many udas's with Hail Maſter in their Mouths! How many Church-Robbers that Write themſelves Reformers! In One Word, Men do Naturally love to bethought Greater, Wiſer, Holier, Braver, and Juſter then they Are; and in fine, Better Qualify’d in All Thoſe Faculties that may give them Reputation among the People, then we find ‘em to be.
The Moral of This Fable Hits all ſorts of Arrogant Pretenders, and runs Effectually into the Whole Bus'neſs of Humane Life. We have it in the very Cabinets, and Councels of State, the Bar, the Bench, the Change, the Schools, the Pulpits; All Places, in ſhort, are full of Quacks, Jugglers and Plagiaries, that ſet up for Men of Quality, Conſcience, Philoſophy, and Religion. So that there are Aſſes with Short Ears, as well as with Long, and in Robes of Silk and Dignity, as well as in Skins of Hair. In Concluſion, An Aſs of the Long Robe, when he comes once to be Detected, looks Infinitely Sillier, then he would have done in his own Shape: Neither is Æsop's Aſs Laugh’d at here for his Ears, or for his Voice, but for his Vanity, and Pretence; for T’other is but according to his own Kind and Nature; and Every thing is Well and Beſt, while it Continues to be as God made it.
Fab. CCXXV.
A Fox and a Worm.
A Worm put forth his Head out of a Dunghil, and made Proclamation of his Skill in Phyſick. Pray, ſays the Fox, Begin with your Own Infirmities before you Meddle with other Peoples.
The Moral.
Phyſician Cure thy Self.
REFLEXION.
SAYING and Doing are Two Things. Phyſcian Cure thy ſelf, Preaches to us upon This Fable. Every Man does Beſt in his own Trade, and the Cobler is not to go beyond his Laſt. We have of Theſe Dunghil-Pretenders, in All Profeſſions, and but too many of them that Thrive upon their Arrogance. If This Worm had met with an Aſs to Encourage his Vanity, inſtead of a Fox to Correct it, he might have been Advanc’d to a Doctor of the College perhaps: Or to ſome more Conſiderable Poſt of Honour, either in a Church or State.
FAB.
