A POOR feeble old Man, who had crawled out into a neighbouring
wood to gather a few sticks, had made up his bundle, and laying it
over his shoulders, was trudging homeward with it; but, what with
age, and the length of the way, and the weight of his burden, he grew
so faint and weak, that he sunk under it; and, as he sat on the ground,
called upon Death to come, once for all, and ease him of his trou-
bles. Death no sooner heard him, but he came and demanded of him
what he wanted. The poor old creature, who little thought Death had
been so near, and frighted almost out of his senses with his terrible
aspect, answered him trembling, that having by chance let his bundle
of sticks fall, and being too infirm to get it up himself, he had made
bold to call upon him to help him; that indeed this was all he wanted
at present; and that he hoped his worship was not offended with him
for the liberty he had taken in so doing.
The application
This fable gives us a lively representation of the general behaviour of
mankind towards that grim king of terrors, Death. Such liberties do
they take with him behind his back, that upon every little cross acci-
dent which happens in their way, Death is immediately called upon;
and they even wish it might be lawful for them to finish by their
own hands a life so odious, so perpetually tormenting and vexatious.
When, let but Death only offer to make his appearance, and the very
sense of his near approach almost does the business: Oh, then all
they want is a little longer life; and they would be glad to come off so
well as to have their old burden laid upon their shoulders again. One
may well conclude what an utter aversion they, who are in youth,
health, and vigour of body, have to dying, when age, poverty, and
wretchedness, are not sufficient to reconcile us to the thought.
From Samuel Croxall’s Aesop’s fables, 1814
NewPhilosopher The Old Man and Death