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diff --git a/old/60874-0.txt b/old/60874-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 91fc093..0000000 --- a/old/60874-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8794 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bewick's Select Fables, by Thomas Bewick - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Bewick's Select Fables - of Æsop and others. - -Author: Thomas Bewick - -Contributor: Oliver Goldsmith -Edwin Pearson - -Release Date: December 7, 2019 [EBook #60874] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEWICK'S SELECT FABLES *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - -BEWICK’S SELECT FABLES. - - - “Is not the earth - With various living creatures, and the air - Replenished, and all those at thy command - To come and play before thee? Knowest thou not - Their language and their ways? They also know, - And reason not contemptibly: with these - Find pastime.”—_Paradise Lost_, b. viii. l. 370. - -[Illustration] - -_The above appeared on the titles of both the 1776 and 1784 editions of_ -“SELECT FABLES,” _T. Saint, Newcastle-upon-Tyne_. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - - Bewick’s Select Fables - _OF ÆSOP AND OTHERS_. - - In Three Parts. - - _I. FABLES EXTRACTED FROM DODSLEY’S._ - _II. FABLES WITH REFLECTIONS IN PROSE AND VERSE._ - _III. FABLES IN VERSE._ - - TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED - - _THE LIFE OF ÆSOP, AND AN ESSAY UPON FABLE - BY OLIVER GOLDSMITH._ - - _Faithfully Reprinted from the Rare Newcastle Edition published - by T. SAINT in 1784._ - - With the Original Wood Engravings by Thomas Bewick, - AND AN - Illustrated Preface by Edwin Pearson. - - [Illustration] - - LONDON: - BICKERS & SON, 1 LEICESTER SQUARE, W.C. - - PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY - EDINBURGH AND LONDON - - - - -[Illustration: Thomas Bewick - -_Engraver on Wood._ - -_Jaˢ. Ramsay Pinxᵗ._ _Henry Hoppner Meyer Sculpᵗ._] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -PREFACE TO 1871 EDITION. - - -In the various periods of the world’s history men have appeared who were -gifted with greater powers of mind and intelligence than the majority -of the people in whose age they lived, who, by becoming the preceptors -or teachers of the masses, evidently fulfilled the designs of the -Creator, by promoting civilisation and happiness, by unity of thought and -knowledge. Such men were Æsop, William Shakespeare, Fielding, Scott, and -many others, and later, in our own time, Thackeray and Charles Dickens. -One of the most ancient and interesting methods of conveying instruction -was by the art of Fable, Allegory, or Parable. - -Fable is an ingenious method of conveying advice and instruction, without -seeming so to do, by a diverting little narrative, which, attracting -attention, irresistibly chains it till the moral is imperceptibly -rooted in the mind, there to influence, for the _better_ it may be, -all future actions of importance. _Æsop_ was, and _is_, the most -favourite of Fabulists, of whom a fair and goodly succession have since -appeared; but still _he_ maintains, and will continue to maintain the -foremost place in literature as a writer of instructive and entertaining -Fables. We here reprint an edition comparatively unknown in the present -generation, illustrated by the graver of Bewick, and arranged by the pen -of Goldsmith. Bewick and Goldsmith’s _early_ works are _comparatively_ -unknown to the literary and reading world. We all know that Bewick -_designed_ and _engraved_ the inimitable “British Quadrupeds,” “Birds,” -“Fables,” &c., and that Goldsmith wrote the “Vicar of Wakefield,” -“Traveller,” “Deserted Village,” &c., but what do we know of their -_early_ works—the _progressive steps_ by which they attained their -wondrous and _well-earned_ celebrity? It has been the pleasing pursuit of -the writer (for some years) to search for, and rescue from destruction -and oblivion, all possible _early_ works of Bewick and Goldsmith. The -result has exceeded his most sanguine expectations. He has discovered at -least _twenty_ little works written by Goldsmith during his _weary_ hours -of adversity, all bearing _strong_ internal evidence of the author’s -mind and style. (A work on this subject is preparing for the press, -profusely illustrated with original woodcuts, &c.) The early editions of -the _present_ work were printed by T. Saint, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. -We will here give a very brief _resumé_ of Bewick’s _earliest_ works -(published by Saint), with a few woodcuts from the _original_ blocks, -thus illustrating the _progressive_ _stages_ of pictorial fine art by -which Thomas Bewick succeeded in producing the wood-engravings which -embellish the _present volume_, of which (edit. 1784) Jackson, in his -work on wood-engraving (1861, p. 480), says:— - -“He (Bewick) evidently improved as his talents were exercised; for the -cuts in the “Select Fables,” 1784, are generally much superior to those -in “Gay’s Fables,” 1779. The animals are better drawn and engraved; -the sketches of landscape in the backgrounds are more natural; and the -engraving of the foliage of the trees and bushes is not unfrequently -scarce inferior to that of his later productions.” - -Jackson gives _three_ examples of these Fable cuts in his work, at pp. -480, 503 (“Wood-Engravings,” 1861). Thomas Bewick was apprenticed to -R. Beilby, October 1, 1767. It is probable that the cuts given in next -page are among the _very first_ engraved by Thomas Bewick during his -apprenticeship, and were used in “A New Invented Horn Book,” also in -“Battledores,” “Primers,” and “Reading Easies.” He then executed the -diagrams for Hutton on Mensuration, 4to, 1770. One of the cuts is given -in “Jackson” (p. 475), a representation of St Nicholas’ celebrated -steeple. This is the first _known_ pictorial attempt of Bewick’s. - -[Illustration: “Horn Book” Cuts.] - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: Facsimile of Bewick’s cut, St. Nicholas’ Steeple, -Newcastle, 1770.] - -No doubt coarse cuts were done by Bewick about this time for _local_ -Ballads, Broadsides, Garlands, and Histories. - -The next recognised work _I discovered myself_, the “New Lottery-Book of -Birds and Beasts, for Children to learn their Letters by, as soon as they -can speak” (Saint, 1771, 32mo, bds. and gilt). Two of the cuts follow. - -[Illustration] - -The “Child’s Tutor” (Saint, 1772-73, square 24mo), cuts, with _verses_, -&c., by Oliver Goldsmith. The following is undoubtedly by the Poet’s -hand:—“The Lilliputian Magazine; or, the Young Gentleman and Lady’s -Golden Library, being an attempt to mend the World, to render the Society -of Man more amiable, and to establish the Plainness, Simplicity, Virtue, -and Wisdom of the Golden Age, so much celebrated by the Poets and -Historians— - - ‘Man in that age no rule but Reason knew, - And with a native bent did Good pursue; - Unforc’d by Punishment, unaw’d by Fear, - His Words were Simple and his Soul Sincere.’” - -(T. Saint, _circa_ 1772, _early_ Bewick woodcuts, 144 pp. 24mo.) The -verse and title bear the _undoubted impress_ of his genius and style. -Oliver Goldsmith wrote it for J. Newbery, of London, but, as I shall show -in my larger work on this subject, there was an arrangement between them -by which Saint reprinted many of his (Newbery’s) little books for the -North-Country trade. We then have “Moral Instructions of a Father to his -Son,” comprehending the whole system of Morality, &c., &c.; and “Select -Fables,” extracted from Dodsley, and others, _adorned with emblematical_ -cuts, 12mo, T. Saint, Newcastle, 1772 and 1775. This, then, is one of the -_first_ works of Saint’s we have seen containing cuts of Fables. - -Having a doubt respecting the cuts of this rare book, I took my -copy to Miss Bewick (Jan. 1867), and inquired of her if they _were_ -engraved by her father. She kindly gave me the following _authentic -information_:—“The cuts _were_ engraved by Thomas Bewick in the first -year of his apprenticeship (1767-68), excepting the cut of a ship at sea, -p. 167. This was engraved by David Martin, Bewick’s fellow-apprentice, -Bewick at this time disliking to represent ‘water.’” This, then, sets all -doubt at rest respecting the cuts in an “Æsop’s Fables,” “Gay’s Fables,” -&c., &c., published by Saint about this date, in which the _same_ and -similar cuts were used. The following, used in “Gay,” is evidently -Bewick’s first attempt at the subject for which he afterwards gained a -premium. - -[Illustration: “Moral Instructions,” 1772, and “Select Fables,” 1776.] - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: “Select Fables,” Æsop, &c. (Saint, 1776).] - -The next is the _first_ edition of the _present volume_, “Select Fables” -(T. Saint, Newcastle, 1776). In three Parts. Part I. After the Manner of -Dodsley’s. Part II. Fables with Reflections. Part III. Fables in Verse. -To which are prefixed the Life of Æsop; and An Essay upon Fable—(_same -Verse and Vignette, as in the 2d Edition, of 1784_). Containing one -hundred and fourteen cuts, _including_ those mentioned in the “Moral -Instructions,” _described above_, and fourteen larger and much superior -cuts, _with borders_, afterwards used with others in “Gay’s Fables,” -printed by T. Saint, in 1779. The same vignette appears on the title as -in the Second Edition of this Book in 1784. It also has a copperplate -frontispiece, “R. Beilby delint. et sculpt.” 12mo, 211 pages, 2 pages -of Index, &c. (notice the _variations_ in the _title_, &c., to the 1784 -edition). The only copy of this edition (1776) I ever had, or saw, is now -in the unique collection of E. B. Jupp, Esq., who has kindly lent the -block for the Frontispiece to the present Edition. It was engraved for -“The Beauties of Æsop” (Kendal, _circa_ 1800-22), by Thomas Bewick, and -is somewhat like Beilby’s copperplate frontispiece to 1776 Edition, but -infinitely _improved_. It contains about seventy delineations of animal -and bird life, &c. (see the tailpiece at page 122 of _present_ edition, -extremely like in arrangement, execution, &c.), while the portrait of -Æsop is certainly the most _reasonable_ I have yet seen in examining the -_numerous_ editions which have passed through my hands. - -About this time, 1773 to 1776, many works issued from Saint’s -press—“Robinson Crusoe,” “Watt’s Songs,” Oliver Goldsmith’s “Tommy Trip” -(see my reprint, of 1867), “Goody Two Shoes,” “Golden Toy or Fairing,” -“Tom Telescope’s Newtonian Philosophy,” “Tommy Tagg’s Poems,” and -_numerous_ others. Examples of cuts follow. - -[Illustration: Similar to “Tommy Trip” series of Cuts.] - -[Illustration: “Tommy Two Shoes.”] - -[Illustration: “Adventures of a Kitten.”] - -[Illustration: “Holy Bible in Miniature.”] - -[Illustration: “Memoirs of a Peg-Top.”] - -[Illustration: “Poetical Fabulator.”] - -[Illustration: A New Edition of “Tommy Tagg,” with sixty cuts, will -shortly be printed. (Specimen of the Woodcuts.)] - -[Illustration: “The Concert of Birds,” from “Tommy Tagg.”] - -[Illustration: “Story-Teller.”] - -We now reach a period to which Bewick himself thus refers at pages 59, -60 of his “Memoirs” (Longman, 1862):—“We were occasionally applied to by -(local) printers to execute woodcuts for them.... Orders were received -for cuts for Children’s Books, chiefly for Thomas Saint, printer, -Newcastle, and successor of John White, who had rendered himself famous -for his numerous publications of histories and old ballads.... My time -now became greatly taken up with designing and cutting a set of wood -blocks for the ‘Story-Teller,’ ‘Gay’s Fables,’ and ‘Select Fables,’ -together with cuts of a similar kind for printers.” - -[Illustration] - -The following are among those referred to by Bewick:—“Youth’s Instructive -and Entertaining Story-Teller, being a Choice Collection of Moral Tales, -Chiefly deduced from real Life, calculated to enforce the Practice of -Virtue, and expand every social Idea in the Human heart. Adorned with -emblematical cuts from the most interesting part of each Tale, and -methodised after the Plan recommended by the late ingenious Dr Goldsmith. -To which is added, by way of Preface, Thoughts on the Present Mode of -Education.” (Newcastle, T. Saint.) Three Editions, _circa_ 1774-7-8, -12mo, thirty-seven woodcuts. The cuts in this book are larger than any -in the preceding books. We give the cut at page 48 of a Shipwrecked -Sailor kneeling on a rock saying his prayers, the tide rising around -him, which is the _first and earliest_ engraving of this subject by T. -Bewick, afterwards one of his favourite Vignettes in the “British Birds.” -The others are all about the size of the cuts in “Gay’s Fables,” 1779, or -“Select Fables,” 1784, and have similar borders. - -[Illustration: “Bob Easy.”] - -[Illustration: “The Huntsman and Old Hound.”] - -“Jackson” refers to this and the following two works:—“Gay’s Fables.” -Fables by the late Mr Gay, in One Volume complete, Newcastle, printed by -and for T. Saint, 1779, 12mo, _77 cuts of Fables, with borders and 33 -Vignettes_; for the tasteful and clever engraving of five of the cuts -(one, the Huntsman and Old Hound[1]) the Royal Society of Arts presented -Bewick with their medal; _it is further embellished with a beautifully -engraved Frontispiece, by R. Beilby_ (T. Saint, Newcastle, 1779). We -give an impression of the _original_ wood-engraving, exceedingly -interesting, as now Bewick seems to have received the required impetus or -encouragement to produce the engravings for “Select Fables,” T. Saint, -1784. In three parts. Part I. Fables extracted from Dodsley’s; Part II. -Fables, with Reflections in Prose and Verse; Part III. Fables in Verse; -to which are prefixed the Life of Æsop, and an Essay upon Fable, A New -Edition Improved. For this edition a _new set of cuts_ was engraved by -Thomas Bewick. “These cuts were then deemed superior to any of Bewick’s -previous productions.” The same year another impression of this work -was printed with the same title page, but considerable variations in -the letterpress, and vignettes occur at pages 122, 125, and 152, which -are not in the former edition, printed in 1784, 12mo. This is the book -we now reprint (Saint’s collection of Bewick’s blocks having passed -into my hands.) An original copy of the 1784 edition in fine state is so -rare, that a copy has realised, at auction, £7, 10s. Bewick says (p. 60, -“Memoir,” 1862): “Some of the Fable (“Gay,” 1779) cuts were thought so -much of by my master (Beilby), that he, in my name, sent impressions of a -few of them to be laid before the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, -&c., and I obtained a premium.” (Seven guineas, which he took intense -pleasure in presenting to his mother.) We have thus, by easy stages, -travelled through the various phases of talent, to the most important -work produced before his _well-known_ “British Quadrupeds,” first -published 1790; “British Birds,” 1797, 1804; and his _large_ edition of -“Æsop’s Fables,” 1818 (each work embellished with his inimitable and -ever-pleasing vignettes). Examples from all these works follow. - -[Illustration: “The Chillingham Wild Bull.”—Bewick’s _large_ engraving of -this subject, with border, has realised twenty guineas. _See_ “Jackson on -Wood-Engraving.”] - -[Illustration: British Quadrupeds.] - -[Illustration: Vignette to “Quadrupeds.”] - -[Illustration: “Select Fables,” 1820, Charnley’s Edition, 8vo, and in -early Children’s Books (Saint, Newcastle).] - -[Illustration: Intended for “Bewick’s British Birds”—“Chimney Swallow,” -injured and rejected.] - -[Illustration: Facsimile of Bewick’s Skylark.] - -[Illustration: Vignette to “Birds.”—Angler and Sportsman.] - -[Illustration: Engraved for “Bewick’s Æsop,” 1818, unfinished and -rejected.] - -[Illustration: Vignette to “Æsop.”] - -These remarks are rapidly written, but they are the result of years -of research and study: so that the reader of this Preface has a brief -_resumé_ of Bewick’s talents from his _earliest efforts_ to his most -finished productions; a _result_ which no one living is able to give from -the _original woodcuts_ but myself; thus forming a most useful manual or -pictorial _aid_ to connoisseurs in selecting _early_ works illustrated by -“Bewick,” the more _valuable_, as scarcely any of the works mentioned as -published by Saint are in the British Museum. - -Now, as to the “Goldsmith” interest as connected with this work, the -1776 Newcastle edition was evidently copied from “Dodsley’s” and other -editions of “Select Fables of Æsop” published in London prior to this -period. In the meantime, J. Newbery and others, for whom Goldsmith wrote -prefaces and arranged and edited books, had published new editions, so -that when Saint went to press with “A New Edition Improved” (with a new -set of cuts by the Bewicks), evidently the book was remodelled and -extended from one that Goldsmith had just edited. In Dodsley’s Preface -to his Fables, he says “he has been assisted in it by gentlemen of the -most distinguished abilities; and that several, both of the old and the -new Fables, are not written by himself, but by authors with whom it is -an honour to be connected.” Dodsley also refers to the Life of Æsop, -&c., as being written by “a learned and ingenious friend.” Doubtless Dr -Johnson and Goldsmith were the “authors,” and Goldsmith the “friend,” -here referred to. Be that as it may, the present work bears sufficient -internal evidence in the “Essay on Fable,” the “Poetical Applications,” -and the “Fables in Verse,” that Oliver Goldsmith was the author; for it -is identical in style with numerous prefaces and essays written about -this period by Oliver Goldsmith for Newbery, Dodsley, Griffiths, and -others. Much conclusive evidence on this interesting subject will be -given in my new book on “The early works of Bewick and Goldsmith” (a -Prospectus of which will shortly be issued). The applications to this -edition are infinitely superior to any edition which had appeared prior -to its publication. In Sir Roger L’Estrange and Croxall’s editions, the -applications were warped away from their original and intended effect -by political distortions and obsolete terms, which often strayed far -from, instead of assisting, the subject. It is somewhat refreshing, -then, in the edition here reprinted, to meet with some applications -which are everything that could be desired, in easy, naturally flowing, -and apt language, just to the point; and who was so much a master of -such language as Oliver Goldsmith?