Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/Fable CCLXI
Fab. CCLXI.
A Cuckow and a Hawk.
BY the Beak, and the Claws of a Cuckow, one would take her for a kind of Hawk; only the One Lives upon Worms, and the Other upon Flesh: Insomuch that a Hawk Twitted a Cuckow One day with her Course Way of Feeding. If you'l Look like a Hawk, Why don’t you Live like a Hawk? The Cuckow took This a little in Dudgeon; but passing by a Pigeon-House some short time after, what should she see but the Skin of This very Hawk upon a Pole, on the Top of the Dove-House: Well! says the Cuckow (in Conceit) to the Hawk, and had not you as good have been Eating Worms now, as Pigeons?
The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
A Safe Mediocrity is much better then an Envy'd, and a Dangerous Excellency. They that in their Prosperity Despise Others, shall be sure in their Adversity to be Despis'd Themselves. It is much the same Case with Men of Prey, that it is with Birds of Prey. They take it for a Disparagement to Sort themselves with any Other then the Enemies of the Publique Peace: But Men that Live upon Rapine, are set up for a Marque, as the Common Enemy; and all Heads and Hands are at Work to Destroy them.