Many and Many a time has this been our own Case, both publick and
private, when we would not Believe the Danger of things ’till the Evil
was come upon us: But Good Counsel is cast away, upon the Arrogant, and
Self conceited, or the stupid, who are either too Proud to take it, or
too Heavy to Understand it.
The Sowing of _Hemp-Seed_, and of _Plot-seed_ is much at one. The
Design, and the End are Destruction, Both Alike. The _Swallow_ proposes
the Preventing of ill Consequences in their Causes, and Obviating the
Mischief betimes: But that Counsel is either thrown off with a Raillery,
or not minded at all: _Governours would have enough to do, they Cry,
to trouble their Heads with the Politiques of every Medling Officious
Impertinent_. Well, It takes Root; shews it self in the Blade, Advances,
and Ripens: And still the _Swallow_ is but the same Fool over again,
for continuing the same Advice. The Hemp comes at last to be pluckt up,
Pill’d, Dress’d, and Spun; The Nets and Snares made and laid; and yet all
this while the _Birds_ could never find a time to Bethink themselves,
till they came to be Hamper’d, and Ruined past Recovery.
What is all this but a perfect Emblem of the Method of Destroying
Kingdoms and States. Cautions, or the common Ways of Anticipating, or
Defeating Conspiracies, are below the Wisdom of men of _Intrigue_, and
_Cabal_; till at last, a Faction comes to be too hard for the Government.
Now whether this befals a Kingdom by Envy, Ignorance, Conspiracy,
Treachery, or Presumption, it comes all to a case, so long as it does the
Work. It is the Bane of Society, and in truth, even of particular Persons
too, when betwixt Laziness and Neglect, men slip all the Opportunities,
with the _Birds_ here in the Fable, of a Safe, and of a Happy Life.