A Boar happened to be wallowing in the Water where a Horse was going to drink, and there grew a Quarrel upon’t. The Horse went presently to a Man, to assist him in his Revenge. They agreed upon the Conditions, and the Man immediately arm’d himself, and mounted the Horse, who carried him to the Boar, and had the Satisfaction of seeing his Enemy kill’d before his Face. The Horse thank’d the Cavalier for his Kindness, but as he was just about to take leave, the Man said he should have further occasion for him, and so order’d him to be ty’d up in the Stable. The Horse came by this time to understand, that his Liberty was gone, and no help for’t, and that he had paid dear for his Revenge.
Let every Man make a truer Measure of himself, what he is able to do, and what not, before he comes to any peremtory Resolution how to proceed. He is a Madman, that to avoid a present and less Evil, runs blindfold into a greater; and for the gratifying of a froward Humour, makes himself a Slave all the Days of his Life.
Source:
L'Estrange 56.
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SLIDESHOW of all the Harrison Weir images. As you can see, the horse's opponent in this illustration is a stag, not a boar - you can find the fable told both ways.
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