This gives us to Understand, first, that a Man may do what he will with
his Own; but he has Nothing to do with the Propriety of Another Body.
_Secondly_, That People may do any Thing with Impunity, where there’s No
body to call ’em to Account for’t; And that which is Death for One to do
is Lawful for Another.
There are several Starts of Fancy, that Off-hand look well enough; but
bring them to the Test, and there’s Nothing in ’em. The _Fox_’s Reproche
here upon the _Gossips_, was a Frolique Pleasant enough; but without
any Colour, or Congruity of Reason; and the Fallacy lies, from the same
Thing done by several Persons, to the same Right of Doing it; though
under Circumstances so Different, that there’s no Parity at all betwixt
them upon the Collation. This Freak has somewhat of the Air in’t of the
Young Fellow’s Conceit to his Father, when he took him Ruffling his
Grand-Mother. _Why may not I lie with your Mother_, says he, _as well
as You lie with mine_? These _Foxes_ should do well to Consider, that
High-Way-Men, and Other Criminals have as much to say for themselves,
where there’s a Breach of Law, and Common Justice in the Case. This
Instance of the _Fox_ and the _Gossips_, comes to the Old Proverb; that
_One may better Steal a Horse then Another look over the Hedge_.