—of whom Dr Johnson said, “He left -no species of writing unadorned.” It may be interesting here to quote -from Bewick’s Memoir of himself (not published till 1862), his opinion -of this book, which at once justifies the parent, preceptor, or friend, -in selecting this as a most _suitable_ present for the young of both -sexes; he says (pages 172-3):—“I was extremely fond of that book (‘Æsop’s -Fables’); and as it had afforded me much pleasure, I thought, with better -executed designs, it would impart the same kind of delight to others that -I had experienced from attentively reading it. I was also of opinion, -that it had (while admiring the cuts) led hundreds of young men into the -paths of wisdom and rectitude, and in that way had materially assisted -the pulpit.” - -The lessons intended to be conveyed through the medium of Fable are -certainly plainer and easier to be understood in this edition than in -the once popular “Croxall;” and the publishers believe, therefore, that -the book in its present form will be found a powerful auxiliary in the -important practical feeling for the education of the rising generation, -illustrated as it is by the early but forcible and natural rendering of -these Fables by the inimitable Bewick, through the medium of which is -imparted the profound good sense, wisdom, and experience of the ancient -philosophers. I have already exceeded the limits of an ordinary Preface. -On a future occasion I will endeavour to show how _coincidently_ Bewick -and Goldsmith worked together to produce results—the importance of which -can scarcely be fully estimated. I will now conclude with one of those -exquisite little pictures of nature that will never cease to exhibit the -true art of pleasing as long as “the language of England is spoken, or -her literature cultivated.” - - EDWIN PEARSON. - -[Illustration] - - “Say, should the philosophic mind disdain - That good, which makes each humble bosom vain? - Let school-taught pride dissemble all it can, - These _little things_ are great to _little man_.” - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -THE LIFE OF ÆSOP. - - -Æsop, according to the best accounts, was a native of Phrygia, a province -of the _Lesser Asia_, and born in the city Cotiæum.[2] He was a person -of a remarkable genius, and extraordinary character; for though he was -born a slave, by the assistance of his _genius_ and _virtue only_, he -procured his own emancipation. By his sage counsels and judicious advice -he directed his countrymen to measures that secured their liberty, and -by a single Fable baffled the tyrannical projects of Crœsus, King of -Lydia. The most part of writers agree that his person was but unseemly, -though there are some of a contrary opinion.[3] It is probable that he -was of a low and diminutive stature, though agreeable in his complexion, -and polite in his manners. It is, however, certain that he had a great -soul, and was endowed with extraordinary mental qualifications; his -moral character approached to a degree of perfection to which very few -have attained. He appears to have had a true sense of morality, and a -just discernment of right and wrong; his perceptions and feelings of -truth were scrupulously nice, and the smallest deviation from rectitude -impressed his mind with the greatest antipathy. No considerations of -private interest could warp his inclinations so as to seduce him from -the paths of virtue; his principles were stedfast and determined, and -truly habitual. He never employed his great wisdom to serve the purposes -of cunning; but, with an uncommon exactness, made his understanding a -servant to truth. Historians have given many instances of his wit and -shrewdness, which were always employed in the service of _virtue_, -_philanthropy_, and _benevolence_. - -It cannot well be ascertained who were his parents, though some have -affirmed that his father was a shepherd.[4] He himself was undoubtedly -a slave; his first master was an Athenian, whose name was Caresias. -At Athens he learned the Greek language in perfection, and acquired a -taste for writing moral instructions, in the way of Fables, which was -then the prevailing mode of teaching morals in Attica. His Fables are -allegorical stories, delivered with an air of fiction, under various -personifications, to convey truth to the mind in an agreeable manner. By -telling a story of a _Lion_, _Dog_, or a _Wolf_, the Fabulist describes -the manners and characters of men, and communicates instruction without -seeming to assume the authority of a master or a pedagogue. Æsop’s -situation as a slave might suggest this method to him; for what would -have been scornfully rejected if delivered in an authoritative style by -a slave, was received with avidity in the form of a fable. - -Æsop had several masters; his second master was Xanthus, in whose service -he discovered great wisdom and sagacity in answering questions, and -reconciling differences. By the following stratagem he made his master’s -wife return back, after she had run away and left him, and effectually -reconciled them: our Fabulist, then a slave, went to the market, and -bought a great quantity of the best provisions, which he publicly -declared were intended for the marriage of his master with a new spouse. -This report had its desired effect, and the matter was amicably composed. -The story of his feast of _Neat Tongrege_, and his answer to a gardener, -are scarcely worthy of relating. At a feast made on purpose to celebrate -the return of his master’s wife, he is said to have served the guests -with several courses of tongues, by which he intended to give a moral -lesson to his master and mistress, who had by the too liberal use of -their tongues occasioned the difference which was now agreed. - -The third master of Æsop was Idmon, who was surnamed the wise. Idmon was -an inhabitant of the island of Samos. During Æsop’s servitude with this -master, he had a fellow-servant called Rhodopis, who some affirm was his -wife.[5] This does not at all appear credible, for there is no mention -made of this among the Greek writers. This Rhodopis became afterwards -very famous for her riches, and was celebrated all over Greece. Idmon -is said to have been so well pleased with Æsop, that after he had been -some time in his service, he emancipated him, and made him free. With the -enjoyment of liberty, he acquired new reputation, and became celebrated -for his wisdom. He is by some compared to the Seven Sages of Greece, -and accounted their equal in wisdom. He had the honour to be acquainted -with Solon and Chilo, and was equally admitted with them in the Court -of Periander, the King of the Corinthians, who was himself one of the -Sages of Greece. He was much esteemed by Crœsus, King of Lydia, and -received into his Court at Sardis. During his residence at Sardis, he -gave proofs of his sagacity which astonished the courtiers of Crœsus. -This ambitious Prince having one day shewn his wise men his vast riches -and magnificence, and the glory and splendour of his court, asked them -the question, whom they thought the happiest man? After several different -answers given by all the wise men present, it came at last to Æsop to -make his reply, who said: _That Crœsus was as much happier than other -men as the fulness of the sea was superior to the rivers._ Whether this -was spoken ironically or in earnest does not appear so evident; but -according to the severe morality of Æsop, it would rather appear to be -a sarcasm, though it was otherwise understood by the King, and received -as the greatest compliment. It wrought so much upon his vanity, that he -exclaimed: _The Phrygian had hit the mark._ One thing which renders it -probable that Æsop flattered Crœsus on this occasion is his conversation -with Solon, who at this time departed from the court of the King of -Lydia. When they were upon the road, Æsop exclaims: _O Solon! either we -must not speak to Kings, or we must say what will please them._ Solon -replied: _We should either not speak to Kings at all, or we should give -them good advice, and speak truth._ This seems to be one instance in -which Æsop is charged with flattery and dissimulation. Some writers -praise him for his complaisance to so great a Prince; but it is rather -a proof of his policy than his ordinary strictness and integrity. There -is another instance recorded by some writers of the life of Æsop, of his -complaisance to Princes, even contrary to the liberties of the people. -He is said to have written a Fable in favour of the tyrant Pisistratus, -which Phædrus has translated, and proves that he was reconciled to -tyranny. But this is no way evident. There are many Fables which are -mingled with those of Æsop, which are not his, yet have been fathered -upon him; and it is not consistent with the other parts of his character -and writings to suppose that he would either flatter tyrants or defend -them. The authorities from whence these supposed facts are taken are not -to be depended upon. - -In all other particulars he appears to have proceeded upon the principles -of wisdom, as far as any of the Sages of Greece. When he was asked by -Chilo, one of the wise men, _What God was doing?_ He replied, with great -adroitness, _That he was humbling the proud and exalting the humble._ -He had just views of human nature, and assigned true reasons for -all its Phænomena. In an account of the paintings in the time of the -Antonines, Philostratus informs us, that there is one of Æsop which makes -a principal figure. The painter represents him before his own house, -with the geniuses approaching him with a sort of adulating pleasure as -the inventor of Fables: they are painted as adorning him with wreaths -and chaplets of flowers, and crowning him with olive branches. His -countenance appears in a smiling attitude, while his eyes seem fixed -towards the ground, as if composing a Fable, with the same gaiety and -good humour with which he usually wrote. There is a group of men and -beasts placed around him, and amongst the rest the Fox, which makes a -capital figure, as he does in the Fables. This picture does not represent -Æsop in a decrepit form, but sets him forth with a mixture of gravity -and good humour. The image of his mind is well drawn by Plutarch in his -_Feast of the Sages at the court of Periander_, who himself was one of -the Seven. It was at this feast that Æsop repeats his Fable of _The Wolf -and the Shepherds_, to shew that the company were guilty of the same -fault. From Plutarch’s account it is manifest that Æsop’s conversation -was pleasant and witty, but yet delicate. He was satirical without -disobliging, and the poignancy of his wit was smoothed with good nature -and good sense. - -The writer of his life prefixed to Dodsley’s Fables compares him to Dean -Swift, but with very little propriety; for he has a delicacy in all his -wit which the Dean of St Patrick’s was a total stranger to; and, what is -more strange, he had nearly as much Christianity. - -It has been doubted if he was the inventor of Fables; but it is certain -he was the first that brought that species of writing into reputation. -Archilochus is said to have written Fables one hundred years before -him;[6] but it would appear that those stories were not written for -posterity like those of Æsop. The Fables of Æsop were written in prose, -though the images that are in them afford good scope for a poet, of which -Phædrus has given an elegant specimen. Æsop writes with great simplicity, -elegance, and neatness; the schemes of his Fables are natural, the -sentiments just, and the conclusions moral. Quintilian recommends his -Fables as a first book for children;[7] and, when Plato had sent all the -poets into exile, he allows Æsop a residence in his commonwealth.[8] The -Athenians were good judges of literary merit, and erected a noble statue -for Æsop, to perpetuate his memory, which was sculped by the famous -Lysippus. - -The great excellency of Æsop’s manner of writing is, that he blends the -pleasing and the instructive so well as to instruct and please at once. -Horace is much indebted to him for a plan of writing, and has formed a -rule from this famous Fabulist: - - Omne tulit punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci; - Lectorem delectando, pariterque monendo.—_De Arte Poet._ ver. 343. - -I wish I could conceal the exit of this great Fabulist and Moral Writer. -He was accused by the Delphians of sacrilege, and convicted by an act of -the greatest villany that ever was invented. They concealed among his -baggage, at his departure, some golden vessels consecrated to Apollo, -and then dispatched messengers to search his baggage. Upon this he was -accused of theft and sacrilege, condemned, and precipitated over a rock. -Thus ended the famous Æsop, whose Fables have immortalised his memory, -and will hand down his name to the latest posterity. - - - - -AN ESSAY UPON FABLE. - - -Fable is the method of conveying truth under the form of an Allegory. The -sense of a Fable is entirely different from the literal meaning of the -words that are used to compose it; and yet the real intention thereof is -visible and manifest, otherwise the Fable is not well composed. The sense -of a Fable of the moral kind ought always to be obvious at first view, -that the instruction intended to be given may have as early an effect as -possible. - -The chief thing to be considered in a Fable is the _action_, which -conveys the moral or truth designed for instruction. There ought only to -be one action in a Fable, which must appear through the whole; otherwise -it will be liable to admit of different interpretations, and be the same -as a riddle, and have no effect. _Clearness, Unity, and Probability_, -are incidents essentially necessary in a moral Fable. If a Fable be not -so plain as to point out the sense of the writer clearly, but admit of -different interpretations, it does not answer the true design thereof. -If the incidents tend to convey different ideas, then the reader will -be at a loss to understand the chief intention of the author. All the -various incidents ought manifestly to unite in one design, and point -out one clear and perspicuous truth. Many of the modern Fables labour -under this defect; the incidents do not manifestly tend to point out the -moral. Fontaine’s Fable of the two pigeons, and Croxall’s story of the -coach-wheel, are of this sort. - -The incidents of a Fable ought also to have _a real foundation in -nature_. This rule may be infringed by ascribing to creatures appetites -and passions that are not consistent with their known characters. “A Fox -should not be said to long for Grapes.”[9] The rule of Horace will hold -universally— - - Sed non ut placidis cœant immitia: non ut - Serpentes avibus geminentur, tigribus agni. - Delphinum Sylvis appingit Fluctibus aprum.