THE LIFE OF AESOP
Translated by Sir Roger L'Estrange
CHAPTER IX
A Second Treat of Tongues
XANTHUS's Guests met again the next Day, according to the
Appointment; and AEsop had provided them the very same Services
of Tongues and Tongues over and over, as they had the Night before.
Sirrah (says Xanthus to his Servant) what's the Meaning of this,
that Tongues should be the best of Meats one Day, and the worst
the other? Why, Sir, says he, there is not any Wickedness under
the Sun, that the Tongue has not a part in, as Murders, Treasons,
Violence, Injustice, Fraud, and all manner of Lewdness: For
Counsels must be first agitated, the Matter in question debated,
resolved upon, and communicated by Words, before the Malice
comes to be executed in Fact. Tongue, whither wilt thou! (says the
old Proverb.) I go to build (says the Tongue) and I go to pull down.
This petulant Liberty of AEsop gall'd his Master to the very
Soul of him; and one of the Guests, to help forward his evil
Humour, cry'd out, This Fellow is enough to make a body mad. Sir
(says AEsop) you have very little Business to do of your own,
I perceive, by the Leisure you have to intermeddle in other Peoples
Matters; you would find some other Employment else, than to
irritate a Master against his Servant.