Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CCCCX

by Roger L'Estrange

Fab. CCCCX.

A Fox and Wolf.

AN Unlucky Fox dropt into a Well, and cry'd out for Help: A Wolf overheard him, and looks down to see what the Matter was. Ah, (says Reynard,) Pray lend me your Hand Friend, or I'm lost else. Poor Creature! says the Wolf, Why comes this about? Prithee how long hast thou been here? Thou canst not but be mighty Cold sure. Come, come, this is no Time for Fooling, says the Fox; set me upon Terra Firma first, and then I'll tell ye the History.

The Moral.

When a Man is in Misery, there must be no Trifling in the Case. 'Tis a Barbareus Humour to stand Bantering out of Season. 'Tis no Time or Place for Raillery, when a Life's at Stake.

REFLEXION.

Here are Three Calamities in One: First, The Foxes falling into a Pit, and not being able to get out again. Secondly, The Misery of being put to beg Relief of an Enemy, for want of a Friend. Thirdly, The Affront of the Refusal, as it was accompanied with Raillery and Scorn. ‘Twere well if we had not too many of these Brutal Mockeries in our Daily Conversation for we have Banterers in Religion, in Point of Honour, and upon all the Distesses of Human Life. He that has no Pity or Compassion for the Miserable, is not in Truth of a Reasonable Make; for Tenderness of Nature is but a kind of Lay-Charity; and a Body can be no more a Good Man without the One, then a Good Christian without the Other. Let a Man be never so Wicked, 'tis a Base and an Unmanly thing to Insult upon him in his Calamity, His Punishment may be Just; and when he suffers Justice, 'tis all that a Good and a Generous Man can wish for in the Case.

The Scomms of Great Men, or Buffoons of Quality, are every jot as Wolvish in Conversation, as they are here in the Fable; though 'tis look'd upon, I know, as a Mark of Breeding, and the Indication of a Man that has Notable Skill in the World, to turn the Earnest of all Things and Duties, Sacred and Civil, into a Jest, and to put the Common Principles of Faith, Truth, Justice and Respect, out of Countenance. Now in all these Cases, the President is as Dangerous, as the Practice is Odious, where the Quality of the Droll serves to Authorise the Indignity; But from a Fox, that's made up of Trick and Treachery, there’s no better to be Expected.