A Wise Man lives by Reason, not by Example; or if he does, ’tis odds, he
goes out of his Way. We have a common Saying that holds in a Thousand
ordinary Cases, where the same thing Ruins one, that Saves another. It is
the part also of an Honest Man to deal Above-board, and without Tricks.
The _Ass_ with the _Sponge_, fail’d in both; For First, he would be
trying Conclusion, without Examining either the Nature of the thing in
Question, or what the Matter would bear. Secondly, He was False to his
Master too, in Abusing a Trust for the Easing of his own Carkass; and
then it cost him his Life Over and Above, which was both his Mishap and
Punishment.