FABLES. 



201 



THE FOX AND THE BRIAR. 



A Fox scrambling hastily over a hedge, in his 

 flight from the hounds, got his foot severely torn by 

 a Briar. Smarting with the pain, he burst into re- 

 vilings and complaints at this treatment, which he 

 declared he little expected to meet with for only 

 passing over a hedge; and he could not help think- 

 ing it was very bad usage to be thus grappled by 

 the long arms, and cut and wounded by the sharp 

 crooked spines of a Briar. True, says the Briar f 

 but recollect that you intended to have made me 

 serve your turn, and would, without ceremony, have 

 trampled me down to the ground : but none of your 

 freedoms with me, Master Reynard; you may make 

 a convenience of others, perhaps, but the family of 

 the Briars are not of that cast. Whoever presumes 

 to use any impudent familiarities with them, is sure 

 to smart for it. 



VOL. IV. 



2 D 



