A Flea and a Man
A Fellow finding somewhat prick him, popt his finger upon the Place, and it prov’d to be a Flea. What art thou, says he, for an Animal, to suck thy Livelyhood out of my Carcass? Why ‘tis the Livelyhood (says the Flea) that Nature has allotted me, and my stinging is not mortal neither. Well, says the Man, but ‘tis troublesome however: And now I have ye, I’ll secure ye for ever hurting me again, either little or much.
Live and let live, is the Rule of common Justice; but if People will be troublesome on the one hand, the Obligation is discharg’d on the other.
Apples and Horse-Turds
Upon a very great Fall of Rain, the Current carried away a huge Heap of Apples, together with a Dunghill that lay in the Watercourse. They floated a good while together like Brethren and Companions; and as they went thus dancing down in the Stream, the Horse-Turds would be every foot crying out still, Alack-a-day! How we Apples swim!
Every thing would be thought greater in the World than it is; and the Root of it is this, that it first thinks itself so.
A Boy and a Snake
A Boy was groping for Eels, and laid his hand upon a Snake, but the Snake, finding that it was pure Simplicity, and not Malice, admonish’d him of his Mistake: Keep your self well while you are well, says the Snake; for if you meddle with me, you’ll repent your Bargain.
‘Tis the Intention, morally speaking, that makes the Action good or bad; and even Brutes themselves, will put a Difference betwixt Harms of Ill-Will and Mischance.
An Ass, a Lyon and a Cock
As a Cock and an Ass were Feeding together, up comes a Lion Open-mouth'd toward the Ass: The Cock presently cries out; away Scours the Lion, and the Ass after him: Now 'twas the Crowing of the Cock that Frighted the Lion, not the Braying of the Ass, as that Stupid Animal vainly Fancy'd to himself; for so soon as ever they were gotten out of the Hearing of the Cock, the Lion turn'd short upon him, and tore him to pieces, with these Words in his Mouth: Let never any Creature hereafter that has not the Courage of a Hare, provoke a Lion.
The Force of Unaccountable Aversions, is Insuperable. The Fool that is Wise and Brave only in his Own Conceit, runs on without Fear or Wit; but Noise does no Bus'ness.
A Flea and Hercules
There was a Fellow, that upon a Flea-biting call’d out to Hercules for Help. The Flea gets away, and the Man expostulates upon the Matter. Well, Hercules; (says he) you that would not take my part against a sorry Flea, will never stand by me in a time of Need, against a more powerful Enemy.
We neglect God in greater Matters, and petition him for Trifles, nay, and take pet at last if we cannot have our Askings.
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