This Fable shews the propensity of unguided youth to do evil, and
points out the need of inculcating benignity of conduct upon their
minds, and giving them a direction towards a manly and generous
humanity, which in manhood will shew itself in actions and habits that
cannot fail to do honour to themselves, and qualify them for any office
in the service of their country. The contrary of all this will be
found to predominate in society, when youth are suffered to go on with
impunity, in indulging their wicked inclinations for cruelty, by which
their minds are hardened and debased. This hard-heartedness in boys
will grow into brutality and tyranny in man; and that cruelty which
was at first inflicted upon poor dumb animals, will soon shew itself
upon their fellows. The great man of this cast will tyrannize over
those below him: these again will shew the same hateful disposition to
their dependants, and so downwards to the lowest, who, guided only by
ignorance, will give vent to their natural baseness, by goading and
distressing the poor animals which are wretchedly toiling in their
service.
[Illustration]