This wrought nothing upon the Hearts of the Delphians, but as they were Bawling at the Executioner, to Diſpatch and do his Office, Æſop on a Sudden gave them the Slip, and Fled to an Altar hard by there, in hopes that the Religion of the Place might have Protected him, but the Delphians told him, that the Altars of the Gods were not to be any Sanctuary to thoſe that Robbed their Temples; Whereupon he took Occaſion to tell them the Fable of the Eagle and the Beetle to this Following Effect, As it ſtands in the Book, Num. 578.
Now ſays Æſop (after the telling of this Fable) you are not to Flatter your Selves that the Prophaners of Holy Altars, and the Oppreſſors of the Innocent, ſhall ever Eſcape Divine Vengeance. This Enraged the Magiſtrates to ſuch a Degree, that they commanded the Officers Immediately to take Æſop from the Altar, and Diſpatch him away to his Execution. When Æſop found that Neither the Holyneſs of the Place, nor the Clearneſs of his Innocence was Sufficient to Protect him, and that he was to fall a Sacrifice to Subornation and Power, he gave them yet one Fable more as he was upon the Way to Execution.
There was an Old Fellow (ſays he) that had ſpent his Whole Life in the Countrey without ever feeing the Towne, he found himſelfe Weak and Decaying, and Nothing would ſerve, hut his Friends muſt needs ſhew him the Towne once before he Dyed. Their Aſſes were very well Acquainted with the Way, and ſo they cauſed them to he made Ready, and turned the Old Man and the Aſſes Looſe, without a Guide to try their Fortune. They were overtaken Upon the Road by a Terrible Tempeſt, ſo that what with the Darkneſs, and the Violence of the Storm, the Aſſes were Beaten out of their Way, and Tumbled with the Old Man into a Pit, where he had only time to Deliver his Laſt Breath with This Exclamation. Miſerable Wretch that I am to be Deſtroyd, ſince Dye I muſt, by the Baſeſt of Beaſts; by Aſſes. And that's my Fate now, in ſuffering by the Hands of a Barbarous Sottiſh people, that Underſtand Nothing either of Humanity or Honour; and Act Contrary to the Tyes of Hoſpitality and Juſtice. But the Gods will not ſuffer my Blood to lye Unrevenged, and I doubt not, but that in Good Time the Judgment of Heaven will give you to Underſtand your Wickedneſs by your Puniſhment. He was ſpeaking on, but They Puſhed him Off Headlong from the Rock, and he was Daſhed to pieces with the Fall.
The Delphians, ſoon after This, were viſited with Famine and Peſtilence, to ſuch a Degree, that they Went to Conſult the Oracle
