’Tis with _Men_, as ’tis with _Beasts_, in the Case of this _Wolf_.
We do naturally Hate the Instruments of our Ruin: And it matters not
much neither, as to the Event of the thing, whether it be by _Chance_
or by _Choice_; for it seldom succeeds better, where the Advice or the
Instigation of One Man draws on the Destruction of Many. There’s a
Great Difference ’tis true, betwixt the Works of Malice, and those of
Misadventure, but the Mischief is still the same; for he that’s Undone,
is equally Undone, whether it be by Spitefulness of Forethought, or by
the Folly of Oversight, or Evil Counsel. The _Wolf_ at the _Stake_, had
no Design upon his Brethren in the _Woods_; and the _Wolves_ in the
_Wood_ had as little Design upon their Brother at the _Stake_; but One
was in Distress, and call’d out for Help, while the other Associated,
and came in to his Relief. But after they were once In, they were all
Involv’d in the same Common Fate: And when the Herd found themselves
Hamper’d, and that they could not gain their Ends, they came to a
Resolution, _One and All_, in a Generous Indignation to take their
Revenge. The Freak of the _French Farce_ comes as Pat as is possible
to the Earnest of this Moral: The _Plot_ of it was a _Grammar-School_;
the Master setting his Boys their Lessons, and their Exercises, and a
Loobily Countrey Fellow putting in for a part among the Scholars. Well,
says the Master, I am just going out of Town for Four or Five Days,
wherefore Pray’e be sure ye be Good Boys, till I come back again; and so
he took Horse and away. He had no sooner turn’d his Back, but there were
they at it _Helter Skelter_, throwing Books at one anothers Heads, and
playing such Freaks, as if Hell were Broke Loose among ’em. In this very
_Interim_, the Master Bolts in upon them, and Surprizes them: In short,
he enquires into the Riot, and takes the whole School to Task One by One,
about the Occasion of this Uproar. _I’d have been Quiet_, says One, _if
it had not been for Him; and I’d ha’ been Quiet_, says T’other, _if he’d
ha’ let me alone_. So that in fine, all (Pointing at the same Person,)
the Poor Country Fellow was taken up and Lash’d upon the Stage, and all
the rest forgiven.