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.
Fab.
