A Fox caught in a trap asked a passing Cock to get a stick so he can get out of the trap. Smart Cock brought the farmer who had the stick. Bye Bye Fox.
Sweet talk doesn’t always work.
Aesop For Children
A Fox was caught in a trap one fine morning, because he had got too near the Farmer’s hen house. No doubt he was hungry, but that was not an excuse for stealing. A Cock, rising early, discovered what had happened. He knew the Fox could not get at him, so he went a little closer to get a good look at his enemy.
The Fox saw a slender chance of escape.
“Dear friend,” he said, “I was just on my way to visit a sick relative, when I stumbled into this string and got all tangled up. But please do not tell anybody about it. I dislike causing sorrow to anybody, and I am sure I can soon gnaw this string to pieces.”
But the Cock was not to be so easily fooled. He soon roused the whole hen yard, and when the Farmer came running out, that was the end of Mr. Fox.
Moral
The wicked deserve no aid.
JBR Collection
A Fox, passing early one summer’s morning near a farmyard, was caught in a trap which the farmer had planted there for that purpose. A Cock saw at a distance what had happened, and hardly daring to trust himself too near so dangerous a foe, approached him cautiously and peeped at him, not without considerable fear. Reynard saw him, and in his most bewitching manner addressed him as follows: “See, dear cousin,” said he, “what an unfortunate accident has befallen me here! and, believe me, it is all on your account. I was creeping through yonder hedge, on my way homeward, when I heard you crow, and resolved, before I went any further, to come and ask you how you did. By the way I met with this disaster. Now if you would but run to the house and bring me a pointed stick, I think I could force it into this trap and free myself from its grip. Such a service I should not soon forget.” The Cock ran off and soon came back, not without the stick, which, however, was carried in the hand of the sturdy farmer, to whom he had told the story, and who lost no time in putting it out of Master Fox’s power to do any harm for the future.
Samuel Croxall (The Cock and the Fox)
THE Fox, passing early one summer’s morning near a farm-yard, was caught in a spring, which the farmer had planted there for that end. The Cock, at a distance, saw what happened; and, hardly yet daring to trust himself too near so dangerous a foe, approached him cautiously, and peeped at him, not without some horror and dread of mind. Reynard no sooner perceived it, but be addressed himself to him, with all the designing artifice imaginable. Dear Cousin, says he, you see what an unfortunate accident has befallen me here, and all upon your account. For, as I was creeping through yonder hedge, in my way homeward, I heard you crow, and was resolved to ask you how you did before I went any further: but by the way I met with this disaster; and therefore now I must become an humble suitor to you for a knife to cut this plaguy [sic] string; or, at least, that you would conceal my misfortune, till I have gnawed it asunder with my teeth. The Cock, seeing how the case stood, made no reply, but posted away as fast as he could, and gave the farmer an account of the whole matter; who, taking a good weapon along with him, came and did the Fox’s business, before he could have time to contrive his escape.
THE APPLICATION
Though there is no quality of the mind more graceful in itself, or that renders it more amiable to others, than the having a tender regard to those who are in distress; yet we may err, even in that point, unless we take care to let our compassion flow out upon proper objects only. When the innocent fall into misfortune, it is the part of a generous, brave spirit to contribute to their redemption; or, if that be impossible, to administer something to their comfort and support. But when wicked men, who have been enemies to their fellow-subjects, are entrapped in their own pernicious schemes, he that labours to deliver them makes himself an associate in their crimes, and becomes as great an enemy to the public, as those whom he would screen and protect.
When highwaymen and housebreakers are taken, condemned, and going to satisfy justice, at the expence of their vile, paltry lives; who are they that grieve for them, and would be glad to rescue them from the rope? Not honest men, we may be sure. The rest of the thieving fraternity would perhaps commiserate their condition, and be ready to mutiny in their favour: nay, the rascally solicitor, who has been employed upon their account, would be vexed that his negociations had succeeded no better, and be afraid of losing his reputation among other delinquents for the future. But every friend to justice would have no reason to be dissatisfied at any thing but a mournful reflection which he could not forbear making. That, while these little criminals swing for some trifling, inconsiderable rapine, others, so transcendantly their superiors in fraud and plunder, escape with a whole skin.
Thomas Bewick (The Cock and The Fox)
A Fox, in one of his early visits to the farm-yard, happened to be caught in a springe, which had been set for that very purpose; and while he was struggling to escape, he was observed by the Cock, who, with his Hens, was feeding near the place. The Cock, dreading so dangerous a foe, approached him with the utmost caution. Reynard no sooner cast his eye upon him, than with all the smooth and designing artifice imaginable, thus addressed him. My dear friend, says he, you see what an unfortunate accident has befallen me here, and all upon your account, for not having heard you crow for a long time past, I was resolved on my way homeward to pay you a friendly visit; I therefore beg you will bring me something to cut this tormenting wire, or at least be so good as to conceal my misfortune till I have knawed it asunder. Yes, said the Cock, I can guess what kind of a visit you intended to pay me, and will fetch you the proper assistance immediately. He then hastened and told the Farmer, who instantly went to the place, and knocked the Fox on the head.
APPLICATION.
When the innocent fall into misfortune, it is the part of a generous and brave spirit to contribute as far as possible to their relief; and there is no quality of mind more amiable than that of tenderly feeling for the distressed: but we ought not to let our compassion flow out upon improper objects, lest we may, by saving a villain, be doing an act of injustice to the community. When wicked men are entrapped in their own pernicious schemes, and laid hold of by the arm of justice, it is a misplaced lenity to endeavour to screen or protect them from it, as by letting them loose to continue their depredations, we become the advocates for their crimes, and in some degree partakers in their enormities.
