The Moral.
REFLEXION.
This touches the Caſe of Thoſe Mean Upſtarts, that when they come once to be Preferr'd, forget their Fathers, and have not the Wit to Conſider, how ſoon Fortune may ſet them Down again where ſhe took ’em up; but yet at laſt, when they come to be minded of their Original, it makes many a Proud Fool ſenſible of a Scandalous Extraction, that has no Shame at all for a Scandalous Life.
'Tis hardly ſafe to Deſcant upon a Boaſting Mule, in a Fable, when there are ſo many of his Brethren in the World, that will Take it to Themſelves. Nay and Over and Above the Self-Conceited Vanity of Theſe Brutes, there are None ſo forward neither, to Beſpatter Men of Blood and Quality, as thoſe that have moſt Reaſon to be Aſham'd of their Deſcent. This Pride of Pedigree is Eaſily run down, if there be not Power Joyn'd to the Oſtentation: But where there is Authority given to the Folly, as well as to the Fool; the Indignation that it raiſes makes the Inſolence Inſupportable. Nothing Daſh’d the Confidence of the Mule like the Braying of the Aſſe in the very Interim, while he was Dilating upon his Genealogy. As who ſhould ſay, Remember your Father, Sirrah. This comes to the Caſe of a Spaniard, that was Wonderfully upon the Huff about his Extraction, and would needs Prove himſelf of ſuch a Family by the Spelling of his Name; a Cavalier in the Company, with whom he had the Controverſie, very Civilly Yielded him the Point; for (ſays he) I have Examin'd the Records of a certain Houſe of Correction, and I find your Grandfather was Whipt there by That Name. We have in fine a World of Boaſting Mules among us, that don't care for being Minded of their Braying Fathers: But 'tis the Fate of Theſe Vain-Glorious Fops to be Thus Met withall, and your Counterfeit Men of Honor ſeldom come off Better; Wherefore let every Man look well about him before he Boaſts of his Pedigree, to ſee if he had not an Aſſe to his Father.
Fab. CXIX.
A Dog and a Wolfe.
A Wolfe took a Dog napping at his Maſters Door, and when he was juſt about to Worry him, the Poor Creature begged hard, only for a Reprieve. Alas (ſays he) I'm as Lean at preſent_as Carryon; but we have a Wedding at our Houſe within theſe Two or Three Days, that will Plump me up you ſhall ſee with Good Cheare, Pray have but Patience 'tillThen,
