Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
21. A DOG AND A THIEF (Perry 403)
As a Gang of Thieves were at work to rob a House, a Mastiff took the
Alarum, and fell a barking: One of the Company spoke him fair, and would
have stopt his Mouth with a Crust. No, says the Dog, this will not do,
for several Reasons. First, I’ll take no Bribes to betray my Master. Secondly,
I am not such a Fool neither, as to sell the Ease and Liberty of my whole
Life to come, for a piece of Bread in Hand: for when you have rifled my
Master, pray who shall maintain me?
THE MORAL Fair Words, Presents, and Flatteries, are the Methods of
Treachery in Courts, as well as in Cottages; only the Dogs are truer to
their Masters than the Men.
 L'Estrange originally published his version of the fables in 1692. There is a
very nice illustrated edition in the Children's Classics series by Knopf: Sir
Roger L'Estrange. Aesop
- Fables which is available at amazon.com.
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