—HORACE, I. 13. - - To join the wild with creatures that are tame, - Serpents with birds, or tygers with the lamb, - Paint whales in woods, and wild boars in the sea, - Ah, what a motley piece the whole would be! - -Creatures different in their nature must not be associated in a just -Fable. The Lamb must not be made to travel with the Fox, nor the Wolf and -the Sheep to feed or associate together; for all this is unnatural, and -can never be rendered a _probable_ object of belief. The incidents in a -Fable ought also to be few, lest by crowding circumstances too close, the -whole appear confused, and perplex the mind. - -The next thing to be considered in Fable is the _imagery_ or -_characters_; these may either be men, beasts, or inanimate beings. -All these have been introduced by the ancient Fabulists. In all -personifications the rules of analogy are to be observed; in those things -wherein man and other creatures have no similitude, no true image can be -formed in what respects human society. The persons and characters assumed -in Fables, ought therefore to have a likeness to the things to which they -are compared. All nature may serve to furnish a Fabulist with machinery. -Mountains, rivers, trees, animals, and even invisible powers may answer -his purpose; but, in the use of all sorts of machinery, a proper regard -must always be held to analogy. When language is attributed to animals, -they must not be made to speak in a style which bears no similitude to -some property in their nature; an owl must not be made to sing like a -nightingale; nor should a raven be made the symbol of an orator. When -beasts are made the representations of men, there ought always to be -something in their nature that bears a similitude to their character. The -same may be said of things inanimate; a strong man may be compared to a -mountain, but it would be preposterous to make the same comparison of a -dwarf. Vices and virtues ought in the same manner to be delineated in -Fable; a proud man may be compared to a high hill, a humble person to a -low valley. This is authorised by the writings of the Old Testament: _The -high mountains shall be brought low, and every valley shall be exalted._ - -When human actions are attributed to invisible powers, or especially to -the Deity, they ought to be such as are worthy of those ideas which are -generally received concerning him. In this, Homer is very faulty; for he -exalts his men almost to Gods, and brings down his Gods to the level of -beasts. - -As for the style of Fable, simplicity is the greatest excellence; that -familiar manner of speech in which we converse is best suited for the -purposes of Fable. This manner of writing is more difficult to attain -than is generally imagined; it requires a particular taste, and is harder -to imitate than the sublime itself. The style of a Fable must always be -adapted to the characters which are introduced: for it would be absurd -to make the eagle speak in the same style with the bat; or the King of -the forest express himself in the language of the mouse. But in all these -particulars, nature will be the best guide; and where this is deficient, -no art can supply the want of it. - - - - -[Illustration] - -FABLES, _&c._ - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE I._ - -The Miller, his Son, and their Ass. - - _’Tis better to pursue the dictates of one’s own reason, than - attempt to please all mankind._ - -A Miller and his Son were driving their Ass to market, in order to sell -him: and that he might get thither fresh and in good condition, they -drove him on gently before them. They had not proceeded far, when they -met a company of travellers. Sure, say they, you are mighty careful of -your Ass: methinks, one of you might as well get up and ride, as suffer -him to walk on at his ease, while you trudge after on foot. In compliance -with this advice, the Old Man set his Son upon the beast. And now, they -had scarce advanced a quarter of a mile farther, before they met another -company. You idle young rogue, said one of the party, why don’t you get -down and let your poor Father ride? Upon this, the Old Man made his Son -dismount, and got up himself. While they were marching in this manner, -a third company began to insult the Father. You hard-hearted unnatural -wretch, say they, how can you suffer that poor lad to wade through the -dirt, while you, like an alderman, ride at your ease? The good-natured -Miller stood corrected, and immediately took his Son up behind him. And -now the next man they met exclaimed, with more vehemence and indignation -than all the rest—Was there ever such a couple of lazy boobies! to -overload in so unconscionable a manner a poor dumb creature, who is far -less able to carry them than they are to carry him! The complying Old -Man would have been half inclined to make the trial, had not experience -by this time sufficiently convinced him, that there cannot be a more -fruitless attempt than to endeavour to please all mankind. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE II._ - -The Fox and the Bramble. - - _We should bear with patience a small evil, when it is - connected with a greater good._ - -A Fox closely pursued by a pack of dogs took shelter under the covert of -a Bramble. He rejoiced in this asylum, and for a while was very happy: -but soon found, that if he attempted to stir, he was wounded by thorns -and prickles on every side. However, making a virtue of necessity, he -forbore to complain; and comforted himself with reflecting, that no -bliss is perfect; that good and evil are mixed, and flow from the same -fountain. These briars indeed, said he, will tear my skin a little, yet -they keep off the dogs. For the sake of the good, then, let me bear the -evil with patience: each bitter has its sweet, and these brambles, though -they wound my flesh, preserve my life from danger. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE III._ - -The Butterfly and the Rose. - - _We exclaim loudly against that inconstancy in another to which - we give occasion by our own._ - -A fine powdered Butterfly fell in love with a beautiful Rose, who -expanded her charms in a neighbouring parterre. Matters were soon -adjusted between them, and they mutually vowed eternal fidelity. The -Butterfly, perfectly satisfied with the success of his amour, took a -tender leave of his mistress, and did not return again till noon. What! -said the Rose, when she saw him approaching, is the ardent passion you -vowed so soon extinguished? It is an age since you paid me a visit. But -no wonder: for I observed you courting by turns every flower in the -garden. You little coquet, replied the Butterfly, it well becomes _you_, -truly, to reproach me with my gallantries; when in fact I only copy -the example which you yourself have set me. For, not to mention the -satisfaction with which you admitted the kisses of the fragrant Zephyr, -did I not see you displaying your charms to the bee, the fly, the wasp, -and, in short, encouraging and receiving the addresses of every buzzing -insect that fluttered within your view? If you will be a coquet, you must -expect to find me inconstant. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE IV._ - -The Clock and the Dial. - - _There is no absolute independency in the world; every one - depends in his station upon some above him, and that if this - order was taken away, there would be nothing except error and - confusion in the universe._ - -A Clock, which served for many years to repeat the hours and point out -time, happened to fall into conversation with a Dial, which also served, -when the sun shone, to tell what was the time of day. It happened to -be in a cloudy forenoon, when the sun did not shine. Says the Clock to -the Dial, What a mean slavery do you undergo! you cannot tell the hour -without the sun pleases to inform you; and now the half of the day is -past, and you know not what o’clock it is. I can tell the hour at any -time, and would not be in such a dependent state as you are in for the -world. Night and day are both alike to me. It is just now twelve o’clock. -Upon this the sun shone forth from under the cloud, and showed the exact -time of the day. It was half an hour past twelve. The Dial then replied -to the Clock, You may now perceive that boasting is not good; for you see -you are wrong. It is better to be under direction and follow truth, than -to be eye to one’s self and go wrong; your freedom is only a liberty to -err; and what you call slavery in my case, is the only method of being -freely in the right. You see that we should all of us keep our stations, -and depend upon one another. I depend upon the sun, and you depend upon -me; for if I did not serve to regulate your motions, you see you would -for ever go wrong. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE V._ - -The Tortoise and the Two Crows. - - _Curiosity often excites those people to hazardous - undertakings, whom vanity and indiscretion render totally unfit - for them._ - -Vanity and idle curiosity are qualities which generally prove destructive -to those who suffer themselves to be governed by them. - -A Tortoise, weary of passing her days in the same obscure corner, -conceived a wonderful inclination to visit foreign countries. Two Crows, -whom the simple Tortoise acquainted with her intention, undertook to -oblige her upon the occasion. Accordingly, they told her, that if she -would fasten her mouth to the middle of a pole, they would take the two -ends, and transport her whithersoever she chose to be conveyed. The -Tortoise approved of the expedient; and everything being prepared, the -Crows began their flight with her. They had not travelled long in the -air, when they were met by a Magpie, who inquiring what they were bearing -along, they replied the queen of the Tortoises. The Tortoise, vain of -the new and unmerited appellation, was going to confirm the title, when, -opening her mouth for that purpose, she let go her hold, and was dashed -to pieces by her fall. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE VI._ - -The Country Maid and the Milk-Pail. - - _When we dwell much on distant and chimerical advantages, - we neglect our present business, and are exposed to real - misfortunes._ - -When men suffer their imagination to amuse them with the prospect of -distant and uncertain improvements of their condition, they frequently -sustain real losses by their inattention to those affairs in which they -are immediately concerned. - -A Country Maid was walking very deliberately with a pail of milk upon her -head, when she fell into the following train of reflections:—The money -for which I shall sell this milk, will enable me to increase my stock of -eggs to three hundred. These eggs, allowing for what may prove addle, -and what may be destroyed by vermin, will produce at least two hundred -and fifty chickens. The chickens will be fit to carry to market about -Christmas, when poultry always bear a good price, so that by May-day I -cannot fail of having money enough to purchase a gown. Green!—let me -consider—yes, green becomes my complexion best, and green it shall be. -In this dress I will go to the fair, where all the young fellows will -strive to have me for a partner; but I shall perhaps refuse every one of -them, and with an air of disdain toss from them. Transported with this -triumphant thought, she could not forbear acting with her head what thus -passed in her imagination, when down came the pail of milk, and with it -all her imaginary happiness. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE VII._ - -The Spider and the Silkworm. - - _He that is employed in works of use generally advantages - himself or others; while he who toils alone for fame must often - expect to lose his labour._ - -How vainly we promise ourselves that our flimsy productions will be -rewarded with immortal honour! A Spider, busied in spreading his web from -one side of a room to the other, was asked by an industrious Silkworm, -to what end he spent so much time and labour, in making such a number of -lines and circles? The Spider angrily replied, Do not disturb me, thou -ignorant thing: I transmit my ingenuity to posterity, and fame is the -object of my wishes. Just as he had spoken, a chambermaid, coming into -the room to feed her Silkworms, saw the Spider at his work, and with one -stroke of her broom, swept him away, and destroyed at once his labours -and his hope of fame. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE VIII._ - -The Bee and the Fly. - - _The greatest genius with a vindictive temper is far surpast in - point of happiness by men of talents less considerable._ - -A Bee, observing a Fly frisking about her hive, asked him, in a very -passionate tone, what he did there? Is it for such scoundrels as you, -said she, to intrude into the company of the queens of the air? You -have great reason, truly, replied the Fly, to be out of humour. I am -sure they must be mad who would have any concern with so quarrelsome a -nation. And why so? thou saucy malapert, returned the enraged Bee; we -have the best laws, and are governed by the best policy in the world. -We feed upon the most fragrant flowers, and all our business is to make -honey: honey which equals nectar, thou tasteless wretch, who livest upon -nothing but putrefaction and excrement. We live as we can, rejoined the -Fly. Poverty, I hope, is no crime; but passion is one, I am sure. The -honey you make is sweet, I grant you; but your heart is all bitterness: -for to be revenged on an enemy, you will destroy your own life; and are -so inconsiderate in your rage, as to do more mischief to yourselves -than to your adversary. Take my word for it, one had better have less -considerable talents, and use them with more discretion. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE IX._ - -The Huron and the Frenchman. - - _Custom has a mighty effect upon mankind, and more differences - arise in character from custom than from natural causes. - Perhaps all men are in the state they should be in; they should - therefore live contented._ - -An airy Frenchman happened to meet a Huron upon the Mississippi, as he -went with his bow and shafts to seek provision for his family. Says -Monsieur to the savage, You have a very toilsome life of it, who, when -other people sit by the fireside, enjoying the benefit of good food -and good company, are obliged to traverse the woods in the midst of -snow and storms to preserve a wretched existence. How come you by your -food? replies the Huron. Does it rain from the clouds to you? No, says -the Frenchman; we work in summer, and make provision for winter, and, -during the cold months, sit by the fire and enjoy ourselves. For the -same reason, says the Huron, do we lay up provisions in winter, that we -may rest in summer when the days are hot. Your enjoyments are confined -within the walls of a house, and by the side of a fire, but ours are more -extensive; we assemble upon the mountains and in the woods in summer for -pleasure, and our delights are to observe the works of nature; the sun -serves us instead of fire to warm us, and we are never at a loss for -houses while the woods remain. This is the season when we lay up our -store, and it serves us in summer till winter return. We are accustomed -to endure the cold, and our exercise keeps us from feeling it to excess. -At night the skins of wild beasts keep us from the cold till the morning -dawn, and then we pursue the same employments. Were we not to live in -this manner, the wild beasts would so increase, that they would become -our masters; but our necessity of having food and clothing prevents them -from increasing to very great numbers. What you account pleasure, would -be none to us; and your manner of life appears as ridiculous to the -Hurons, as ours appears to you. You reckon us idolaters, because we pay -adoration to the rising sun; but you misunderstand us; we consider that -light to be a symbol of the great Author of Nature, and only worship him -through this luminary. We do not understand your manner of worship, which -to us appears abundantly absurd; for the Deity is no more like images -of gold and silver, than he is like the sun. The sun is a more glorious -effect of his power and goodness; for he serves many excellent purposes, -and we could not live without him; but your symbols appear to have no -use. The Frenchman could make no reply, and the Huron proceeded on his -hunting. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE X._ - -Genius, Virtue, and Reputation. - - _There are few things so irreparably lost as Reputation._ - -Genius, Virtue, and Reputation, three intimate friends, agreed to travel -over the island of Great Britain, to see whatever might be worthy of -observation. But as some misfortune, said they, may happen to separate -us, let us consider before we set out by what means we may find each -other again. Should it be my ill fate, said Genius, to be severed from -you, my associates—which Heaven forbid!—you may find me kneeling in -devotion before the tomb of Shakespear, or rapt in some grove where -Milton talked with angels, or musing in the grotto where Pope caught -inspiration. Virtue, with a sigh, acknowledged that her friends were -not very numerous: but were I to lose you, she cried, with whom I am at -present so happily united, I should choose to take sanctuary in the -temples of religion, in the places of royalty, or in the stately domes of -ministers of state; but as it may be my ill-fortune to be there denied -admittance, inquire for some cottage where contentment has a bower, -and there you will certainly find me. Ah! my dear companions, said -Reputation, very earnestly, you, I perceive, when missing, may possibly -be recovered; but take care, I entreat you, always to keep sight of me, -for if I am once lost, I am never to be retrieved. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XI._ - -Industry and Sloth. - - _Our term of life does not allow time for long protracted - deliberations._ - -How many live in the world as useless as if they had never been born! -They pass through life like a bird through the air, and leave no track -behind them; waste the prime of their days in deliberating what they -shall do, and bring them to a period without coming to any determination. - -An indolent young man, being asked why he lay in bed so long, jocosely -and carelessly answered, Every morning of my life I am hearing causes. -I have two fine girls, their names are Industry and Sloth, close at my -bed-side as soon as ever I awake, pressing their different suits. One -intreats me to get up, the other persuades me to lie still; and then they -alternately give me various reasons why I should rise, and why I should -not. This detains me so long, as it is the duty of an impartial judge to -hear all that can be said on either side, that before the pleadings are -over, it is time to go to dinner. