Mythologia ethica, or, Three centuries of Æsopian fables in English prose done from Æsop, Phædrus, Camerarius, and all other eminent authors on this subject : illustrated with moral, philosophical, and political precepts : also with aphorisms and proverbs in several languages, and adorned with many curious sculptures cut on copper plates / by Philip Ayres, Esq.

FAB. XVII. The Charitable Hedghog.

AESop pleading in defence of a certain Noble∣man of Samos, who was accused by the people, and arraigned by them for his Life.

There was, said he, a Fox, who having cros∣sed a River, was climbing up the Bank on the other side, but by chance slipped down into a miry hole, where he stuck fast in the mud for a long time: And when he had tired himself with struggling to get out, he was persecuted by a multitude of Stinging Flyes; which a Hedghog seeing as he passed by, and taking compassion on him, asked him, if he would not have those vexa∣tious Flyes beat off? But he refusing the kind offer, was by the Hedghog, in great admi∣ration, demanded his reason for it. Because these Flyes, answered the Fox, being almost fil∣led, a little more of my Blood will satisfie them;

whereas if you drive away these, others will come that are more hungry, and suck all the re∣mainder of my Blood which these leave.

So, continued Aesop, O ye Men of Samos, this Officer now grown wealthy, will not do you much more harm; but if you put him to death, other hungry Blood-suckers will succeed in his place, who with Griping Arts shall drain this City of its Riches, and leave ye in a worse condition than he is now capable of.

Aristotle gives us this passage of Aesop and the Fable, in his Second Book of Rhetorick: To shew that it is safer to commit the great Offices of the Commonwealth, into the hands of Rich and Weal∣thy Men, than into such as are Poor. And this reason induced the Emperour Tiberias not easily to change the Governours of his Provinces. Gra∣ve est in pejus mutari: It is a grievous thing to be changed for the worse. Sed minima de malis: But the least of Evils is to be chosen.