’Tis a Folly, says the Old Moral, for People to run Great Hazards for
small Advantage. And why may it not as well Reflect upon the Cruelty of
taking away the Life of a Poor Innocent Creature for making bold with One
Miserable Grain of Corn, when she was Hungry. But This is All Forc’d, and
in Truth, it is a Dry Fable with Little or Nothing in’t.
Or to Turn it Another Way yet, Here’s the Life of a Poor Creature in
Question, and the _Lark_ Expostulates, and Pleads _Not Guilty_, but the
Belly has No Ears, and the _Bird-Catcher_ is so Intent upon his Interest,
and Appetite, that he gives no Heed at all to the Equity of the Plea,
which is but according to the Course of the World, when people Measure
Right or Wrong by the Rule of their Own Profit or Loss. ’Tis Passion and
Partiality that Govern in All These Cases.