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XII._ - -The Hermit and the Bear. - - _The random zeal of inconsiderate friends is often as hurtful - as the wrath of enemies._ - -An imprudent friend often does as much mischief by his too great zeal as -the worst enemy could effect by his malice. - -A certain Hermit having done a good office to a Bear, the grateful -creature was so sensible of his obligation, that he begged to be admitted -as the guardian and companion of his solitude. The Hermit willingly -accepted his offer, and conducted him to his cell, where they passed -their time together in an amicable manner. One very hot day, the Hermit -having laid him down to sleep, the officious Bear employed himself in -driving away the flies from his patron’s face. But in spite of all his -care, one of the flies perpetually returned to the attack, and at last -settled upon the Hermit’s nose. Now I shall have you most certainly, -said the Bear; and with the best intentions imaginable, gave him a -violent blow on the face, which very effectually indeed demolished -the Fly, but at the same time most terribly bruised the face of his -benefactor. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XIII._ - -The Passenger and the Pilot. - - _We are nowhere out of the reach of Providence, either to - punish or to protect us._ - -It had blown a violent storm at sea, and the whole crew of a large vessel -were in imminent danger of shipwreck. After the rolling of the waves were -somewhat abated, a certain Passenger, who had never been at sea before, -observing the Pilot to have appeared wholly unconcerned, even in their -greatest danger, had the curiosity to ask him what death his father died. -What death? said the Pilot; why he perished at Sea, as my grandfather -did before him. And are you not afraid of trusting yourself to an element -that has thus proved fatal to your family? Afraid!—by no means. Why we -must all die: is not your father dead? Yes, but he died in his bed. And -why then are you not afraid of trusting yourself to your bed? Because I -am there perfectly secure. It may be so, replied the Pilot; but if the -hand of Providence is equally extended over all places, there is no more -reason for me to be afraid of going to sea than for you to be afraid of -going to bed. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XIV._ - -The Partial Judge. - - _The injuries we do, and those we suffer, are seldom weighed in - the same scales._ - -A Farmer came to a neighbouring Lawyer expressing great concern for an -accident which he said had just happened. One of your oxen, continued -he, has been gored by an unlucky bull of mine, and I shall be glad to -know how I am to make you a reparation. Thou art a very honest fellow, -replied the Lawyer, and wilt not think it unreasonable that I expect one -of thy oxen in return. It is no more than justice, quoth the Farmer, to -be sure; but what did I say?—I mistake: it is your bull that has killed -one of my oxen. Indeed! says the Lawyer; that alters the case: I must -inquire into the affair; and if—— And _if!_ said the Farmer; the business -I find would have been concluded without an _if_, had you been as ready -to do justice to others as to exact it from them. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XV._ - -The Lion and the Gnat. - - _Little minds are so much elevated by any advantage gained over - their superiors, that they are often thrown off their guard - against a sudden change of fortune._ - -Avaunt! thou paltry contemptible insect! said a proud Lion one day to a -Gnat that was frisking about in the air near his den. The Gnat, enraged -at this unprovoked insult, vowed revenge, and immediately darted into -the Lion’s ear. After having sufficiently teased him in that quarter, -she quitted her station and retired under his belly, and from thence -made her last and most formidable attack in his nostrils, where stinging -him almost to madness, the Lion at length fell down, utterly spent with -rage, vexation, and pain. The Gnat having thus abundantly gratified her -resentment, flew off in great exultation; but in the heedless transports -of her success, not sufficiently attending to her own security, she -found herself unexpectedly entangled in the web of a spider; who, rushing -out instantly upon her, put an end to her triumph and her life. - -This fable instructs us, never to suffer success so far to transport us -as to throw us off our guard against a reverse of fortune. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XVI._ - -The Dog and the Crocodile. - - _It is ever dangerous to be long conversant with persons of a - bad character._ - -We can never be too carefully guarded against a connection with persons -of an ill character. - -As a dog was coursing on the banks of the Nile, he grew thirsty; but -fearing to be seized by the monsters of that river, he would not stop to -satiate his draught, but lapped as he ran. A Crocodile, raising his head -above the surface of the water, asked him, why he was in such a hurry. -He had often, he said, wished for his acquaintance, and should be glad -to embrace the present opportunity. You do me great honour, returned the -Dog, but it is to avoid such companions as you that I am in so much haste. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XVII._ - -The Wolf in Disguise. - - _There would be little chance of detecting hypocrisy, were it - not always addicted to over-act its part._ - -Designing hypocrites frequently lay themselves open to discovery by -over-acting their parts. - -A Wolf, who by frequent visits to a flock of sheep in his neighbourhood, -began to be extremely well known to them, thought it expedient, for the -more successfully carrying on his depredations, to appear in a new -character. To this end he disguised himself in a shepherd’s habit; and -resting his fore-feet upon a stick, which served him by way of crook, -he softly made his approaches towards the fold. It happened that the -shepherd and his dog were both of them extended on the grass fast asleep; -so that he would certainly have succeeded in his project, if he had not -imprudently attempted to imitate the shepherd’s voice. The horrid noise -awakened them both: when the Wolf, encumbered with his disguise, and -finding it impossible either to resist or to flee, yielded up his life an -easy prey to the shepherd’s dog. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XVIII._ - -The Ass and his Master. - - _Avarice often misses its point, through the means it uses to - secure it._ - -A diligent Ass, daily loaded beyond his strength by a severe Master, whom -he had long served, and who kept him at very short commons, happened -one day in his old age to be oppressed with a more than ordinary burthen -of earthenware. His strength being much impaired, and the road deep and -uneven, he unfortunately made a trip, and, unable to recover himself, -fell down and broke all the vessels to pieces. His Master, transported -with rage, began to beat him most unmercifully. Against whom the -poor Ass, lifting up his head as he lay on the ground, thus strongly -remonstrated: Unfeeling wretch! to thy own avaricious cruelty, in first -pinching me of food, and then loading me beyond my strength, thou owest -the misfortune which thou so unjustly imputest to me. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XIX._ - -The Eagle and the Crow. - - _A false estimate of our own abilities ever exposes us to - ridicule, and sometimes to danger._ - -To mistake our own talents, or over-rate our abilities, is always -ridiculous, and sometimes dangerous. - -An Eagle, from the top of a high mountain, making a stoop at a lamb, -pounced upon it, and bore it away to her young. A Crow, who had built -her nest in a cedar near the foot of the rock, observing what passed, -was ambitious of performing the same exploit; and darting from her nest, -fixed her talons in the fleece of another lamb. But neither able to move -her prey, nor to disentangle her feet, she was taken by the shepherd, -and carried away for his children to play with; who eagerly enquiring -what bird it was:—An hour ago, said he, she fancied herself an eagle, -however, I suppose she is by this time convinced that she is but a crow. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XX._ - -The Lion, the Tyger, and the Fox. - - _The intemperate rage of clients gives the lawyer an - opportunity of seizing the property in dispute._ - -A Lion and a Tyger jointly seized on a young fawn, which they immediately -killed. This they had no sooner performed than they fell a fighting, in -order to decide whose property it should be. The battle was so bloody and -so obstinate that they were both compelled, through weariness and loss of -blood, to desist; and lay down by mutual consent, totally disabled. At -this instant, a Fox unluckily came by; who, perceiving their situation, -made bold to seize the contested prey, and bore it off unmolested. As -soon as the Lion could recover his breath,—How foolish, said he, has been -our conduct! Instead of being contented, as we ought, with our respective -shares, our senseless rage has rendered us unable to prevent this -rascally Fox from defrauding us of the whole. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXI._ - -The Lion and the Ass. - - _A total neglect is the best return the generous can make to - the scurrility of the base._ - -A conceited Ass had once the impertinence to bray forth some contemptuous -speeches against the Lion. The suddenness of the insult at first -raised some emotions of wrath in his breast; but turning his head, and -perceiving from whence it came, they immediately subsided, and he very -sedately walked on, without deigning to honour the contemptible creature -even so much as with an angry word. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXII._ - -The Trumpeter. - - _The fomenter of mischief is at least as culpable as he who - puts it in execution._ - -A Trumpeter in a certain army happened to be taken prisoner. He was -ordered immediately to execution; but pleaded, in excuse for himself, -that it was unjust a person should suffer death, who, far from an -intention of mischief, did not even wear an offensive weapon. So much -the rather, replied one of the enemy, shalt thou die; since without any -design of fighting thyself, thou excitest others to the bloody business: -for he that is the abetter of a bad action, is at least equally guilty -with him that commits it. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXIII._ - -The Bear and the Bees. - - _It were more prudent to acquiesce under an injury from a - single person, than by an act of vengeance to bring upon us the - resentment of a whole community._ - -A Bear happened to be stung by a Bee, and the pain was so acute, that in -the madness of revenge he ran into the garden and overturned the hive. -This outrage provoked their anger to a high degree, and brought the -fury of the whole swarm upon him. They attacked him with such violence, -that his life was in danger, and it was with the utmost difficulty -that he made his escape, wounded from head to tail. In this desperate -condition, lamenting his misfortunes, and licking his sores, he could not -forbear reflecting how much more advisable it had been to have patiently -acquiesced under one injury, than thus by an unprofitable resentment to -have provoked a thousand. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXIV._ - -The Oak and the Willow. - - _The courage of meeting death in an honourable cause is more - commendable, than any address or artifice we can make use of to - evade it._ - -A conceited Willow had once the vanity to challenge his mighty neighbour -the Oak to a trial of strength. It was to be determined by the next -storm; and Æolus was addressed by both parties to exert his most powerful -efforts. This was no sooner asked than granted; and a violent hurricane -arose, when the pliant Willow, bending from the blast, or shrinking under -her, evaded all its force, while the generous Oak, disdaining to give -way, opposed its fury, and was torn up by the roots. Immediately the -Willow began to exult, and to claim the victory, when thus the fallen -Oak interrupted his exultation: Callest thou this a trial of strength? -Poor wretch! not to thy strength, but weakness; not to thy boldly facing -danger, but meanly skulking from it, thou owest thy present safety. I -am an Oak, though fallen; thou still a Willow, though unhurt: but who, -except so mean a wretch as thyself, would prefer an ignominious life, -preserved by craft or cowardice, to the glory of meeting death in an -honourable cause? - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXV._ - -The Bear and the Two Friends. - - _Cowards are incapable of true Friendship._ - -Two Friends, setting out together upon a journey which led through a -dangerous forest, mutually promised to assist each other if they should -happen to be assaulted. They had not proceeded far before they perceived -a Bear making towards them with great rage. There were no hopes in -flight; but one of them, being very active, sprung up into a tree; upon -which the other, throwing himself flat on the ground, held his breath, -and pretended to be dead, remembering to have heard it asserted that this -creature will not prey upon a dead carcase. The Bear came up, and after -smelling to him for some time, left him, and went on. When he was fairly -out of sight and hearing, the hero from the tree calls out—Well, my -friend, what said the Bear? He seemed to whisper you very closely. He did -so, replied the other, and gave me this good piece of advice: Never to -associate with a wretch who in the hour of danger will desert his friend. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXVI._ - -The Wasps and the Bees. - - _It is a folly to arrogate works to ourselves of which we are - by no means capable._ - -Pretenders of every kind are best detected by appealing to their works. - -Some honeycombs being claimed by a swarm of Wasps, the right owners -protested against their demand, and the cause was referred to a Hornet. -Witnesses being examined, they deposed that certain winged creatures, -who had a loud hum, were of a yellowish colour, and somewhat like bees, -were observed a considerable time hovering about the place where this -nest was found. But this did not sufficiently decide the question; for -these characteristics, the Hornet observed, agreed no less with the Bees -than with the Wasps. At length a sensible old Bee offered to put the -matter upon this decisive issue: Let a place be appointed by the court, -said he, for the plaintiffs and defendants to work in. It will then -soon appear which of us are capable of forming such regular cells, and -afterwards of filling them with so delicious a fluid. The Wasps refusing -to agree to this proposal, sufficiently convinced the judge on which side -the right lay, and he decreed the honeycombs accordingly. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXVII._ - -Fortune and the School-boy. - - _We are always ready to censure Fortune for the ill effects of - our own carelessness._ - -A School-boy, fatigued with play, threw himself down by the brink of -a deep pit, where he fell fast asleep. Fortune happening to pass by, -saw him in this dangerous situation, and kindly gave him a pat on the -shoulder: My dear child, said she, if you had fallen into this pit, I -should have borne the blame; though in fact the accident would have been -wholly owing to your own carelessness. - -Misfortune, said a celebrated Cardinal, is but another word for -imprudence. The maxim is by no means absolutely true: certain, however, -it is, that mankind suffer more evils from their own imprudence, than -from events which it is not in their power to controul. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXVIII._ - -The Belly and the Limbs. - - _It is a folly even to wish to withhold our part from the - support of civil government._ - -Menenius Agrippa, a Roman Consul, being deputed by the senate to appease -a dangerous tumult and sedition of the people, who refused to pay the -taxes necessary for carrying on the business of the state, convinced them -of their folly by delivering to them the following fable:— - -My friends and countrymen, said he, attend to my words. It once happened -that the Members of the human body, taking some exception at the conduct -of the Belly, resolved no longer to grant him the usual supplies. The -Tongue first, in a seditious speech, aggravated their grievances; and -after highly extolling the activity and diligence of the Hands and -Feet, set forth how hard and unreasonable it was that the fruits of -their labour should be squandered away upon the insatiable cravings of -a fat and indolent Paunch, which was entirely useless, and unable to do -anything towards helping himself. This speech was received with unanimous -applause by all the Members. Immediately the Hands declared they would -work no more; the Feet determined to carry no further the load of guts -with which they had hitherto been oppressed; nay, the very Teeth refused -to prepare a single morsel more for his use. In this distress, the Belly -bethought them to consider maturely, and not foment so senseless a -rebellion. There is none of you, says he, can be ignorant that whatsoever -you bestow upon me is immediately converted to your use, and dispersed -by me for the good of you all into every Limb. But he remonstrated in -vain; for during the clamours of passion, the voice of reason is always -disregarded. It being therefore impossible for him to quiet the tumult, -he starved for want of their assistance, and the body wasted away to a -skeleton. The Limbs, grown weak and languid, were sensible at last of -their error, and would fain have returned to their respective duties; but -it was now too late, death had taken possession of the whole, and they -all perished together. