This Fable tells us what Credit is to be given to Witnesses of a False
and Lewd Conversation, and that a known Liar is of no Authority in a
Judgment of Law, even when he speaks Truth. Where a Brace of Sharpers
will be going to Law, none so fit as an _Ape_ to try the Cause; and it
was a Sentence worthy of such a Judge, to pronounce them both Guilty;
which in Equity they were, with a respect to their Character and
Reputation; tho’ in Law they could not be so, upon the Fact in Question.
If the _Ape_ in this Fable had too little regard to the Letter of the
Law, we have seen some Cases where more stress has been laid upon the
rigour and strictness of it, then Conscientiously did belong to’t: For
when one Man of an Exemplary Improbity, Charges another of the same
Stamp, in a Court of Justice, he lies under the Disadvantage of a strong
Suspicion, even before he is Heard; and People are Prepar’d to believe
the Worst of him by Anticipation, and before his Case is known. So
that the Bare Prejudice is sufficient to turn the Scale, where it was
Gold-weight before; unless we Ballance the Improbity of the one, with the
Improbity of the other, as the _Ape_ did here in the Fable.
We are to understand upon the whole Matter, that it is more Advisable
to give too little Credit in a Court of Judicature to Men of Profligate
Lives, then too Much: For ’tis a Scandal to Publick Justice, to make use
of such Instruments for the Supporters of a State.