How comes it then that they look stupidly on and tamely acquiesce, when wicked men pervert this end, and establish an arbitrary tyranny of their own upon the foundation of fraud and oppression? Among beasts, who are incapable of being civilised by social laws, it is no strange thing to see innocent helpless sheep fall a prey to Dogs, Wolves, and Kites: but it is amazing how mankind could ever sink down to such a low degree of base cowardice, as to suffer some of the worst of their species to usurp a power over them, to supercede the righteous laws of good government, and to exercise all kinds of injustice and hardship in gratifying their own vicious lusts. AN Old Hound, who had been a good one in his time, and had given his master great sport and satisfaction in many a chase, at last, by the effect of years, became feeble and unserviceable. However, being in the field one day, when the stag was almost run down, he happened to be the first that came in with him, and seized him by one of his haunches; but his decayed and broken teeth not being able to keep their hold, the deer escaped, and threw him quite out. Upon which, his master, being in a great passion, was going to strike him, when the honest old creature is said to have barked out this apology: "Ah! do not strike your poor old servant; it is not my heart and inclination, but my strength and speed that fail me. If what I now am displeases, pray don't forget what I have been." D d REFLECTION. This fable may serve to give us a general view of the ingratitude of the greatest part of mankind. Notwithstanding all the civility and complaisance that is used among people where there is a common intercourse of business, yet, let the main spring, the probability of their being serviceable to each other, either in point of pleasure or profit, be but once broken, and farewell to courtesy. So far from continuing any regard in behalf of past favours, it is very well, if they forbear doing any thing that is injurious. If the master had only ceased to caress and make much of the old Hound, when he was past doing any service, it had not been very strange; but to treat a poor creature ill, not for a failure of inclination, but merely a defect of nature, must, notwithstanding the crowd of examples there are to countenance it, be pronounced inhuman and unreasonable. Two young Men went into a cook-shop, under pretence of buying meat; and while the Cook's back was turned, one of them snatched up a piece of beef, and gave it to his companion, who immediately put it under his cloak. The Cook turning round, and missing his beef, began to charge them with it; upon which, he that first took it swore bitterly he had it not. He that had it swore as heartily, that he had taken up none of his meat. "Why, look ye, gentlemen," says the Cook, "I see your equivocation; and though I cannot tell which of you has taken my meat, I am sure, between you both, there is a thief, and a couple of rascals." 66 REFLECTION. An honest man's word is as good as his oath; and so is a rogue's too; for he that will cheat and lie, why should he scruple to forswear himself? Is the latter An honest more criminal than either of the former? man needs no oath to oblige him; and a rogue only deceives you the more certainly by it, because you think you have tied him up, and he is sure you have not. In truth, it is not easy, with the eye of reason, to discern, that there is any good in swearing at all. We need not scruple to take an honest man's bare asseveration; and we should do wrong if we believe a rogue, though he swears by the most solemn oaths that can be invented. |