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXIX._ - -The Wolf and the Lamb. - - _They who do not feel the sentiments of humanity will seldom - listen to the pleas of reason._ - -When cruelty and injustice are armed with power, and determined on -oppression, the strongest pleas of innocence are preferred in vain. - -A Wolf and a Lamb were accidentally quenching their thirst together at -the same rivulet. The Wolf stood towards the head of the stream, and the -Lamb at some distance below. The injurious beast, resolved on a quarrel, -fiercely demands—How dare you disturb the water which I am drinking? The -poor Lamb, all trembling, replies, How, I beseech you, can that possibly -be the case, since the current sets from you to me? Disconcerted by the -force of truth, he changes the accusation. Six months ago, says he, you -vilely slandered me. Impossible, returns the Lamb, for I was not then -born. No matter, it was your father, then, or some of your relations; and -immediately seizing the innocent Lamb, he tore him to pieces. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXX._ - -The Daw with Borrowed Feathers. - - _To aim at figure by the means either of borrowed wit, or - borrowed money, generally subjects us at least to tenfold - ridicule._ - -When a pert young Templar or city apprentice sets up for a fine -gentleman, with the assistance of an embroidered waistcoat and Dresden -ruffles, but without one qualification proper to the character, how -frequently does it happen that he is laughed at by his equals, and -despised by those whom he presumed to imitate! - -A pragmatic Jackdaw was vain enough to imagine that he wanted nothing -but the coloured plumes to render him as elegant a bird as the Peacock. -Puffed up with this wise conceit, he dressed himself with a sufficient -quantity of their most beautiful feathers, and in this borrowed garb, -forsaking his old companions, endeavoured to pass for a Peacock; but -he no sooner attempted to associate with these genteel creatures, than -an affected strut betrayed the vain pretender. The offended Peacocks, -plucking from him their degraded feathers, soon stripped him of his -finery, reduced him to a mere Jackdaw, and drove him back to his -brethren, by whom he was now equally despised, and justly punished with -derision and contempt. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXI._ - -The Wolf and the Shepherds. - - _We severely censure that in others, which we ourselves - practise without scruple._ - -How apt are men to condemn in others what they practise themselves -without scruple! - -A Wolf, says Plutarch, peeping into a hut where a company of Shepherds -were regaling themselves with a joint of mutton; Lord, said he, what a -clamour would these men have raised if they had catched _me_ at such a -banquet! - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXII._ - -The Eagle and the Owl. - - _The partiality of parents often makes themselves ridiculous, - and their children unhappy._ - -An Eagle and an Owl having entered into a league of mutual amity, one of -the articles of their treaty was, that the former should not prey upon -the younglings of the latter. But tell me, said the Owl, should you know -my little ones if you were to see them? Indeed I should not, replied -the Eagle; but if you describe them to me, it will be sufficient. You -are to observe, then, returned the Owl, in the first place, that the -charming creatures are perfectly well shaped; in the next, that there -is a remarkable sweetness and vivacity in their countenances; and then -there is something in their voices so peculiarly melodious. It is enough, -interrupted the Eagle; by these marks I cannot fail of distinguishing -them; and you may depend upon their never receiving any injury from -me. It happened, not long afterwards, as the Eagle was upon the wing in -quest of his prey, that he discovered amidst the ruins of an old castle -a nest of grim-faced ugly birds, with gloomy countenances, and a voice -like that of the Furies. These, undoubtedly, said he, cannot be the -offspring of my friend, and so I shall venture to make free with them. He -had scarce finished his repast and departed, when the Owl returned; who, -finding nothing of her brood remaining but some fragments of the mangled -carcases, broke out into the most bitter exclamations against the cruel -and perfidious author of her calamity. A neighbouring Bat, who overheard -her lamentations, and had been witness to what had passed between her and -the Eagle, very gravely told her that she had nobody to blame for this -misfortune but herself, whose blind prejudices in favour of her children -had prompted her to give such a description of them as did not resemble -them in any one single feature or quality. - -Parents should very carefully guard against that weak partiality -towards their children which renders them blind to their failings and -imperfections, as no disposition is more likely to prove prejudicial to -their future welfare. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXIII._ - -The Sick Lion, the Fox, and the Wolf. - - _Men who meditate mischief, suggest the same to others; and - generally pay dear for their froward gratifications._ - -A Lion, having surfeited himself with feasting too luxuriously on the -carcase of a wild boar, was seized with a violent and dangerous disorder. -The beasts of the forest flocked in great numbers to pay their respects -to him upon the occasion, and scarce one was absent except the Fox. The -Wolf, an ill-natured and malicious beast, seized this opportunity to -accuse the Fox of pride, ingratitude, and disaffection to his majesty. -In the midst of his invective, the Fox entered; who having heard part of -the Wolf’s accusation, and observing the Lion’s countenance to be kindled -into wrath, thus adroitly excused himself, and retorted upon his accuser: -I see many here who with mere lip service have pretended to shew you -their loyalty; but for my part, from the moment I heard of your majesty’s -illness, neglecting useless compliments, I employed myself day and night -to enquire among the most learned physicians an infallible remedy for -your disease, and have at length happily been informed of one. It is a -plaister made of part of a Wolf’s skin, taken warm from his back, and -laid to your majesty’s stomach. This remedy was no sooner proposed than -it was determined that the experiment should be tried; and whilst the -operation was performing, the Fox, with a sarcastic smile, whispered this -useful maxim in the Wolf’s ear—If you would be safe from harm yourself, -learn for the future not to meditate mischief against others. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXIV._ - -The Blind Man and the Lame. - - _The wants and weaknesses of individuals form the connections - of society._ - -A Blind man, being stopped in a bad piece of road, meets with a Lame man, -and intreats him to guide him through the difficulty he was got into. -How can I do that, replied the Lame man, since I am scarce able to drag -myself along? But as you appear to be very strong, if you will carry -me, we will seek our fortunes together. It will then be my interest to -warn you of anything that may obstruct your way; your feet shall be my -feet, and my eyes yours. With all my heart, returned the Blind Man; let -us render each other our mutual services. So taking his lame companion -on his back, they by means of their union travelled on with safety and -pleasure. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXV._ - -The Lion, the Bear, the Monkey, and the Fox. - - _It is often more prudent to suppress our sentiments than - either to flatter or to rail._ - -The Tyrant of the forest issued a proclamation, commanding all his -subjects to repair immediately to his royal den. Among the rest the Bear -made his appearance; but pretending to be offended with the steams which -issued from the monarch’s apartments, he was imprudent enough to hold his -nose in his majesty’s presence. This insolence was so highly resented, -that the Lion in a rage laid him dead at his feet. The Monkey, observing -what had passed, trembled for his carcase; and attempted to conciliate -favour by the most abject flattery. He began with protesting, that for -his part he thought the apartments were perfumed with Arabian spices; and -exclaiming against the rudeness of the Bear, admired the beauty of his -majesty’s paws, so happily formed, he said, to correct the insolence of -clowns. This fulsome adulation, instead of being received as he expected, -proved no less offensive than the rudeness of the Bear; and the courtly -Monkey was in like manner extended by the side of Sir Bruin. And now his -majesty cast his eye upon the Fox. Well, Reynard, said he, and what scent -do you discover here? Great prince, replied the cautious Fox, my nose was -never esteemed my most distinguishing sense; and at present I would by no -means venture to give my opinion, as I have unfortunately got a terrible -cold. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXVI._ - -The Two Horses. - - _The object of our pride is often the cause of our misfortunes._ - -Two Horses were travelling the road together; one loaded with a sack of -flour, the other with a sum of money. The latter, proud of his splendid -burthen, tossed up his head with an air of conscious superiority, and -every now and then cast a look of contempt upon his humble companion. -In passing through a wood, they were met by a gang of highwaymen, who -immediately seized upon the horse that was carrying the treasure; but the -spirited steed not being altogether disposed to stand so quietly as was -necessary for their purpose, they beat him most unmercifully, and after -plundering him of his boasted load, left him to lament at his leisure the -cruel bruises he had received. Friend, said his despised companion to -him (who had now reason to triumph in his turn), distinguished posts are -often dangerous to those who possess them: if you had served a miller, as -I do, you might have travelled the road unmolested. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXVII._ - -The Mock-bird. - - _Ridicule appears with a very ill grace in persons who possess - no one talent beside._ - -There is a certain bird in the West Indies, which has the faculty of -mimicking the notes of every other songster, without being able himself -to add any original strains to the concert. As one of these Mock-birds -was displaying his talent of ridicule among the branches of a venerable -wood: ’Tis very well, said a little warbler, speaking in the name of all -the rest; we grant you that our music is not without its faults: but why -will you not favour us with a strain of your own? - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXVIII._ - -The Ant and the Caterpillar. - - _Boys of no very promising appearance often become the greatest - men._ - -As a Caterpillar was advancing very slowly along one of the alleys -of a beautiful garden, he was met by a pert lively Ant, who tossing -up her head with a scornful air, cried, Prithee get out of the way, -thou poor creeping animal, and do not presume to obstruct the paths of -thy superiors, by wriggling along the road, and besmearing the walks -appropriated to their footsteps. Poor creature! thou lookest like a thing -half-made, which Nature not liking threw by unfinished. I could almost -pity thee, methinks; but it is beneath one of my quality to talk to such -mean creatures as thou art: and so, poor crawling wretch, adieu. - -The humble Caterpillar, struck dumb with this disdainful language, -retired, went to work, wound himself up in a silken cell, and at the -appointed time came out a beautiful Butterfly. Just as he was sallying -forth, he observed the scornful Ant passing by. Proud insect, said he, -stop a moment, and learn from the circumstances in which you now see -me, never to despise any one for that condition in which Providence has -thought fit to place him; as there is none so mean but may one day, -either in this state or in a better, be exalted above those who looked -down upon him with unmerited contempt. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXIX._ - -The Two Lizards. - - _The superior safety of an obscure and humble station, is a - balance for the honours of high and envied life._ - -As two Lizards were basking under a south wall, How contemptible, said -one of them, is our condition! We exist, ’tis true, but that is all: for -we hold no sort of rank in the creation, and are utterly unnoticed by -the world. Cursed obscurity! Why was I not rather born a stag, to range -at large, the pride and glory of some royal forest? It happened, that in -the midst of these unjust murmurs, a pack of hounds was heard in full cry -after the very creature he was envying, who, being quite spent with the -chase, was torn in pieces by the dogs in sight of our two Lizards. And is -this the lordly stag, whose place in the creation you wish to hold? said -the wiser Lizard to his complaining friend: Let his sad fate teach you to -bless Providence for placing you in that humble situation, which secures -you from the dangers of a more elevated rank. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XL._ - -Jupiter’s Lottery. - - _Folly, passing with men for wisdom, makes each contented with - his own share of understanding._ - -Jupiter, in order to please mankind, directed Mercury to give notice -that he had established a Lottery, in which there were no blanks; and -that amongst a variety of other valuable chances, Wisdom was the highest -prize. It was Jupiter’s command, that in this Lottery some of the gods -should also become adventurers. The tickets being disposed of, and -the wheels placed, Mercury was employed to preside at the drawing. It -happened that the best prize fell to Minerva: upon which a general murmur -ran through the assembly, and hints were thrown out that Jupiter had -used some unfair practices to secure this desirable lot to his daughter. -Jupiter, that he might at once both punish and silence these impious -clamours of the human race, presented them with Folly in the place of -Wisdom; with which they went away perfectly well contented. And from that -time the greatest Fools have always looked upon themselves as the wisest -men. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLI._ - -The Snipe Shooter. - - _We often miss our point by dividing our attention._ - -As a sportsman ranged the fields with his gun, attended by an experienced -old Spaniel, he happened to spring a Snipe; and almost at the same -instant, a covey of Partridges. Surprised at the accident, and divided in -his aim, he let fly too indeterminately, and by this means missed them -_both_. Ah, my good master, said the Spaniel, you should never have two -aims at once. Had you not been dazzled and seduced by the luxurious hope -of Partridge, you would most probably have secured your Snipe. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLII._ - -The Two Dogs. - - _Our own moderation will not secure us from disturbance, if - we connect ourselves with men of turbulent and litigious - dispositions._ - -Hasty and inconsiderate connections are generally attended with great -disadvantages: and much of every man’s good or ill fortune depends upon -the choice he makes of his friends. - -A good-natured Spaniel overtook a surly Mastiff, as he was travelling -upon the high road. Tray, although an entire stranger to Tyger, very -civilly accosted him: And if it would be no interruption, he said, he -should be glad to bear him company on his way. Tyger, who happened not to -be altogether in so growling a mood as usual, accepted the proposal; and -they very amicably pursued their journey together. In the midst of their -conversation they arrived at the next village, where Tyger began to -display his malignant disposition, by an unprovoked attack upon every dog -he met. The villagers immediately sallied forth with great indignation -to rescue their respective favourites; and falling upon our two friends -without distinction or mercy, poor Tray was most cruelly treated, for no -other reason but his being found in bad company. