Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CXCIII
Fab. CXCIII.
A Gall'd Ass and a Raven.
AS an Ass with a Gall’d Back was Feeding in a Meadow, a Raven Pitch’d upon him, and there Sate, Jobbing of the Sore. The Ass fell a Frisking and Braying upon’t; which set a Groom that saw it at a Distance, a Laughing at it. Well! (says a Wolfe that was Passing by) to see the Injustice of the World now! A Poor Wolfe in that Ravens Place, would have been Persecuted, and Hunted to Death presently; and ’tis made only a Laughing-Matter, for a Raven to do the Same Thing, that would have Cost a Wolfe his Life.
The MORAL.
One Man may better Steal a Horse, then Another Look over the Hedge.
REFLEXION.
THE Same Thing in One Person or Respect, is not always the Same Thing in Another? The Grooms Grinning at the Gambols of the Ass, tells us that there are Many Cases that may make People Laugh without Pleasing them, as when the Surprize, or Caprice of some Fantastical Accident happens to strike the Fancy: Nay a Body cannot forbear Laughing Sometimes, when he is yet Heartily Sorry for the Thing he Laughs at; which is, in Truth, but an Extravagant Motion, that never comes near the Heart: Wherefore the Wolfe was Out in his Philosophy, when he call'd it a Langhing-Matter; Besides, that he should have Distinguifh'd upon the Disproportion betwixt the Worrying of a Wolfe, and the Pecking of a Raven; That is to say, betwixt a Certain Death on the One Hand, and only a Vexatious Importunity on the Other. The Raven understood what sort of Spark he had to do withal, and the Silly Ass stood Preaching to Himself upon the Text of No Remedy but Patience.