A Gardener and His Dog

 A Dog dropped into a well. When the Master reached in to get the Dog he thought the Master meant to push him further in. Stupid Dog.

Benefits are refused by those who don’t understand them.

JBR Collection

A Gardener’s Dog, frisking about the brink of a well in the garden, happened to fall in. The Gardener very readily ran to his assistance, but as he was trying to help him out, the Cur bit him by the hand. The Man, annoyed at what he considered such ungrateful behaviour towards one whose only aim was to save his life, came away and left the Dog to drown.

Samuel Croxall

A GARDENER’S Dog, frisking about the brink of a well in the garden, happened to fall into it. The Gardener very readily ran to his assistance; but as he was endeavouring to help him out, the cur bit him by the hand. The man took this ungrateful treatment so unkindly, the he left him to shift for himself, with this expostulation; Wicked wretch, quoth he, are you so unreasonable as to injure the hand that comes to save your life! the hand of me, your master, who have hitherto fed and taken care of you! Die, as you deserve; for so mischievous and ill-natured a creature is not fit to live.

THE APPLICATION

All the obligations you lay upon an ungrateful person are thrown away. And therefore they who would be esteemed wise, as well as good, should use some exactness in the direction of their favours, as well as generosity in the disposal of them. For there are some of such malevolent tempers, that they are not only improper objects of our good-nature, as to themselves, in being undeserving; but of such vile dispositions in respect to us, that we cannot approach them, though to do them a kindness, without endangering our own safety. Our good-nature, therefore, as good a quality as it is, will not excuse us, if we fall into the hands of these kind of people; something must be imputed to our easiness and want of attention; and if we are so free as to bestow our favours, without considering where we place them, the discerning part of mankind will rank us in the class of fools or madmen, instead of giving us the applause that is due to actions truly liberal.

Thomas Bewick (The Gardener and His Dog)

A Gardener’s Dog happened by some mischance to fall into the well: his Master ran immediately to his assistance; but when helping him out, the surly brute bit his hand. The Gardener took this ungrateful treatment so ill, that he shook him off, and left him to shift for himself. Thou wicked wretch! said he, to injure the hand that was stretched forth to save thy life! The hand of thy Master, who has hitherto fed and taken care of thee! Die there as thou deservest; for so base and unnatural a creature is not fit to live.

APPLICATION.

When a man has suffered his mind to become so debased as to be capable to doing injuries to him who has showered benefits on his head, he can scarcely be treated with too much severity. He deserves at least to be scouted as an outcast to society. All the favours that are bestowed upon men of this worthless disposition, are thrown away; for the envy and malevolence of the ingrate, work him up into a hatred of his benefactor. Generous men should therefore use a just circumspection in the choice of the objects of their benevolence, before they give way to the feelings of the heart, or waste its bountiful overflowings upon those who, instead of making a grateful return, will bite them like a drowning but spiteful dog. The Fable is also intended as an admonition to servants, who owe an especial duty to their masters; whose kindness should be met by their faithful exertions to serve them; and whose interest they ever ought to make their own.

L’Estrange version

A gard’ner’s dog dropt into a well, and his master let himself down to help him out again. He reach’d forth his hand to take hold of the dog, and the curr snapt him by the fingers: for he thought ’twas only to duck him deeper. The master went his way upon’t, and e’en Ieft him as he found him. Nay (says he) I’m well enough serv’d, to take so much pains for the saving of one that is resolv’d to make away himself.

Moral

Obligations and benefits are cast away upon two sorts of people; those that do not understand them, and those that are not sensible of them.

Olitor et Canis

Delapsum in puteum canem olitor servare et retrahere cupiens, demisit et eodem se ipse. Canis, veritus ne descendisset sibi nocendi gratia et ut suffocaret demersum, dentibus illum petebat et morsu lacerabat. Tum saucius olitor, cum dolore, “Iure mihi,” inquit, “hoc accidisse fateor. Cur enim auctorem ipsum sibi interitus ego servare volui?”

Perry #120