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLIII._ - -The Trouts and the Gudgeon. - - _A person can hardly be deemed too cautious, where the first - mistake is irretrievable, or fatal._ - -A fisherman in the month of May stood angling on the banks of the -Thames with an artificial fly. He threw his bait with so much art, that -a young Trout was rushing towards it, when she was prevented by her -mother. Never, said she, my child, be too precipitate, where there is -a possibility of danger. Take due time to consider, before you risk -an action that _may_ be fatal. How know you whether yon appearance be -_indeed_ a fly, or the snare of an enemy? Let some one else make the -experiment _before_ you. If it be a fly, he very probably will elude -the first attack: and the second may be made, if not with success, -at least with safety.—She had no sooner uttered this caution, than a -Gudgeon seized upon the pretended fly, and became an example to the giddy -daughter of the great importance of her mother’s counsel. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLIV._ - -The Sun and the Wind. - - _Gentle means, on many occasions, are more effectual than - violent ones._ - -Phœbus and Æolus had once a dispute which of them could soonest prevail -with a certain traveller to part with his cloak. Æolus began the attack, -and assaulted him with great violence. But the man, wrapping his cloak -still closer about him, doubled his efforts to keep it, and went on his -way. And now, Phœbus darted his warm insinuating rays, which melting the -traveller by degrees, at length obliged him to throw aside that cloak -which all the rage of Æolus could not compel him to resign. Learn hence, -said Phœbus to the blustering god, that soft and gentle means will often -accomplish what force and fury can never effect. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLV._ - -The Boy and the Nettle. - - _There are certain persons who require to be treated rather - with spirit and resolution, than either tenderness or delicacy._ - -A little Boy playing in the fields, chanced to be stung by a Nettle, and -came crying to his father: he told him, he had been hurt by that nasty -weed several times before; that he was always afraid of it; and that now -he did but just touch it, as lightly as possible, when he was so severely -stung. Child, says he, your touching it so gently and timorously is the -very _reason_ of its hurting you. A Nettle may be handled safely, if you -do it with courage and resolution; if you seize it boldly and gripe it -fast, be assured it will never sting you: and you will meet with many -sorts of persons, as well as things in the world, which ought to be -treated in the very same manner. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLVI._ - -The Beggar and his Dog. - - _’Tis misery to depend upon patrons, whose circumstances make - their charity necessary at home._ - -A Beggar and his Dog sat at the gate of a noble Courtier, and was -preparing to make a meal on a bowl of fragments from the Kitchen-maid. -A poor Dependant of his Lordship’s, who had been sharing the singular -favour of a dinner at the Steward’s table, was struck with the -appearance, and stopped a little to observe them. The Beggar, hungry and -voracious as any Courtier in Christendom, seized with greediness the -choicest morsels, and swallowed them himself; the residue was divided -into portions for his children. A scrag was thrust into one pocket for -honest Jack, a crust into another for bashful Tom, and a luncheon of -cheese was wrapt up with care for the little favourite of his hopeful -family. In short, if anything was thrown to the Dog, it was a bone so -closely picked, that it scarce afforded a pittance to keep life and soul -together. How exactly alike, said the Dependant, is this poor Dog’s case -and mine! He is watching for a dinner from a master who cannot spare it; -I for a place from a needy Lord, whose wants perhaps are greater than my -own, and whose relations more clamorous than any of this Beggar’s brats. -Shrewdly was it said by an ingenious writer, a _Courtier’s Dependant_ is -a _Beggar’s Dog_. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLVII._ - -The Fox and the Stork. - - _We should always reflect, before we rally another, whether we - can bear to have the jest retorted._ - -The Fox, though in general more inclined to roguery than wit, had once -a strong inclination to play the wag with his neighbour the Stork. He -accordingly invited her to dinner in great form; but when it came upon -the table the Stork found it consisted entirely of different soups, -served up in broad shallow dishes, so that she could only dip in the end -of her bill, but could not possibly satisfy her hunger. The Fox lapped it -up very readily, and every now and then, addressing himself to his guest, -desired to know how she liked her entertainment; hoped that everything -was seasoned to her mind, and protested he was very sorry to see her eat -so sparingly. The Stork, perceiving she was played upon, took no notice -of it, but pretended to like every dish extremely; and at parting pressed -the Fox so earnestly to return her visit, that he could not in civility -refuse. The day arrived, and he repaired to his appointment; but to -his great mortification, when dinner appeared, he found it composed of -minced meat, served up in long narrow-necked glasses; so that he was only -tantalized with the sight of what it was impossible for him to taste. The -Stork thrust in her long bill, and helped herself very plentifully; then -turning to Reynard, who was eagerly licking the outside of a jar where -some sauce had been spilled: I am very glad, said she, smiling, that you -seem to have so good an appetite; I hope you will make as hearty a dinner -at my table as I did the other day at yours. Reynard hung down his head, -and looked very much displeased—— Nay, nay, said the Stork, don’t pretend -to be out of humour about the matter; they that cannot take a jest should -never make one. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLVIII._ - -The Trees and the Bramble. - - _The most worthless persons are generally the most presuming._ - -The Israelites, ever murmuring and discontented under the reign of -Jehovah, were desirous of having a king, like the rest of the nations. -They offered the kingdom to Gideon, their deliverer; to him, and to his -posterity after him. He generously refused their offer, and reminded -them that Jehovah was their king. When Gideon was dead, Abimelech, his -son by a concubine, slew all his other sons to the number of seventy, -Jotham alone escaping; and by the assistance of the Shechemites made -himself king. Jotham, to represent to them their folly, and to shew them -that the most deserving are generally the least ambitious, whereas the -worthless grasp at power with eagerness, and exercise it with insolence -and tyranny, spake to them in the following manner: - -Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, so may God hearken unto you. The -Trees, grown weary of the state of freedom and equality in which God -had placed them, consulted together to choose and to anoint a king over -them; and they said to the Olive-tree, Reign thou over us. But the -Olive-tree said unto them, Shall I quit my fatness wherewith God and man -is honoured, to disquiet myself with the cares of government, and to rule -over the Trees? And they said unto the Fig-tree, Come thou and reign over -us. But the Fig-tree said unto them, Shall I bid adieu to my sweetness -and my pleasant fruit, to take upon me the painful charge of royalty, and -to be set over the Trees? Then said the Trees unto the Vine, Come thou -and reign over us. But the Vine said also unto them, Shall I leave my -wine which honoureth God and cheereth man, to bring upon myself nothing -but trouble and anxiety, and to become king of the Trees? we are happy -in our present lot: seek some other to reign over you. Then said all the -Trees unto the Bramble. Come thou and reign over us. And the Bramble said -unto them, I will be your king; come ye all under my shadow and be safe; -obey me, and I will grant you my protection. But if you obey me not, -out of the Bramble shall come forth a fire, which shall devour even the -cedars of Lebanon. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -PART II. - -FABLES, _with Reflections_. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE I._ - -The Cock and the Jewel. - -A brisk young Cock, in company with two or three pullets, his mistresses, -raking upon a Dunghill for something to entertain them with, happened -to scratch up a jewel. He knew what it was well enough, for it sparkled -with an exceeding bright lustre; but, not knowing what to do with it, -endeavoured to cover his ignorance under a gay contempt. So, shrugging -up his wings, shaking his head, and putting on a grimace, he expressed -himself to this purpose: Indeed you are a very fine thing; but I know -not any business you have here. I make no scruple of declaring that my -taste lies quite another way; and I had rather have one grain of dear, -delicious barley, than all the jewels under the sun. - - -MORALS. - - _Several very pretty fellows, who are as great strangers to the - true uses of virtue and knowledge as the Cock upon the Dunghill - is to the real value of the Jewel, endeavour to palliate their - ignorance by pretending that their taste lies another way._ - - _To fools, the treasures dug from wisdom’s mine_ - _Are Jewels thrown to Cocks, and Pearls to Swine._ - - -REFLECTION. - -There are several people in the world that pass, with some, for -well-accomplished gentlemen, and very pretty fellows, though they are -as great strangers to the true uses of virtue and knowledge as the Cock -upon the Dunghill is to the real value of the Jewel. He palliates his -ignorance by pretending that his taste lies another way: But whatever -gallant airs people may give themselves upon these occasions, without -dispute, the solid advantages of virtue, and the durable pleasures of -learning, are as much to be preferred before other objects of the senses -as the finest brilliant diamond is above a barley-corn. The greatest -blockheads would appear to understand what at the same time they affect -to despise; and nobody yet was ever so vicious as to have the impudence -to declare in public that virtue was not a fine thing. - -But still, among the idle, sauntering, young fellows of the age, who have -leisure as well to cultivate and improve the faculties of the mind as to -dress and embellish the body, how many are there who spend their days -in raking after new scenes of debauchery, in comparison of those few who -know how to relish more reasonable entertainments! Honest, undesigning -good sense is so unfashionable, that he must be a bold man who at this -time of day attempts to bring it into esteem. - -How disappointed is the youth who, in the midst of his amorous pursuits, -endeavouring to plunder an outside of bloom and beauty, finds a treasure -of impenetrable virtue concealed within! And why may it not be said, how -delighted are the fair sex, when, from among a crowd of empty, frolic, -conceited admirers, they find out and distinguish, with their good -opinion, a man of sense, with a plain, unaffected person, which at first -sight they did not like! - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE II._ - -The City Mouse and Country Mouse. - -A Country Mouse invited a City Sister of hers to a collation, where -she spared for nothing that the place afforded—as mouldy crusts, -cheese-parings, musty oatmeal, rusty bacon, and the like. The City -Dame was too well bred to find fault with her entertainment; but yet -represented that such a life was unworthy of a merit like hers; and -letting her know how splendidly she lived, invited her to accompany her -to town. The Country Mouse consented, and away they trudged together, -and about midnight got to their journey’s end. The City Mouse shewed her -friend the larder, the pantry, the kitchen, and other offices where she -laid her stores; and after this, carried her into the parlour, where they -found, yet upon the table, the relics of a mighty entertainment of that -very night. The City Mouse carved her companion of what she liked best, -and so to it they fell upon a velvet couch. The Country Mouse, who had -never seen or heard of such doings before, blessed herself at the change -of her condition—when, as ill luck would have it, all on a sudden the -doors flew open, and in comes a crew of noisy servants of both sexes, -to feast upon the dainties that were left. This put the poor mice to -their wits’ end how to save their skins—the stranger especially, who had -never been in such danger before. But she made a shift, however, for -the present to slink into a corner, where she lay trembling and panting -till the company went away. As soon as ever the house was quiet again: -Well, my Court Sister, says she, if this be the sauce to your rich meats, -I’ll e’en back to my cottage and my mouldy cheese again; for I had much -rather lie nibbling of crusts, without fear or hazard, in my own hole, -than be mistress of all the delicacies in the world, and subject to such -terrifying alarms and dangers. - - -MORALS. - - _This fable shews the difference between a Court and a Country - Life: The delights, innocence, and security of the one, - compared with the anxiety, voluptuousness, and hazards of the - other._ - - _Heav’n in one mould the kindred fate has cast_ - _Of men of dignity and mice of taste;_ - _Traps, dangers, terrors are alike their lot:_ - _Scar’d if they ’scape, and worry’d if they’re caught._ - - -REFLECTION. - -How infinitely superior are the delights of a private life to the noise -and bustle of a public one! Innocence, security, meditation, good air, -health, and unbroken rest, are the blessings of the one; while the rages -of lust and wine, noise, hurry, circumvention, falsehood, treachery, -confusion, and ill health, are the constant attendants of the other. - -The splendour and luxury of a court are but a poor recompense for -the slavish attendances, the invidious competitions, and the mortal -disappointments that accompany it. The uncertain favour of Princes, and -the envy of those who judge by hearsay or appearance, without either -reason or truth, make even the best sort of court lives miserable, to -say nothing of the innumerable temptations, vices, and excesses of a -life of pomp and pleasure. Let a man but set the pleasing of his palate -against the surfeits of gluttony and excess; the starving of his mind -against a pampered carcase; the restless importunities of tale-bearers -and back-friends against fair words and professions, only from the teeth -outwards; let him, I say, but set the one in balance against the other, -and he shall find himself miserable, even in the very height of his -delights. To say all in a word: Let him but set the comforts of a life -spent in noise, formality, and tumult, against the blessings of a retreat -with competency and freedom, and then cast up his account. - -What man, then, that is not stark mad, will voluntarily expose himself -to the imperious brow-beatings and scorns of great men! To have a dagger -struck to his heart in an embrace! To be torn to pieces by calumny; nay, -to be a knave in his own defence! For the honester, the more dangerous in -a vicious age, and where it is a crime not to be like the company. Men of -that character are not to be read and understood by their words, but by -their interests; their promises and protestations are no longer binding -than while they are profitable to them. - -After all, to keep the fable more closely in view, let a man, with the -Country Mouse, reflect on the peace and safety of rural retirement, and -prefer, if he can, the insecurity, noise, and hurry of a more exalted -fortune. