A Vulture's Invitation
The Vulture took up a Fit of a very good Humour once, and invited the whole Nation of the Birds to make merry with him, upon the Anniversary of his Birth-Day. The Company came; the Vulture shuts the Doors upon them, and Devours his Guests instead of Treating Them.
There's no Meddling with any Man that has neither Faith, Honour nor Good Nature in him.
A Country-Man and an Ass
As a Country-man was Grazing his Ass in a Meadow, comes a Hot Alarm, that the Enemy was just falling into their Quarters. The poor Man calls presently to his Ass, in a terrible Fright, to scoure away as fast as he could scamper: for, says he, we shall be taken else. Well, quoth the Ass, and what if we should be Taken? I have one Pack-Saddle upon my Back already, Will they clap another a-topof that, d'ye think? I can but be a Slave where-ever I am: so that Taken or not Taken, 'tis all a Case to Me.
It's some Comfort for a Body to be so Low that he cannot fall: And in such a Condition already that he cannot well be worse. If a Man be born to be a Slave, no Matter to what Master.
A Cuckow and Little Birds
A Cuckow was asking several Little Birds, what made them so Shy of coming into her Company. They told her, that she was so like a Hawk, they did not care to have any thing to do with her.
A Wise Man Searches into the Nature of Things, and does not Govern himself by outward Semblances and Appearances.
A Country-man and a Panther
A Panther had the Fortune to drop into a Pit-fall. The People came Flocking about him; some Pelting and Battering him with Stones and Cudgels; others Pity'd him, and threw him somewhat to Eat. Toward Night, they went All Home again, taking for granted that they should find him Dead next Morning: But in that Interim he came to Himself again, and gave 'em the Slip: And upon getting Loose, he made such Havock both with Man and Beast, that the whole Country, Friend and Foe, were all in Dread of him. The Panther finding the Fright so General, call'd out to 'em, and told them; So many of ye (says he) as were King to me in the Pit, set your Hearts at Rest, for I'll not Hurt a Creature of ye now I am at Liberty. I have not forgotten who they were that gave me Bread, and who threw Stones at me; and I'm an Enemy only to those that were Enemies to me.
There's no Creature so Wild and Savage, and but it may be wrought upon and Reclaim'd by Good Offices and Benefits; to the shame of that part of Mankind, that returns Evil for Good, and is yet to Learn Humanity from the Beasts of the Forrests.
illustration from a 17th-century Phaedrus
A Cobler turn'd Doctor
A Bungling Cobler that was ready to Starve at his own Trade, changes his Quarter, and sets up for a Doctor; and by the Force of Sour Looks, and Hard Words, Conjures himself into some sort of Reputation with the Common People. His Masterpiece was a Composition that he Bill'd about, under the Name of a Sovereign Antidote. This Physician came in time to fall Sick himself, and the Governor of the Place gave him a Visit. He calls for a Cup, and a Dose of his Antidote, puts a little Fair Water in't, under a Pretence of so much Poison; stirs it together, and gives it his Patient. This (says he) is only to try the Force of your Medicine; and if you outlive it, I'le give ye a considerable Sum of Mony for your Receit. The poor Quack had more care of his Life then of his Credit, and so for fear of being Poyson'd, told the whole Truth of the Matter, and how he came to be a Physician. The Governour upon this Discovery, call'd the People together, and bad them consider the Folly and Madness of their Confidence, that would venture the Patching up of their Carcases, upon the Skill of an Ignorant Fellow, that no body that knew him would trust so much as with the Mending of a pair of Old Shoes.
There's Quacking in all Trades: Bold Ignorance passes upon the Multitude for Science; and it is with Men as 'tis with Brutes, some are to Eat, and others to be Eaten. Confident Knaves, live upon Credulous Fools.
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