Fab. CCXXVI.
A Curſt Dog.
THere was a very Good Honſe-Dog, but ſo Dangerous a Cur to Strangers, that his Maſter put a Bell about his Neck, to give People Notice before-hand when he was a Coming. The Dog took this Bell for a Particular Mark of his Maſler’s Favour, till One of his Companions ſhew’d him his Miſtake. You are Mightily Out (ſays he) to take This for an Ornament, or a Token of Eſteem, which is in truth, no Other then a Note of Infamy ſet upon you for your Ill Manners.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
'TIS a Bad World, when the Rules and Meaſures of Good and Evil, are either Inverted, or Miſtaken; and when a Brand of Infamy paſſes for a Badge of Honour. But the Common People do not Judge of Vice or Vertue, by the Morality, or the Immorality of the Matter, ſo much as by the Stamp that is ſet upon’t by Men of Preſident and Figure, What's more Familiar then an Oftentation of Wickedneſs, where Impiety has the Reputation of Vertue? As in the Exceſſes of Wine, and Women, and the Vanity of bearing up againſt all the Laws of God and Man. When Lewdneſs comes once to be a Faſhion, it has the Credit in the World that other Faſhions have; as we ſee Many times an Affectation even of Deformity it ſelf, where ſome Exemplary Defect has brought that Deformity to be a Mode. The Fancy of This Dog was ſomewhat like the French Womans Freak, that ſtood up for the Honour of her Family: Her Coat was Quarter'd, the faid, with the Arms of France; which was ſo far True, that ſhe had the Flower-de-Luce Stamp'd, we muft not ſay Branded upon her Shoulder.
FAB.