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE III._ - -The Fox and the Crow. - -A Crow having taken a piece of cheese out of a cottage window, flew up -into a high tree with it, in order to eat it. Which a Fox observing, came -and sat underneath, and began to compliment the Crow upon the subject -of her beauty. I protest, says he, I never observed it before, but your -feathers are of a more delicate white than any that ever I saw in my -life! Ah! what a fine shape and graceful turn of body is there! And I -make no question but you have a tolerable voice. If it is but as fine -as your complexion, I do not know a bird that can pretend to stand in -competition with you. The Crow, tickled with this very civil language, -nestled and wriggled about, and hardly knew where she was; but thinking -the Fox a little dubious as to the particular of her voice, and having -a mind to set him right in that matter, began to sing, and, in the same -instant, let the cheese drop out of her mouth;—which the Fox presently -chopt up, and then bade her remember that whatever he had said of her -beauty, he had spoken nothing yet of her brains. - - -MORALS. - - _There is hardly any man living that may not be wrought upon - more or less by flattery; for we do all of us naturally - overween in our own favour. But when it comes to be applied - once to a vain fool, there is no end then can be proposed to be - attained by it, but may be effected._ - - _“It is a maxim in the schools,_ - _That ~Flattery’s the food of fools~:”_ - _And whoso likes such airy meat_ - _Will soon have nothing else to eat._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Flattery in itself is an unmanly, slavish vice; but it is much worse yet -for the alliance it has to hypocrisy; for while we make other people -think better of _themselves_ than _they_ deserve, we make them think -better of _us_ too than _we_ deserve: For self-love and vanity on the one -hand, assists the falseness and confidence on the other, while it serves -to confirm weak minds in the opinion they had of themselves before, -and makes them parties effectually in a conspiracy to their own ruin. -The only benefit or good of Flattery is this; that by hearing what we -_are not_, we may be instructed what we _ought to be_. Yet how few are -there among the whole race of mankind, who may be said to be full proof -against its attacks! The gross way by which it is managed by some silly -practitioners, is enough to alarm the dullest apprehension, and make it -to value itself upon the quickness of its insight into the little plots -of this nature. But, let the ambuscade be disposed with due judgment, -and it will scarce fail of seizing the most guarded heart. How many are -tickled to the last degree with the pleasure of Flattery, even while -they are applauded for their honest detestation of it! There is no way to -baffle the force of this engine, but by every one’s examining impartially -for himself the true estimate of his own qualities: If he deals sincerely -in the matter, nobody can tell so well as himself what degree of esteem -ought to attend any of his actions; and therefore he should be entirely -easy as to the opinion men are like to have of them in the world. If -they attribute more to him than is his due, they are either designing or -mistaken; if they allow him less, they are envious, or, possibly, still -mistaken; and, in either case, are to be despised, or disregarded. For -he that flatters without designing to make advantage of it, is a fool: -And whoever encourages that Flattery, which he has sense enough to see -through, is a vain coxcomb. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE IV._ - -An Ass, an Ape, and a Mole. - -An Ass and an Ape were conferring on grievances. The Ass complained -mightily for want of horns, and the Ape was as much troubled for want -of a tail. Hold your tongues, both of ye, says the Mole, and be thankful -for what you have; for the poor blind Moles are in a worse condition than -either of ye. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE V._ - -The Hares and the Frogs. - -Once upon a time the Hares found themselves mightily unsatisfied with the -miserable condition they lived in. Here we live, says one of them, at -the mercy of men, dogs, eagles, and I know not how many other creatures, -which prey upon us at pleasure; perpetually in frights, perpetually in -danger; and therefore I am absolutely of opinion, that we had better die -once for all, than live at this rate in a continual dread that’s worse -than death itself. The motion was seconded and debated, and a resolution -immediately taken, by one and all, to drown themselves. The vote was no -sooner passed, but away they scudded with that determination to the next -lake. Upon this hurry there leapt a whole shoal of Frogs from the bank -into the water, for fear of the Hares. Nay then, my masters, says one -of the gravest of the company, pray let’s have a little patience. Our -condition, I find, is not altogether so bad as we fancied it; for there -are those, you see, that are as much afraid of us as we are of others. - - -MORALS of the two Fables. - - _There is no contending with the Orders and Decrees of - Providence. He that makes us, knows what is fittest for us; - and every man’s own lot (well understood and managed) is - undoubtedly the best._ - - _The miseries of half mankind unknown,_ - _Fools vainly think no sorrows like their own:_ - _But view the world, and you will learn to bear_ - _Misfortunes well, since all men have their share._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Since nature provides for the necessities of all creatures, and for the -well-being of every one in its kind; and since it is not in the power of -any creature to make itself other than what by Providence it was designed -to be; what a madness is it to wish ourselves other than what we are, and -what we must continue to be! Every atom of the creation has its place -assigned: every creature has its proper figure, and there is no disputing -with Him that made it so. _Why have I not this?_ and, _Why have I not -that?_ are questions for a Philosopher of _Bedlam_ to ask; and we may -as well cavil at the motions of the heavens, the vicissitude of day and -night, and the succession of the seasons, as expostulate with Providence -upon any of the rest of God’s works. The _Ass_ would have _horns_, the -_Ape_ would have a _tail_, and the _Hares_ would be free from those -terrors which, timid as they are, they give to others: but the _Mole_ on -the one hand, and the _Frogs_ on the other, shew that there are others as -miserable as themselves. - -It may seem to be a kind of a malicious satisfaction that one man derives -from the misfortune of another. But the philosophy of this reflection -stands upon another ground; for our comfort does not arise from other -people being miserable, but from this inference upon the balance, that we -suffer only the lot of human nature: and as we are happy or miserable, -compared with others; so other people are miserable or happy, compared -with us; by which justice of Providence we come to be convinced of the -sin, and the mistake, of our ingratitude. What would not a man give to be -eased of the gout, or the stone? or, supposing an incurable poverty on -the one hand, and an incurable malady on the other, why should not the -poor man think himself happier in his rags, than the other in his purple? -but the rich man envies the poor man’s _health_, without considering -his _want_; and the poor man envies the other’s _treasure_, without -considering his _diseases_. What is an ill name in the world to a good -conscience within one’s self; and how much less miserable, upon the -wheel, is one man that is innocent, than another under the same torture -that is guilty? The only way for Hares and Asses, is to be thankful what -they are, and what they have, and not to grumble at the lot that they -must bear in spite of their teeth. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE VI._ - -An Ant and Fly. - -Where’s the honour or the pleasure in the world, says the Fly, in a -dispute for preeminence with the Ant, that I have not my part in? Are -not all temples and places open to me? Am not I the taster to gods and -princes in all their sacrifices and entertainments? And all this without -either money or pains? I trample upon crowns, and kiss what ladies’ -lips I please. And what have you now to pretend to all this while? Vain -boaster! says the Ant, dost thou not know the difference between the -access of a _guest_, and that of an _intruder_? for people are so far -from liking your company, that they kill you as soon as they catch you. -You are a plague to them wherever you come. Your very breath has maggots -in it; and for the kiss you brag of, what is it but the perfume of the -last dunghill you touched upon, once removed? For my part, I live upon -what’s my own, and work honestly in the summer to maintain myself in the -winter; whereas the whole course of your scandalous life is only cheating -or sharping one half of the year, and starving the other. - - -MORALS. - - _The happiness of life does not lie so much in enjoying small - advantages, as in living free from great inconveniences. An - honest mediocrity is the happiest state a man can wish for._ - - _Pert coxcombs, pleas’d with buzzing round the fair,_ - _Laugh at the low mechanic’s thrifty care;_ - _While he with juster scorn may well deride_ - _Their folly, meanness, indolence, and pride._ - - -REFLECTION. - -This fable marks out to us the difference betwixt the empty vanity or -ostentation, and the substantial ornaments of virtue. A man can hardly -fancy to himself a truer image of a plain, honest, country simplicity, -than the Ant’s part of the dialogue in this fable. She takes pains for -what she eats; wrongs nobody; and so creates no enemies; she wants -nothing; and she boasts of nothing; lives contented with her own, and -enjoys all with a good conscience. This emblem recommends to us the -blessings of a virtuous privacy, according to the just measures of right -nature, and, in few words, comprises the sum of a happy state. - -The Fly, on the contrary, leads a lazy, voluptuous, scandalous, sharking -life; is hated wherever she comes, and in perpetual fears and dangers. -She justly may be compared with the worthless part of mankind, who -pass through the world without being of any service in it; and without -acquiring the least reputation, seldom fail of adding pride to all -their other failings, and behave with haughtiness and arrogance towards -those who contribute to the comfort and happiness of society. They -treat industrious persons as wretched drudges, appointed to labour for -a poor subsistence; while Heaven has provided everything for their own -use, though they of all others least deserve it. But the worthy and -industrious may always comfort themselves with this reflection, that the -pride and extravagance of these idle creatures will at last bring them to -shame and want, while their own honest labours will secure to them a life -of plenty and affluence. - -It is true she flutters from place to place, from feast to feast, brags -of her interest at court, and of ladies’ favours: and what is this -miserable insect at last, but the very picture of one of our ordinary -trencher Esquires, that spends his time in hopping from the table of one -great man to that of another, only to pick up scraps of intelligence, and -to spoil good company; at other times officiously skipping up and down -from levee to levee, and endeavouring to make himself necessary, wherever -he thinks fit to be troublesome. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE VII._ - -A Horse and an Ass. - -A proud pampered Horse, bedecked with gaudy trappings, met in his course -a poor creeping Ass, under a heavy burden, that had chopt into the same -track with him. Why, how now, sirrah, says he, do you not see by these -arms and trappings to what master I belong? and do you not understand, -that when I have that master of mine upon my back, the whole weight of -the state rests upon my shoulders? Out of the way, thou slavish insolent -animal, or I’ll tread thee to dirt. The wretched Ass immediately slunk -aside, with this envious reflection between his teeth, _What would I give -to change conditions with that happy creature there!_ This fancy would -not out of the head of him, till it was his hap, a little while after, to -see this very Horse doing drudgery in a common dung-cart. Why, how now, -friend, says the Ass, how comes this about? Only the chance of war, says -the other: I was a General’s horse, you must know; and my master carried -me into a battle, where I was hacked and maimed; and you have here before -your eyes the catastrophe of my fortune. - - -MORALS. - - _This Fable shews the folly and the fate of pride and - arrogance; and the mistake of placing happiness in anything - that may be taken away; as also the blessing of freedom in a - mean estate._ - - _Proud of the clothes with which you are equipt,_ - _You of your pride may easily be stript._ - - -REFLECTION. - -People would never envy the pomp and splendour of greatness, if they -did but consider either the cares and dangers that go along with it, -or the blessings of peace and security in a middle condition. No man -can be truly happy, who is not every hour of his life prepared for the -worst that can befall him. Now this is a state of tranquillity never to -be attained but by keeping perpetually in our thoughts the certainty of -death, and the lubricity of fortune; and by delivering ourselves from the -anxiety of hopes and fears. - -It falls naturally within the prospect of this fiction to treat of the -wickedness of a presumptuous arrogance; the fate that attends it; the -rise of it; and the means of either preventing or suppressing it; the -folly of it; the wretched and ridiculous estate of a proud man, and the -weakness of that envy that is grounded upon the mistaken happiness of -human life. - -The folly both of the Horse and Ass may be considered here; the one -in placing his happiness upon anything that could be taken away; and -the other, in envying that mistaken happiness, under the abuse of the -same splendid illusion and imposture. What signify gay furniture, and a -pampered carcase, or any other outward appearance, without an intrinsic -value of worth and virtue? what signify beauty, strength, youth, fortune, -embroidered furniture, gaudy bosses, or any of those temporary and -uncertain satisfactions that may be taken from us with the very next -breath we draw? what assurance can any man have of a possession that -every turn of state, every puff of air, every change of humour, and the -least of a million of common casualties, may deprive him of? - -Moreover, the envy of the Ass was a double folly; for he mistakes both -the Horse’s condition and his own. ’Tis madness to envy any creature that -may in a moment become miserable, or for any advantage that may in a -moment be taken from him. The Ass envies the Horse to-day; and, in some -few days more, the Horse comes to envy him: wherefore let no man despair, -so long as it is in the power either of death, or of chance, to remove -the burden. Nothing but moderation and greatness of mind can make either -a prosperous or an adverse fortune easy to us. The only way to be happy -is to submit to our lot; for no man can be properly said to be miserable -that is not wanting to himself. It is certainly true, that many a poor -cobbler has a merrier heart in his stall, than a prince in his palace. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE VIII._ - -An Husbandman and Stork. - -A poor innocent Stork had the ill hap to be taken in a net that was laid -for geese and cranes. The Stork’s plea for herself was simplicity and -piety, the love she bore to mankind, her duty to her parents, and the -service she did in picking up venomous creatures. This may be all true, -says the Husbandman, for what I know; but as you have been taken with ill -company, you must expect to suffer with it. - - -MORALS. - - _Our fortune and reputation require us to keep good company; - for as we may be easily perverted by the force of bad examples, - wise men will judge of us by the company we keep. What says the - proverb? ~Birds of a feather will flock together.~_ - - _The youth to temperance in vain pretends,_ - _Who goes to taverns, and makes rakes his friends:_ - _As maidens, who would live without a stain,_ - _Should never choose to lodge in ~Drury-Lane~._ - - -REFLECTION. - -The world will always form an idea of the character of every man from his -associates. Nor is this rule founded on wrong principles; for, generally -speaking, those who are constant companions are either drawn together -from a similitude of manners, or from such a similitude to each other by -daily commerce and continual conversation. - -If bad company had nothing else to make us shun and avoid it, this, -methinks, might be sufficient, _that it infects and taints a man’s -reputation to as great a degree as if he were thoroughly versed in the -wickedness of the whole gang_. What is it to me if the thief who robs me -of my money gives part of it to build a church? Is he ever the less a -thief? Shall a woman’s going to prayers twice a day, save her reputation, -if she is known to be a malicious lying gossip? No; such mixtures of -religion and sin make the offence but the more flagrant, as they convince -us that it was not committed out of ignorance. Indeed, there is no living -without being guilty of some faults, more or less; which the world ought -to be good-natured enough to overlook, in consideration of the general -frailty of mankind, when they are not too gross and too abundant. But, -when we are so abandoned to stupidity, and a neglect of our reputation, -as to keep bad company, however little we may be criminal in reality, -we must expect the same censure and punishment as is due to the most -notorious of our companions. