Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CCCXCI

by Roger L'Estrange

Fab. CCCXCI.

Mice, Cat and a Bell.

THere was a Devillish Sly Cat it seems, in a certain House; and the Mice were so Plagu'd with her at every turn, that they call'd a Court to Advise upon some way to prevent being surprizd. If you'll be Rul'd by me, (says a Member of the Board,) there's nothing like Hanging a Bell about the Cats Neck, to give Warning before-hand , when Puss is a coming. They all lookt upon't as the best Contrivance that the Case would bear. Well (says another) and now we are agreed upon the Bell, say who shall put it about the Cats Neck. There was no body in fine that would Undertake it, and so the Expedient fell to the Ground.

The Moral.

The Boldest Talkers are not always the Greatest Doers.

REFLEXION.

This is the course of the World, to the very Life, we can never want Advisers and Councellors in Matters of the Greatest Hazzard: But let the Reason be never so clear, we are still at a Loss for an Instrument to put Dangerous Projects in Execution.

Desperate Cases require Desperate Remedies; but let the Hazzard of this or that Part of a Body be what it will, it is matter of Duty, Justice and Policy to consult the Good of the whole. It was the Interest of the Mice to have a Bell put about the Cats Neck, and they all agreed upon't to be a very good Expedient: But when it came to the Issue, the Counsel fell to the Ground for want of one to put it in Execution. This is no more then what we see frequently in difficulties of State; but the true Reason of failing in that Case, proceeds rather from some Failings in the Administration, then from any want of necessary Instruments. As for the purpose, where Reward and Punishment are Inverted, and where Men of Faith and Zeal for the Honour and Service of the Common-wealth are only made Sacrifices to the Passions and Interests of the Corrupt and Fearful. Where Matters are thus Manag'd, I say, every Man is not of a Constitution to Leap a Gulf for the Saving of his Country: Especially, when over and above the certainty of Ruin, Men are no less sure of having their very Names and Memories abandon’d to Infamy and Contempt for their Pains: But on the other Hand, where Christian as well as Political Justice has its Course, every part of the Community suffers by Consent with the whole: And such a Goverment in the uttermost of Extremities, shall never fail of Devotes.