There’s Nothing more Frequent, or more Ridiculous in the World then
for an _Ass_ to Dress himself up like a _Lyon_: A _Dunce_ sets up for
a _Doctor_; a _Beggar_ for a Man of _Estate_; a _Scoundrel_ for a
_Cavalier_; a _Poltron_ for a _Swordman_: But Every Fool still has some
Mark or other to be Known by, through All Disguises; and the More he
takes upon him, the Arranter Sot he makes Himself, when he comes to be
Unmasqu’d.
Every Fool, or Fools Fellow, carries More or Less, in his Face, the
Signature of his Manners, though the Character may be much more Legible
in some, then in Others; As the _Ass_ was found out by his _Voice_, and
by his _Ears_. Let him keep his Words betwixt his Teeth, and he may pass
Muster perhaps for a Man of some Sense; but if he comes to Open once,
he’s Lost: For Nature never put the Tongue of a Philosopher into the
Mouth of a Coxcomb: but however, let him be, in truth, what he Will, he
is yet so Conscious of what he Ought to be, that he makes it his Bus’ness
to pass for what he is Not: And in the Matter of Counterfeits, it is with
Men, as it is with False Money: One Piece is more or less Passable then
Another, as it happens to have more or less Sense, or Sterling in the
Mixture. One General Mark of an Impostor, is This; That he Out-does the
Original; As the _Ass_ here in the _Lyon Skin_, made Fifty times more
Clutter then the _Lyon_ would have done in his _Own_; And Himself Fifty
times the more Ridiculous for the Disguise.
If a Man turn his Thoughts now from This Fancy in the _Forrest_, to the
Sober Truth of Daily Experience in the _World_, he shall find _Asses_ in
the Skins of _Men_, Infinitely more Contemptible then _This Ass_ in the
Skin of a _Lyon_. How many Terrible _Asses_ have we seen in the Garb of
Men of Honour! How many Insipid, and Illiterate Fops, that take upon them
to Retail Politiques, and fit for the Picture of Men of State! How many
_Judas_’s with _Hail Master_ in their Mouths! How many _Church Robbers_
that Write themselves _Reformers_! In One Word, Men do Naturally love
to be thought Greater, Wiser, Holier, Braver, and Juster then they Are;
and in fine, Better Qualify’d in All Those Faculties that may give them
Reputation among the People, then we find ’em to be.
The Moral of This Fable Hits all sorts of Arrogant Pretenders, and runs
Effectually into the Whole Bus’ness of Humane Life. We have it in the
very Cabinets, and Councels of State, the Bar, the Bench, the Change, the
Schools, the Pulpits, All Places, in short, are full of Quacks, Juglers,
and Plagiaries, that set up for Men of Quality, Conscience, Philosophy,
and Religion. So that there are _Asses_ with _Short Ears_, as well as
with _Long_, and in Robes of Silk and Dignity, as well as in Skins of
Hair. In Conclusion, An _Ass_ of the _Long-Robe_, when he comes once to
be Detected, looks Infinitely Sillier, then he would have done in his own
Shape: Neither is _Æsop_’s Ass Laugh’d at here for his _Ears_, or for
his _Voice_, but for his _Vanity_, and _Pretence_; for T’other is but
according to his own Kind and Nature; and Every thing is Well and Best,
while it Continues to be as God made it.