The Dragon and Two Foxes, Fenelon 1651-1715
Channel: Age of Enlightenment
Date: 2016-01-19

The Dragon and Two Foxes.  https://archive.org/details/ethicamusementse00bell
Francois Fenelon 1651-1715
Once on a time, a Dragon fat brooding over an immense treasure, and to secure it, never closed his eyes to rest. Two Foxes, well versed in every fly mercurial art, insinuated themselves into his favor by fulsome flattery and adulating address. He entertained them as his friends and confidents. We ought always to be jealous of men's forward protestations: an artful complaisance too often flows from a perfidious heart. They pay their court to him as to a King, applaud all his schemes, tho' never so ridiculous; give into his sentiments, tho' most apparently unjust-, and knowing his foible, turn and wind him at their pleasure. In full confidence of these two bosom-friends, he ventured to take an hour's repose; but as soon as the credulous fool fell fast asleep, they strangled him, and seized the glorious prize. Their next business was to divide the plunder fairly between them j an affair not easily accomplished; for villains seldom can agree in any point, but the bare execution of their crimes. One of these hypocrites, with a philosophic air addressed his companion. Brother, fays he, of what service is all this hoard of gold to us? A hare, or a rabbit, had been a better booty. These same guineas will prove but a poor meal. We have not stomachs, like the ostrich, to digest them. What fools men are to make this gold their God? Brother, let us be wiser. The other with equal hypocrisy replied; your observations are surely just, brother, and I'll assure you, they have made a convert of me : I am now fully convinced, that the philosopher is the happy man ; and for the future, like Bias of old, I'll carry all I have about me. Both affected to depart from the ill-gotten, worthless treasure without reluctance: both lay in ambushcade; and conscious of their mutual guilt, destroyed each other. 
One, as he lay expiring, thus addressed his dying partner: what would you have done with all that gold had you succeeded? The same, replied the other, as you proposed, had fortune favored you. By accident a passenger going by, and enquiring into the fatal cause of their disaster, declared they were both fools. Fools as we are, says one of them, you men are just the same. Gold is no more food for you than us, and yet you'll cut your brother's throat for gain. Before this unhappy accident, our prudent race deified the fatal charm. That, which you introduced for the conveniency of life, is now become its greatest torment. You fly from true felicity, in search after an imaginary good.