When an army had been routed, a trumpeter was taken prisoner, and as the soldiers were going to kill him, Gentlemen, says he, why should you kill a man that hurts nobody? You shall die the rather for that, says one of the company, when like a rascal you don't fight yourself, you set other people by the ears.
Fable 5.
The Husbandman and Stork.
A poor innocent Stork happened to be taken in a net that was laid for geese and cranes. The Storks plea was simplicity and the love of mankind, together with the service she did in picking up venemous creatures—It is all true says the husbandman, but they that keep ill company, if they are catched with them, must suffer with them.
Fable 6.
The Wasp and the Partridges.
A Flight of Wasps and a covey of Partridges being hard put to it for water, went to a farmer to beg some. The partridges offered to dig his vineyard for it, and the Wasps to secure it from thieves. Pray hold your peace says the farmer, I have oxen and dogs to perform those offices already, and I am resolved to provide for them first.
Fable 7.
A Daw and Pigeons.
A Daw took particular notice that the Pigeons in the Dove House were well provided for, so went and painted himself of a dove colour and fed among the Pigeons. So long as he kept silence, it passed very well, but forgetting himself he fell a chattering—On which discovery they beat him out of the house, and on his returning to his own companions, they also rejected him.