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Abstemius's Fables (Sir Roger L'Estrange)

309. (Abstemius 59) A Council of Birds for Chusing more Kings.

The Birds were mightily possess'd with an Opinion, that it was utterly impossible for the Eagle alone to administer Equal Justice to all her Subjects; And upon this ground, there was a Motion put up, for Changing the Monarchy into a Republick: But an old cunning Crow that saw further into a Millstone then his Neighbours, with One Word of his Mouth dash'd the Project. The more Kings you have, says he, the more Sacks there are to be filled: And so the Debate fell.
The Common People hate all Government, and when they are sick of it in One Form, they fly to Another; but still they rather incline to That, which they fancy Easiest to Themselves.

 


Fables of Aesop and Other Eminent Mythologists: Abstemius's Fables by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Available online at Google Books.