Fab. XLII.
A Wolfe and a Fox.
A Wolfe that had a mind to take his Eaſe, Stor'd himſelf Privately with Proviſions, and ſo kept Cloſe a while. Why, how now friend ſays a Fox to him, we han't ſeen You abroad at the Chace this many a day! Why truly ſays the Wolfe, I have gotten an Indiſpoſition that keeps me much at Home, and I hope I ſhall have Your prayers for my Recovery. The Fox had a Fetch in't, and when he ſaw it would not Fadge; Away goes he preſently to a Shepherd, and tells him where he might ſurprize a Wolfe if he had a mind to't. The Shepherd follow'd his Directions, and Deſtroyed him. The Fox immediately, has his Next Heir, repairs to his Cell, and takes poſſeſſion of his Stores; but he had Little Joy of the Purchaſe, for in a very ſhort time, the ſame Shepherd did as much for the Fox, as he had done before for the Wolfe.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
'Tis Impoſſible for an Envious Man to be Happy. He makes the World his Enemies, and the Miſchiefe that he does to Others, returns in a Judgment upon his Own Head. There's No Truſting of a Crafty Deſigning Knave. I do not ſpeak of the Truſt of Privacy and Confidence only; but a Wiſe Man would not ſo much as Venture himſelf in ſuch Company, nor let him come within diſtance of ſo much as knowing how to put a Trick upon him. This Fable ſhews us the Danger of ſuch Converſation. And it ſhews us likewiſe the Juſt Fate that Attends the Treachery, even of One Traytor to Another: The Wolfe had a Deſign upon the Fox; The Fox had a Counter-Deſign upon the Wolfe: (which was no more then a Couple of Crafty Knaves well Match'd) And the Shepherd did Juſtice upon them Both.
