The Surprize of the _Lyon_ is to teach us, that no Man living can be so
Present to Himself, as not to be put beside his Ordinary Temper upon
some Accidents or Occasions; but then his Philosophy brings him to a
Right Understanding of Things, and his Resolution carries him through
All Difficulties. It is Another _Emphatical_ Branch of This Emblem, that
as the _Lyon_ himself was not Thorough-Proof against This Fantastical
_Alarum_; so it was but a Poor Wretched _Frog_ all this while, that
Discompos’d him, to shew the Vain Opinion and False Images of Things,
and how apt we are to be Transported with Those Fooleries, which, if
we did but Understand, we should Despise. Wherefore ’tis the Part of a
Brave, and a Wise Man to Weigh, and Examine Matters without Delivering
up himself to the Illusion of Idle Fears, and Panick Terrors. It was in
truth, below the Dignity of a _Lyon_ to Kill the Poor Creature, but
This, however may be said in Plea for’t, that he was asham’d to leave
behind him a Witness of his Weakness.