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The Fox and The Bramble

Townsend version

A fox was mounting a hedge when he lost his footing and caught hold of a Bramble to save himself. Having pricked and grievously tom the soles of his feet, he accused the Bramble because, when he had fled to her for assistance, she had used him worse than the hedge itself. The Bramble, interrupting him, said, "But you really must have been out of your senses to fasten yourself on me, who am myself always accustomed to fasten upon others."

L'Estrange version

A fox that was close pursu'd, took a hedge, the bushes gave way, and in catching hold of a bramble to break his fall, the prickles ran into his feet. Upon this, he layd himself down, and fell to licking his paws, with bitter exclamations against the bramble. Good words, Reynard, says the bramble, one would have thought you had known better things, then to expect a kindness from a common enemy, and to lay hold on that for relief, that catches at every thing else for mischiefe.

Moral

There are some malicious natures that place all their delight in doing ill turns, and that man is hard put to't, that is first brought into a distress, and then forc'd to fly to such people for relief.

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