems, that Stuck to't, set the Nest a fire. The Birds were not as yet Fledge enough to Shift for Themselves, but upon Sprawling and Snuggling to get Clear of the Flame, down they Tumbled, half Roasted into the very Mouth of the Fox, that stood Gaping under the Tree to see the End on't: So that the Fox had the satisfaction at last, of Devouring the Children of her Enemy in the very Sight of the Damm,

The Moral.

God Reserves to Himself the Punishment of Faithless, and Oppressing Governonrs, and the Vindication of his Own Worship and Altars.

REFLEXION.

This is to give Great Men to Understand, that No Power upon Earth can Protest them in the Exercise of Tyranny and Injustice; but that Sooner, or Later, Vengeance will Overtake Oppressors. It does likewise Condemn Treachery, and breach of Faith, even toward the most Perfidious.

The Morality of This Fiction looks several Ways. Here’s first a League betwixt an Eagle and a Fox; which would be a most Incongruous Allyance, if it were not in the case of That Princely Birds Departure from the Dignity ot her Character, and from the Obligation of Royal Justice: so that Æsop has aptly enough Match’d a Faith-Breaking Prince, with a Perfidious Subject, and Fancy’d a Knavish Favourite, as the Fittest Minister for such a Governour. In the Eagles Destroying the Foxes Cubbs, there's Power Excecis'd_with Oppression , and the Curses of the Fox that Pursu'd the Oppressor, were not sent in Vain neither, as appears by the Se-quel, We are likewise to take Notice that Justice is Sacred, and that No Provocation, eithcr of Insolent Language, or Behaviour, can Warrant the Violation of it.

And it is further Suggested to us, that when People are in a Train of Wickedness, One Sin Treads upon the Heel of Another. The Eagle begins with an Invasion upon the Rights of Hospitality, and Common Faith; and at the Next Step Advances to Sacrilege, in Robbing the Altar. And what follows upon it now, but a Divine Judgment, that sets fire to her Nest, and Avenges the Cause of the very Fox, though One of the Falsest of Creatures! From hence we are to Gather Those Two Doctrines for our Instruction. First, That the Misdemeanors of Temporal Sovereign Powers are subjected only to the Animad version of the supreme Lord of the Universe. And secondly, That in the Case of Tyranny it is not for Private Men to pretend to any Other Appeal.