The early prejudices of a wrong education can only be eradicated from
the strongest minds. The weak retain them through life. This Fable is
a pretty image of the vain fears and empty terrors, with which our
weak misguided nature is so apt to be alarmed and disturbed. If we
hear but ever so little noise which we are not able to account for,
immediately, nay, often before we give ourselves time to consider
about it, we are struck with fear, and labour under a most unmanly and
unreasonable trepidation; more especially if the alarm happens when we
are alone, and in the dark. These fears are ingrafted into our minds
very early, and therefore it is the more difficult, even when we are
grown up, and ashamed of them, to root them out of our nature. They
are chiefly the offspring of the nursery, and originate in the many
terrific tales, and lying stories, of those who have the management
there; and though every pains be afterwards taken to free the mind from
the impression of such groundless fears, the weaker part of mankind are
still apt to be terrified at the empty phantoms of ghosts, spectres,
apparitions, and hobgoblins. But whatever effect such phantasies
may have upon the guilty mind, innocence has nothing to dread from
supernatural causes. Fear is however a natural passion, and its use
is to put us upon our guard against danger, by alarming the spirits;
but it, like all our other passions, should be kept in a state of
subjection: for though they are all good and useful servants, yet if
once they get the better of our reason, they prove the most domineering
tyrants imaginable; nor do any of them treat us in so abject and
slavish a manner as fear: it unnerves and enfeebles our limbs, while
it fetters our understandings; and at the same time that it represents
a danger near at hand, disarms and makes us incapable of defending
ourselves from it. But we ought to call forth a sense of honour and
shame, to correct such weaknesses; and for this purpose it will be
useful to remember the Fable of the Lion and the Frog.
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