Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
101. A FOX AND A BRAMBLE (Perry 19)
A Fox that was close pursued, 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 laid himself down, and fell to licking his Paws,
with bitter Exclamation against the Bramble. Good Words, Reynard, says
the Bramble, one would have thought you had known better Things, than
to expect a Kindness from a common Enemy, and to lay hold on that for
Relief, that catches every thing else for Mischief.
THE 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.
 L'Estrange originally published his version of the fables in 1692. There is a
very nice illustrated edition in the Children's Classics series by Knopf: Sir
Roger L'Estrange. Aesop
- Fables which is available at amazon.com.
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