A _Mountebank_ and a _Bear_.
As a _Quack_ was Exposing his Bills and Med’cines upon a Stage, in the
Quality both of a _Doctor_ and a _Jack-Pudding_, Thousands and Thousands
of People Gaping and Staring at him with as much Reverence and Attention,
as if every Word that came out of his Mouth had dropt from the Lips of an
Oracle: It happen’d just in the Nick of this _Interim_, that an Officer
of _Paris-Garden_ was Leading one of his Majesties _Bears_, that way,
with a Ring through the Nose of him. The Rabble immediately upon the
Novelty of this Adventure, quitted the _Mountebank_, and Gather’d in
Multitudes about the _Bear_, _Shouting_ and _Huzzaing_ along with him,
as if it had been a Procession to a _Pope-Burning_, or peradventure some
more Pompous Spectacle. The _Bear_ upon this Noise and Bussle, (though
none of the Quickest-Witted Animals,) made a Speech to the Crowd after
the best manner. Heark ye my Friends, says he, I’m Glad to see you so
Merry at my being led like a Sot by the Nose thus; but pray let’s Laugh
at one another by Turns, for you are every Jot as Ridiculous to _Me_, as
I am to _You_, the _Mobile_ are led by the _Ears_ just as the _Bears_ are
led by the _Noses_; and that’s all the Difference in the Case betwixt us.
The MORAL.
_The_ Mobile _are altogether for Noise and Novelty, and One New Thing
drives out another: Nay, we take Pleasure in the very Spectacle that
Effectually Abuses us; as a Bear with a Ring in his Nose, is no more then
an Emblem of Every Man of us, for we are led as much as He, some by the
Ear or Eye; others by our Lusts and Affections: But in fine, every Soul
of us some way or other_.