’Tis the Practice, but it is the Baseness of the World too, for Men to
Govern themselves Wholly by their Interest, and to Abandon All that’s
Sacred and Honourable, for the saving of their Own Skins. Thus, says the
Moral; but the Conceit was not worth the Life of the Poor Creature, and
therefore the Allegory not to be Recommended; because it sets up a False
Principle. There was place for Honour, Dignity of Mind, and Humanity to
shew it self, in the Case, though but to a Poor _Mouse_: And there’s
Nothing to be said in Defence of the Wanton Cruelty of Sacrificing a Life
to a Jest: But to come now to the Ungrateful Point, the Bare _Innuendo_
of it would stare so many People in the Face, that it were better pass’d
over in silence; for the Moral drawn out at length, would be a Satyr
against Mankind. And Millions of Men that carry their Heads High in the
World, would fall under the Lash of the _Country-man’s Exclamation_ here.