002. A Cat and a Cock. It was the hard Fortune once of a Cock to fall into the Clutches of a Cat. Puss had a Months mind to be upon the Bones of him, but was not willing to pick a Quarrel however, without some plausible Colour for't. Sirrah (says he) what do you keep such a bawling and screaming a Nights for, that no body can sleep near you? Alas says the Cock, I never wake any body, but when 'tis time for People to rise, and go about their Business. Nay, says the Cat, and then there never was such a lycentuous Rascal: Why, you make no more Conscience of Lying with your own Mother, and your Sisters.--In truth, says the Cock again, that's only to provide Eggs for my Master and Mistress. Come come, says Puss, without any more ado, 'tis time for me to go to Breakfast, and Cats don't live upon Dialogues; at which word she gave him a Pinch, and so made an end both of the Cock, and of the Story.
Moral. Tis an easy Matter to find a Staff to beat a Dog. Innocence is no Protection against the Arbitrary Cruelty of a Tyrannical Power: But Reason and Conscience are yet so Sacred, that the Greatest Villanies are still Countenanc'd under that Cloak and Colour.
[
more info; you can read
L'Estrange's Reflexion at the online book.]
And here is an
illustration by Harrison Weir:
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