L'Estrange: A Fox and a Sick Cock.

A Cock took his Bed upon a Fit of Sickness, and a Fox of his old Acquaintance, gave him the Complement of a Visit, and ask'd him how he felt himself. Alas, says the Cock, I'm e'en ready to smother for want of Breath; and if you'd be pleas'd but to stand off, and give me a little fresh Air, I fancy I should be somewhat more at Ease.

The Charity of our Death-Bed Visits from one another, is much at a Rate, (generally speaking) with that of a Carrion-Crow to a Sheep; we smell a Carcass.

Source: L'Estrange 315, but note that the traditional story is about a cat paying a visit to the hens, while L'Estrange here has a fox (and the fox preying on the henhouse is a typical motif in Aesop's fables, of course).

---

M0395 Perry007