The _Master_ here deals with the _Dog_, as Great Officers deal many
times with Honest, Well-Meaning Men at Court. They speak ’em Fair
Themselves, and Murder ’em by their Deputies: But still That which is
done by the Principal’s Order, or with his Privity, or Approbation, is
the Principal’s Act. The _Servant_ is But the _Master_’s _Instrument_ in
the Case, as the _Cudgel_ is the _Servant_’s; and they are Both under
the same Command. When a Man happens to be Kill’d, we do not Impute the
Murder to the Weapon that did the Execution, but to him that Manag’d it.
This is much after the way of Treating _Elephants_. When an Elephant
is taken in a Pit-fall, He that is design’d for the Master and Keeper
of him, sets Other People to Prick and Teize him, and Then In comes
He Himself, and under Pretence of taking his Part, falls foul upon his
Enemies, and Rescues him. The _Elephant_ takes This Man now for his
Friend; Whereas, upon the Whole Matter, it was by His Order that he was
both Taken and Beaten.
There’s Nothing more Frequent then this _Shamming_ Way of _Confederacy_,
betwixt Two Men in Power; when an Honest Patriot, for the Purpose, or
a Loyal Subject is to be made an Owl of; by Consent of them Both. The
One Affronts him, while the Other Cajoles and Pities him; Takes up his
Quarrel, shakes his Head at it; Claps his Hand upon his Breast, and then
Protests, and Protests, _he Wonders at his Heart that my Lord should have
so little Honour, as to Treat an Honest Gentleman at This rate_. A Friend
of mine has been at This sport many and many a time: And now upon the
Whole Matter, This is no more at last then a Concerted _Intrigue_ betwixt
a Brace of Sharpers, that Laugh all the while at the whole Roguery in
their Sleeves. The _Master’s Good Words_ are a Greater Mortification to
the _Dog_, then the _Servants Blows_.