Fable XXXVI.
The Two Horses.
The object of our pride is often the cause of our misfortunes.
Two Horses were travelling the road together; one loaded with a sack of flour, the other with a sum of money. The latter, proud of his splendid burthen, tossed up his head with an air of conscious superiority, and every now and then cast a look of contempt upon his humble companion. In passing through a wood, they were met by a gang of highwaymen, who immediately seized upon the horse that was carrying the treasure; but the spirited steed not being altogether disposed to stand so quietly as was necessary for their purpose, they beat him most unmercifully, and after plundering him of his boasted load, left him to lament at his leisure the cruel bruises he had received. Friend, said his despised companion to him (who had now reason to triumph in his turn), distinguished posts are often dangerous to those who possess them: if you had served a miller, as I do, you might have travelled the road unmolested.
Fable XXXVII.
The Mock-bird.
Ridicule appears with a very ill grace in persons who possess no one talent beside.
There is a certain bird in the West Indies, which has the faculty of mimicking the notes of every other songster, without being able himself to add any original strains to the concert. As one of these Mock-birds was displaying his talent of ridicule among the branches of a venerable wood: ’Tis very well, said a little warbler, speaking in the name of all the rest; we grant you that our music is not without its faults: but why will you not favour us with a strain of your own?