Character Index | Proverb Index
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L'Estrange version
Upon the decease of a lyon of late famous memory, the beasts met in councel to chuse a king. There were several put up; but one was not of a make for a king, another wanted either brains, or strength, or stature, or humour, or something else; but in fine, the buffoon-ape with his grimaces and gamboles, carry'd it from the whole field by I know not how many voices. The fox (being one of the pretenders) stomach'd it extremely to see the choice go against him, and presently rounds the new-elect in the ear, with a piece of secret service that he could do him. Sir, says he, I have discover'd some hidden treasure yonder: but 'tis a royalty that belongs to your majesty, and I have nothing to do with it. So he carry'd the ape to take possession: and what should this treasure be, but a bayte in a ditch. The ape lays his hand upon't, and the trap springs and catches him by the fingers. Ah thou perfidious wretch, cryes the ape! Or thou simple prince, rather, replyes the fox. You a governour of others, with a vengeance, that han't wit enough to look to your own fingers.
Moral
Governors should be men of bus'ness rather then pleasure. There's one great folly in making an ill choice of a ruler, and another in the acceptance of it; for it exposes authority to scorn.
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Tom Simondi, All Rights Reserved