. Fables of Aesop and others. ulity. Any person in a community, by what name or title soeverdistinguished, who atiects a power which may possibly hurt thepeople, is an enemy to that people, and therefore they oughtnot to trust him: for though he were ever so fully determined notto abuse such a powder, yet he is so far a bad man, as he disturbsthe peoples quiet, and makes them jealous and uneasy, by de-siring to have it, or even retaining it, when it may prove mis-chievous. If we consult history, we shall find that the thingcalled Prerogative, has been claimed and contended for chieflyby those
. Fables of Aesop and others. ulity. Any person in a community, by what name or title soeverdistinguished, who atiects a power which may possibly hurt thepeople, is an enemy to that people, and therefore they oughtnot to trust him: for though he were ever so fully determined notto abuse such a powder, yet he is so far a bad man, as he disturbsthe peoples quiet, and makes them jealous and uneasy, by de-siring to have it, or even retaining it, when it may prove mis-chievous. If we consult history, we shall find that the thingcalled Prerogative, has been claimed and contended for chieflyby those who never intended to make a good use of it; and asreadily resigned and thrown up by just and wise princes, whahad the true interest of their people at heart. How like sense-less slocks do they act, who, by complimenting some capriciousmortal, from time to time, with parcels of prerogative, at lastput it out of their power to defend and maintain themselvesin their just and natural liberty. FAB. XXXIV. The Horse and the The Stag with his sharp horns, got the betiei of 80 ^SOPS FABLES. the horse, and drove him clear out of the pasturewhere they used to feed together. So the latter cra-ved the assistance of man; and, in order to receive thebenefit of it, suffered him to put a bridle into his mouth,and a saddle upon his back. By this way of proceed-ing, he entirely defeated his enemy: but was mightilydisappointed, when, upon returning thanks, and desi-ring to be dismissed, he received this answer: No. Inever knew before how useful a drudge you were; nowI have found what you are good for, you may dependupon it I will keep you to it. THE APPLICATION. As the foregoing- fable was intended to caution us againstconsenting to any thing that might prejudice public liberty,this may serve to keep us upon our guard in the preservationof that which is of a private nature. This is the use and inter-pretation given of it by Horace, the best and most polite philoso-pher that wrote. After
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