An Ape sat as judge between a Fox, accused of stealing, and Wolf, the accuser. After the trial, the Ape judged the Wolf lost nothing but the Fox stole it.
The dishonest, if they act honestly, get no credit.
Townsend version
A wolf accused a Fox of theft, but the Fox entirely denied the charge. An Ape undertook to adjudge the matter between them. When each had fully stated his case the Ape announced this sentence: “I do not think you, Wolf, ever lost what you claim; and I do believe you, Fox, to have stolen what you so stoutly deny.”
Moral
The dishonest, if they act honestly, get no credit.
Samuel Croxall
THE Wolf indicted the Fox of felony, before the Ape, who, upon that occasion, was appointed special judge of the cause. The Fox gave in his answer to the Wolf’s accusation, and denied the fact. So, after a fair hearing on both sides, the Ape gave judgment to this purpose; I am of opinion that you, says he to the Wolf, never lost the goods you sue for: and as for you, turning to the Fox, I make no question, said he, but you have stolen what is laid to your charge, at least. And thus the court was dismissed, with this public censure passed upon each party.
THE APPLICATION
A man that has once blemished his credit by knavery, will not be believed for the future, even though he should speak the truth. One would think the consideration of this should be some obstruction to lying and cheating, and a discouragement to the professors of that faculty. Whoever is detected of voluntary, deliberate falsehood, although no cognizance is had of it by the public, will yet be for ever detested by the honest, discreet part of his acquaintance: and though he may escape all manner of penalty, from the law of the land in which he lives, yet all that know him will lay him under a tacit, private condemnation, and treat him for ever after as an outlaw, and an excommunicated person. Cheating and knavery may now and then succeed and pass muster with the most silly undiscerning part of mankind; but the contrivers of such villanous plots, whatever their advantage may be, are sure of getting little or no honour by their exploits; and are liable to be detected and exposed, even by the simple crew which they practise upon. A very Ape knows how to distinguish, and pass sentence upon a Fox or Wolf; but the honest, just man, who is fair and upright in all his dealings, is unexcepcionable to every body, and no less sure of turning every negociation to his profit, than to his honour and credit. A knave has a chance, and perhaps but an indifferent one, of succeeding once or twice, and that with the most foolish part of mankind; whereas an honest man is sure of being constantly trusted and well esteemed, and that by all wise and good people.
Thomas Bewick
The Wolf indicted the Fox for felony before the Ape, who upon that occasion was appointed special judge of the cause. The Fox gave in his answer to the Wolf’s accusation, and denied the fact. After hearing both sides, the Ape, penetrating the character of the parties, gave judgment to this purpose: I am of opinion, that you, says he to the Wolf, never lost the goods you sue for; and as for you, turning to the Fox, I make no question but you at least have stolen what is laid to your charge. And thus the court was dismissed with this public censure upon each party.
APPLICATION.
Well may both judge and jury, in the outset of trial, be puzzled to decide between and do justice to men whose quarrels are made up of baseness and villainy, and carried on with mutual treachery, fraud, and violence, and whose witnesses are perhaps of the same character with themselves. Each party may justly enough accuse the other, though neither of them are worthy of belief, and deserve even no credit for the imputations with which they asperse each other’s characters. But such men need not hope long to deceive the world: a penetrating judge and an honest jury will, upon sifting the matter, clearly see what kind of men they have been occupying their attention with, and shew a proper disgust at the wicked impudence of both plaintiff and defendant.
JBR Collection
The Wolf charged the Fox, before the Ape as judge, with having stolen some meat which. he had put by. The case was long and angrily contested, and the Ape, having heard all that was to be said on both sides, announced his decision as follows: “You, Master Wolf, in spite of your complaints, do not appear to me to have had anything to lose; but I am forced to admit that you, Master Fox, have certainly stolen what is laid to your charge.
Perry #474