Older Rat found cheese in a trap. He told Younger Rat he could have it as he was full. Young Rat sprang the trap and died. Older Rat got the prize.
Don’t just take advice blindly!
JBR Collection
A cunning old Rat discovered in his rounds a most tempting piece of cheese, which was placed in a gin. But being well aware that if he touched it he would be caught in a trap, he treacherously accosted one of his young companions, and, under the mask of friendship, informed him of the prize, which he could not regale himself with, as he had just swallowed a hearty meal. The inexperienced Rat thanked him with gratitude for the intelligence, and heedlessly sprang upon the tempting bait; on which the gin closed and instantly destroyed him. His insidious adviser, being now quite secure, quietly ate up the cheese.
Northcote
[Note: The Northcote fable is the same fable as in the JBR Collection above. Only the illustrations and Application associated with the fable in the Northcote book are displayed here.]
Application
There are human beings as selfish and cruel as the Rat in this Fable: who seduce others by pernicious counsel into fatal acts, and when profiting by their ruin, congratulate themselves on the success of their schemes. J. N.
