<< Home Page | Abstemius (L'Estrange) Index

Abstemius's Fables (Sir Roger L'Estrange)

342. (Abstemius 91) A Lad Robbing an Orchard.

An Old Fellow took a Boy Robbing his Orchard, Sirrah (says he) come down the Tree, and don't steal my Apples. The Lad never minded him, but went on with his Work. Well (says the Master of the Ground) they say there are Charms in Herbs as well as in Words, and so he threw a Handful of Grass at him; which was so ridiculous, that the Young Thief took the Old Man to be Mop'd. But in Conclusion, if neither Words, nor Herbs will do, says he, I'll try what may be done with Stones; for they say there's Vertue in Them too; and that Way he did his Work.
Those that will not be reclaimd's by Instruction, must be brought to a Sense of their Duty by Feeling.