AThunny gave Chace to a Dolphin; and when he was just ready to seize him, the Thunnystruck before he was aware, and the Dolphin, in the Eagerness of his Pursuit, ran himself a ground with him. They were Both Lost; but the Thunny kept his Eye still upon the Dolphin, and Observing him when he was Just ac Last Gasp: Well, says he, the Thought of Death is
now Easy to me, so long as I see my Enemy go for Company.
Fab. XCI.
Two Enemies at Sea.
THere were Two Enemies at Sea in the same Vessel, the One at the Ships Head, the Other at the Stern. It Blew a Dreadful Storm, and when the Vessel was just ready to beswallow d up, One of ‘em Ask’d the Master, which Part of the Ship would be First under Water; so he told him the T'other End would Sink first. Why then, says he, I shall have the Comfort of seeing my Enemy go before me.
The Moral of the Two fables above.
'Tis a Wretched Satisfaction, that a Revengeful Man takes, even in the Losing of his Own Life, provided that his Enemy may go for Company.
REFLEXION.
There is some Comfort in Company, even in a State of Adversity. Society is so Necessary and Agreeable to Mankind in All Cases, that Death is Certainly the More Uneasy for a Man’s going alone into Another World: But the Consolation Pointed at in This Fable, is That which an Envious Man takes in the Ruine of his Enemy. There is a Memorable Instance to This Purpose, of a Gentleman that had an Estate for Lives, and Two of his Tenants in the Lease: One of them dyes, and the Other desires his Landlord to lay Both Farms into One, and Accept of Him for his Tenant. The Gentleman fairly Excus’d Himself, and away goes the Man in a Rage to his Wife; Told her how it was, and Swore a Great Oath, that he would be Revenge'd of his Landlord. This was in Harvest Time, and he went out next day to his Reapers, but stay'd so long, that his Wife sent up and down to look after him. To shorten the Story, they found him at last in a Ditch, Vomiting his Heart out. The Man, it seems, had Poyson’d himsels, and the Revenge upon his Landlord was the Defeating him of his Estate by Destroying the Last Life in his Lease. In One Word, Revenge stops at Nothing that’s Violent and Wicked. It Divides the Dearest Friends; Embroils Governments, and Tears Families to pieces, But to say no more on’t, The Historics of All Ages are full of the Tragicsl Outrages that have been Executed by this Diabotical Passion: beside, that it hardens People into a Brutall Contempt of Death, (as in the Fables above) where they may but see their Enemies fall for Company.
