This Fable has in a Few Words a Great many Useful, and Instructive
Morals. The Man upon the Tree Preaches to us upon the Text of [_Charity
begins at Home_] According to the False and Perverse Practice of the
World when their Companions are in Distress. The _Bear_ passes Judgment
upon the Abandoning of a Friend in a Time of Need, as an Offence both to
Honour and Virtue; And moreover, Cautions us, above All Things, to have
a Care what Company we keep. There’s no Living in This World without
Friendship; No Society, No Security without it; Besides that, the Only
Tryal of it is in Adversity. And yet nothing Commoner in times of Danger,
then for States-men, Sword-men, Church-men, Law-men, and in truth, all
sorts of Men, more or less, to leave their Masters, Leaders, or Friends,
to _Bears_ and _Tygers_; Shew them a Fair pair of Heels for’t, and cry,
_The Devil take the Hindmost_.