A _Wolf_ and a _Lamb_.
As a _Wolf_ was lapping at the Head of a Fountain, he spy’d a _Lamb_,
paddling at the same time, a good way off down the Stream. The _Wolf_ had
no sooner the Prey in his Eye, but away he runs open-mouth to’t. Villain
(says he) how dare you lye mudling the Water that I am a drinking?
Indeed, says the poor _Lamb_, I did not think that my drinking there
_below_, could have foul’d your Water so far _above_. Nay, says t’other,
you’ll never leave your chopping of Logick, till your Skin’s turn’d over
your Ears, as your Fathers was, a matter of six Months ago, for prating
at this sawcy rate; you remember it full well, Sirrah. If you’ll believe
me, Sir, (quoth the innocent _Lamb_, with fear and trembling) I was not
come into the World then. Why thou Impudence, cries the _Wolf_, hast thou
neither Shame, nor Conscience? But it runs in the Blood of your whole
Race, Sirrah, to hate our Family; and therefore since Fortune has brought
us together so conveniently, you shall e’en pay some of your Fore-Fathers
Scores before you and I part; and so without any more ado, he leapt at
the Throat of the miserable helpless _Lamb_, and tore him immediately to
pieces.
The MORAL of the Two FABLES above.
’Tis an easy Matter to find a Staff to beat a Dog. _Innocence is no
Protection against the Arbitrary Cruelty of a Tyrannical Power: But
Reason and Conscience are yet so Sacred, that the Greatest Villanies are
still Countenanc’d under that Cloak and Colour._