A _Fox_ and a _Hedge-Hog_.
_Æsop_ brought the _Samians_ to their Wits again out of a most Desperate
Sedition with This Fable.
A _Fox_, upon the Crossing of a River, was forc’d away by the Current
into an Eddy, and there he lay with Whole Swarms of Flies Sucking and
Galling of him. There was a _Water-Hedge-Hog_ (we must imagin) at hand,
that in Pure Pity Offer’d to Beat away the _Flies_ from him. No, No, says
the _Fox_, Pray let ’em Alone, for the Flies that are upon me now are
e’en Bursting-full already, and can do me little more Hurt then they have
done: But when These are gone once, there will be a Company you shall see
of Starv’d Hungry Wretches to take their Places, that will not leave so
much as One Drop of Bloud in the Whole Body of me.
_Tiberius Cæsar_ made a very Pertinent Application of This Fancy to a
Case of his Own. The Question was, Whether or no he should Casheir some
of his Corrupt Governors of Provinces, for Oppressing the People? He gave
the World to Understand his Mind by this Fable.
There was a Man lay Miserably Wounded upon the High-way, and Swarms of
_Flies_ upon him, Sucking his Sores. A Traveller that was passing by,
Pity’d his Condition, and Offer’d him his Service, in Pure Charity to
Drive them away. No, No, says T’other, pray let them alone; for when
These are gone, I shall have Worse in Their Places. This will be the Case
of My Subjects if I Change their Governors.
The MORAL.
_The Force of a Fable._