Character Index | Proverb Index
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| Character Index | Proverb Index |
Townsend version
Some thieves broke into a house and found nothing but a Cock, whom they stole, and got off as fast as they could. Upon arriving at home they prepared to kill the Cock, who thus pleaded for his life: "Pray spare me; I am very serviceable to men. I wake them up in the night to their work." "That is the very reason why we must the more kill you," they replied; "for when you wake your neighbors, you entirely put an end to our business."
Moral
The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
L'Estrange version
A band of thieves brake into a house once, and found nothing in't to carry away, but one poor cock. The cock said as much for himself as a cock could say; but insisted chiefly upon the services of his calling people up to their work, when 'twas time to rise. Sirrah (says one of the thieves) you had better have let that argument alone; for your waking the family spoils our trade, and we are to be hang'd forsooth for your bawling.
Moral
That which is one body's meat, is another body's poyson; as the trussing up of thieves is the security of honest men. One foolish word is enough to spoil a good cause, and 'tis many a man's fortune to cut his own throat with his own argument.
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Tom Simondi, All Rights Reserved