A Smith threw down a Horse-Shoe in his Shop that was but just come out of the Fire: A Fool took it up; it burnt his Fingers, and he cast it down again. Why ye Blockhead you says the Workman, could not you have try'd whether 'twas Hot or no before you Meddled with it? How try? says the Fool. Why a Hot Iron would have Hiss'd if you had but Spit upon't. The Fool carry'd this Philosophy away with him, and took an Occasion afterward to Spit in his Porridge, to try if they'd Hiss. They did not Hiss it seems, and so he Guttled 'em up, and Scalt his Chops. Well, says one that was by, and could not you have stay'd till they were Cold? Why I thought they had been Cold, says the Fool. You might have known they were Hot says t'other by their Smoaking. The Fool carried this in his Mind too; and going a while after to a Spring-Head to quench his Thirst, he fancy'd that the Fountain Smoak'd too; and there he staid 'till he was almost Choak'd, for fear of Burning his Chops once again.
The very Innocent may serve to Teach Wise Men Caution, that they Examine Matters before they pass a Judgment upon them; for otherwise we live at a kind of Hap Hazard, and without any Insight into Causes and Effects. Source:
L'Estrange 438.
(not in Mille) (not in Perry)
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