Philip Ayres (3)

Here are some more fables from Mythologia Ethica: or, Three Centuries of Aesopian Fables by Philip Ayres, and you can click here for all the Ayres fables at this blog.

The Boy and his Bird

Most entirely did a Boy love a Bird he had long kept in a Cage, which finding one day its Door, by neglect, left open, flew away.

The Boy seeing her make such haste to escape, followed and calling after her, desired her to return to her Cage, and promised her great kindness, which she altogether refusing: 

He asked her the reason of her obstinate denial, Because, answer'd she, I have a mind to live after my own mode, and not after yours.

A Country-man and a Bee

A Country-man happening to be stung by a Bee, which he had beat off from a Flower, How is it possible, cryed he, thou Cruel Bee, that from thee, who affordest us so sweet and pleasant a sustenance, there should come so severe a sting?

The more sweetness answered the Bee, I yield when pleas'd, the more sharpness and severity do I show, when provok'd to anger.

The Fowler and the Partridge

A Fowler had taken a Partridge, and being about to kill her, Dear Sir, said she grievously weeping, let me go, I beseech you! and in requital of the favour, I will bring into your Nets whole Coveys of other Partridges, much fatter and bigger than my self, that you shall have no cause to repent this days work. 

Now, thou false Bird, said the Fowler, will I certainly kill thee, because thou wouldst thus treacherously betray thy own Acquaintance and Relations.He that betrays his Friends, is hated of every body.

illustration by Weir

The Mouse and the Kite

A Charitable Mouse seeing a Kite taken in the snare of a Fowler, had compassion on him, tho her Enemy, and going to him, gnawed in pieces the strings which held him; by which she gave the Kite an opportunity to fly away. 

But no sooner did this ungrateful Bird see himself at Liberty, but being hungry, he forgot the benefit he had so lately received, snatched up the too kind Mouse, and eat her.

Thus Wicked men are accustomed to reward such as do them good Offices. 

The Bear and the Fox

When in a great concourse of Beasts it was argued, what should be the reason, they should all be so easily brought to slavery and oppression by Man, whose strength was so much inferiour to theirs, and yet they were taken and disposed of at his pleasure? The Fox told them, It was his opinion that the Wisdom and Reason of Man was so great and admirable, that no strength was capable to resist it. 

This set the Bear into a rage: Nay, said he, 'tis rather our Cowardice that ruines us, and our voluntary Tameness and Submission that gives them the Mastery over us: For, to say nothing of the Horse, whose strength and vigour is sufficiently known, is not the Elephant a most valiant Creature, and yet he is rid by Men, and obeys them, nor does he in any respect refuse their Dominion over him. But if we would resolve to fight it out with them, as we too often do foolishly amongst our selves, and would rather choose to lose our Lives by their cunning Tricks, than basely submit to our Enemies, or let any Commerce be between them and us, we might by these means reasonably think to preserve our Liberty. 

When the Bear had roared out these words he held his tongue, expecting their Resolution herein, but after a general murmuring, the Assembly broke up and dispersed. 

Not long after, this very Bear happening into a Toil, was caught, had Rings put into his Nose, and suffered himself to be led about by Men; He was taught to Dance, and perform the usual tricks done by tame Bears, and all this with a steddy patience, and without grumbling.

This shows that Men change their Manners with their Fortunes.