Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
56. A BOAR AND A HORSE (Perry 269)
A Boar happened to be wallowing in the Water where a Horse was going
to drink, and there grew a Quarrel upon’t. The Horse went presently to
a Man, to assist him in his Revenge. They agreed upon the Conditions,
and the Man immediately arm’d himself, and mounted the Horse, who carried
him to the Boar, and had the Satisfaction of seeing his Enemy kill’d before
his Face. The Horse thank’d the Cavalier for his Kindness, but as he was
just about to take leave, the Man said he should have further occasion
for him, and so order’d him to be ty’d up in the Stable. The Horse came
by this time to understand, that his Liberty was gone, and no help for’t,
and that he had paid dear for his Revenge.
THE MORAL OF THE TWO FABLES ABOVE. Let every Man make a truer Measure
of himself, what he is able to do, and what not, before he comes to any
peremtory Resolution how to proceed. He is a Madman, that to avoid a present
and less Evil, runs blindfold into a greater; and for the gratifying of
a froward Humour, makes himself a Slave all the Days of his Life.
 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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