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE IX._ - -The Dog and the Shadow. - -A Dog, crossing a little rivulet with a piece of flesh in his mouth, saw -his own shadow represented in the clear mirror of the limpid stream; and -believing it to be another Dog who was carrying another piece of flesh, -he could not forbear catching at it; but was so far from getting anything -by his greedy design, that he dropt the piece he had in his mouth, which -immediately sunk to the bottom, and was irrecoverably lost. - - -MORALS. - - _Excessive greediness mostly in the end misses what it aims - at; disorderly appetites seldom obtain what they would have; - passions mislead men, and often bring them into great straits - and inconveniences, through heedlessness and negligence._ - - _Base is the man who pines amidst his store,_ - _And fat with plenty, griping, covets more:_ - _But doubly vile, by av’rice when betray’d,_ - _He quits the substance for an empty shade._ - - -REFLECTION. - -It is wisely decreed that vice should carry its own punishment along -with it. Therefore he that catches at more than belongs to him, justly -deserves to lose what he has; yet nothing is more common, and, at the -same time, more pernicious, than this selfish principle. It prevails from -the king to the peasant; and all orders and degrees of men are, more -or less, infected with it. Great monarchs have been drawn in, by this -greedy humour, to grasp at the dominions of their neighbours; not that -they wanted anything more to feed their luxury, but to gratify their -insatiable appetite for vainglory. If the Kings of _Persia_ could have -been contented with their own vast territories, they had not lost all -_Asia_, for the sake of a little petty state of _Greece_. And _France_, -with all its glory, has, ere now, been reduced to the last extremity by -the same unjust incroachments. - -He that thinks he sees another’s estate in a pack of cards, or a box and -dice, and ventures his own in the pursuit of it, should not repine if he -finds himself a beggar in the end. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE X._ - -A Peacock and a Crane. - -As a Peacock and a Crane were in company together, the Peacock spread his -tail, and challenged the other to shew him such a fan of feathers. You -brag of your plumes, says the Crane, that are fair indeed to the eye, but -fit for nothing but to attract the eyes of children and fools. Do as I -do, if you can; and then, with a suitable contempt, he springs up into -the air, leaving the gaping Peacock staring after him till his eyes ached. - - -MORALS. - - _There cannot be a greater sign of a weak mind than a person’s - valuing himself on a gaudy outside; whether it be on the - beauties of person, or the still vainer pride of fine clothes._ - - _Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow,_ - _The rest is all but leather or prunella._ - - -REFLECTION. - -It is very absurd to slight or insult another upon his wanting a property -which we possess; for he may, for anything we know, have as just reason -to triumph over us, by being master of some good quality of which we are -incapable. But, in regard to the fable before us, that which the Peacock -values himself upon, the glitter and finery of dress, is one of the -most trifling considerations in nature; and what a man of sense would -be ashamed to reckon even as the least part of merit. Indeed, children, -and those people who think much about the same pitch with them, are apt -to be taken with varnish and tinsel; but they who examine by the scale -of common sense, must find something of weight and substance before they -can be persuaded to set a value. The mind which is stored with virtuous -and rational sentiments, and the behaviour which speaks complacence -and humility, stamp an estimate upon the possessor which all judicious -spectators are ready to admire and acknowledge. But if there be any merit -in an embroidered coat, a brocade waistcoat, a shoe, a stocking, or a -sword-knot, the person who wears them has the least claim to it; let it -be ascribed where it justly belongs—to the several artisans who wrought -and disposed the materials of which they consist. This moral is not -intended to derogate anything from the magnificence of fine clothes and -rich equipages, which, as times and circumstances require, may be used -with decency and propriety enough. But one cannot help being concerned -lest any worth should be affixed to them more than their own intrinsic -value. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XI._ - -A Boy and False Alarms. - -A Shepherd’s Boy kept his sheep upon a common, and in sport and -wantonness had gotten a roguish trick of crying, A wolf! a wolf! when -there was no such matter, and fooling the country people with false -alarms. He had been at this sport so many times in jest, that they would -not believe him at last when he was in earnest; and so the wolves broke -in upon the flock, and worried the sheep without resistance. - - -MORALS. - - _This fable shews us the dangerous consequences of an improper - and unseasonable fooling. The old moral observes, that a common - liar shall not be believed, even when he speaks true._ - - _Rank lies repeated oft, and oft detected,_ - _Makes truth itself for a rank lie suspected._ - - -REFLECTION. - -It is not every man’s talent to know when and how to cast out a pleasant -word, with such a regard to modesty and respect as not to transgress the -true and fair allowances of wit, good-nature, and good breeding. The -skill and faculty of governing this freedom within the terms of sobriety -and discretion, goes a great way in the character of an agreeable -companion: for that which we call raillery, in this sense, is the very -sauce of civil entertainment; and without some such tincture of urbanity, -even in matters the most serious, the good-humour falters for want of -refreshment and relief; but there is a _medium_ yet betwixt _all-fool_ -and _all-philosopher_; I mean a proper and discreet mixture, that in -some sort partakes of both, and renders wisdom itself so much the more -grateful and effectual. The gravity, in short, of the one is enlivened -with the spirit and quickness of the other; and the gaiety of a diverting -word serves as a vehicle to convey the force of the intent and meaning of -it. - -The Shepherd’s Boy, in short, to come closer to the fable, went too far -upon a topic he did not understand. And he that is detected for being a -notorious liar, besides the ignominy and reproach of the thing, incurs -this mischief, that he will scarce be able to get any one to believe him -again as long as he lives. However true our complaint may be, or how much -soever it may be for our interest to have it believed, yet, if we have -been frequently caught tripping before, we shall hardly be able to gain -credit to what we relate afterwards. Though mankind are generally stupid -enough to be often imposed upon, yet few are so senseless as to believe a -notorious liar, or to trust a cheat upon record. These little shams, when -found out, are sufficiently prejudicial to the interest of every private -person who practises them. But, when we are alarmed with imaginary -dangers in respect of the public, till the cry grows quite stale and -threadbare, how can it be expected we should know when to guard ourselves -against real ones. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XII._ - -A Father and his Sons. - -A very honest man happened to have a contentious brood of children. He -called for a rod, and bade them try one after another, with all their -force, if they could break it. They tried, and could not. Well, says he, -unbind it now, and take every twig of it apart, and see what you can do -that way. They did so, and with great ease, by one and one, they snapped -it all to pieces. This, says he, is the true emblem of your condition: -keep together, and you are safe; divide, and you are undone. - - -MORALS. - - _The breach of unity puts the world into a state of war, and - turns every man’s hand against his brother; but so long as that - band holds, it is the strength of all the several parts of it - gathered into one, and is not easily subdued._ - - _Distress and ruin on divisions wait,_ - _But union is the bond of ev’ry state;_ - _Disloyalty’s a plague, dissension’s worse,_ - _And parties, where they rage, a kingdom’s curse._ - - -REFLECTION. - -This fable imitates the force of union, and the danger of division. -Intestine commotions have destroyed many a powerful state; and it is as -ruinous in private affairs as it is in public. A divided family can no -more stand than a divided commonwealth; for every individual suffers in -the neglect of a common safety. It is a strange thing that men should not -do that under the government of rational spirit, and a natural prudence, -which wolves and bears do by the impulse of an animal instinct. For they, -we see, will make head, one and all, against a common enemy; whereas the -generality of mankind lie pecking at one another, till one by one they -are all torn to pieces, never considering (as this fable teaches) the -necessity and benefits of union. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XIII._ - -The Sick Father and his Children. - -A Countryman who had lived handsomely in the world upon his honest labour -and industry, was desirous his Sons should do so after him; and being now -upon his death-bed, My dear children, says he, I reckon myself bound to -tell you before I depart, that there is a considerable treasure hid in -my vineyard; wherefore pray be sure to dig, and search narrowly for it, -when I am gone. The Father dies, and the Sons fall immediately to work -upon the vineyard. They turned it up over and over, and not one penny of -money to be found there; but the profit of the next vintage expounded the -riddle. - - -MORALS. - - _Good counsel is the best legacy a Father can leave to a Child; - and it is still the better, when it is so wrapt up, as to beget - a curiosity as well as an inclination to follow it._ - - _Assiduous pains the swelling coffers fill,_ - _And all may make their fortune, if they will._ - - -REFLECTION. - -There is no wealth like that which comes by the blessing of God upon -honest labour and warrantable industry. Here is an incitement to an -industrious course of life, by a consideration of the profit, the -innocence, and the virtue of such an application. There is one great -comfort in hand, besides the hope and assurance of more to come. It was -a touch of art in the Father to cover his meaning in such a manner as to -create a curiosity and an earnest desire in his Sons to find it out. And -it was a treble advantage to them besides; for there was health in the -exercise, profit in the discovery, and the comfort of a good conscience -in discharging the duty of a filial obedience. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XIV._ - -The Stag looking into the Water. - -A Stag that had been drinking at a clear spring, saw himself in the -water; and, pleased with the prospect, stood afterwards for some time -contemplating and surveying his shape and features, from head to -foot. Ah! says he, what a glorious pair of branching horns are there! -how gracefully do those antlers hang over my forehead, and give an -agreeable turn to my whole face! If some other parts of my body were but -proportionable to them, I would turn my back to nobody; but I have a set -of such legs as really makes me ashamed to see them. People may talk what -they please of their conveniences, and what great need we stand in of -them upon several occasions; but for my part, I find them so very slender -and unsightly, that I had as lief have none at all. While he was giving -himself these airs, he was alarmed with the noise of some Huntsmen and a -pack of hounds that had been just laid on upon the scent, and were making -towards him. Away he flies in some consternation, and, bounding nimbly -over the plain, threw dogs and men at a vast distance behind him. After -which, taking a very thick copse, he had the ill-fortune to be entangled -by his horns in a thicket; where he was held fast, till the hounds came -in and pulled him down. Finding now how it was like to go with him, in -the pangs of death, he is said to have uttered these words: Unhappy -creature that I am! I am too late convinced, that what I prided myself in -has been the cause of my undoing; and what I so much disliked, was the -only thing that could have saved me. - - -MORALS. - - _We should examine things deliberately, and candidly consider - their real usefulness before we place our esteem on them; - otherwise, like the foolish Stag, we may happen to admire those - accomplishments which are of no real use, and often prove - prejudicial to us, while we despise those things on which our - safety may depend._ - - _Virtue despised, the beauty views her face,_ - _And pleased beholds an angel in her glass;_ - _But lost at length, to shame and want resigned,_ - _Mourns she ne’er sought the beauty of the mind._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Perhaps we cannot apply this better, than by supposing the fable to be a -parable; which may be thus explained. The Deer, viewing itself in the -water, is a beautiful young lady at her looking-glass. She can’t help -being sensible of the charms which lie blooming in every feature of her -face. She moistens her lips, languishes with her eyes, adjusts every -lock of her hair with the nicest exactness, gives an agreeable attitude -to her whole body, and then, with a soft sigh, says to herself, Ah! how -happy might I be, in a daily crowd of admirers, if it were not for the -censoriousness of the age! When I view that face, where Nature, to give -her her due, has been liberal enough of charms, how easy should I be, if -it were not for that slender particular, my honour. The odious idea of -that comes across all my happy moments, and brings a mortification with -it that damps my most flattering tender hopes. Oh that there were no such -thing in the world! In the midst of these soliloquies, she is interrupted -by the voice of her lover, who enters her chamber singing a rigadoon air; -and, introducing his discourse in a familiar easy manner, takes occasion -to launch out in praise of her beauty, sees she is pleased with it, -snatches her hand, kisses it in a transport; and in short, pursues his -point so close, that she is not able to disengage herself from him. But, -when the consequence of all this approaches, in an agony of grief and -shame, she fetches a deep sigh, and says, “Ah! how mistaken have I been! -the virtue I slighted might have saved me; but the beauty I prized so -much has been my undoing.” - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XV._ - -The Countryman and the Snake. - -A Villager, in a frosty, snowy winter, found a Snake under a hedge, -almost dead with cold. He could not help having compassion for the poor -creature, so brought it home, and laid it upon the hearth near the fire; -but it had not lain there long before (being revived with the heat) it -began to erect itself, and fly at his wife and children, filling the -whole cottage with dreadful hissings. The countryman hearing an outcry, -and perceiving what the matter was, catched up a mattock, and soon -dispatched him, upbraiding him at the same time in these words: “Is this, -vile wretch, the reward you make to him that saved your life? Die, as you -deserve; but a single death is too good for you.” - - -MORALS. - - _It is no strange thing to see a reprobate fool throw his - poisonous language about against those who are so inadvertent - as to concern themselves with him._ - - _Evil for good, relentless to bestow,_ - _Is all the gratitude th’ unworthy know;_ - _Mercy to such should be with caution shown;_ - _Saving a villain’s life, you risk your own._ - - -REFLECTION. - -’Tis the nature of ingrates to return evil for good; and the moralists in -all ages have incessantly declaimed against the enormity of this crime, -concluding _that they who are capable of hurting their benefactors, -are not fit to live in a community; being such, as the natural ties of -parent, friend, or country, are too weak to restrain within the bounds -of society_. Indeed, the sin of ingratitude is so detestable, that, as -none but the most inhuman temper can be guilty of it, so, in writing to -men, there is no occasion to use many words, either in exposing the vice -itself, or dissuading people from the commission of it. Therefore it is -not likely that a person of _Æsop’s_ sagacity would have compiled this -fable, without having something else in view, besides this trite and -obvious subject. He certainly intended to put us in mind, _That, as none -but a poor silly clown would go to take up a Snake and cherish it, so we -shall be very negligent and ill-advised, if, in doing good offices, we do -not take care to bestow our benevolence upon proper objects_. It was not -at all unnatural in the Snake to hiss, and brandish his tongue, and fly -at the first that came near him; as soon at the person that saved his -life as any other; indeed more likely, because nobody else had so much -to do with him. Nor is it strange at any time to see a reprobate fool -throwing his poisonous language about, and committing his extravagances -against those, more especially, who are so inadvertent as to concern -themselves with him. The snake and the reprobate will not appear -extraordinary in their malevolence. But the sensible part of mankind -cannot help thinking those guilty of great indiscretion who receive -either of them into their protection. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XVI._ - -A Gnat and a Bee. - -A Gnat, half starved with cold and hunger, went one frosty morning to -a Bee-hive, to beg a charity; and offered to teach music in the Bee’s -family, for her diet and lodging. The Bee very civilly desired to be -excused: For, says she, I bring up all my children to my own trade, that -they may be able to get their living by their industry; and I am sure I -am right; for see what that music, which you would I teach my children, -has brought you yourself to. - - -MORALS. - - _Industry ought to be diligently inculcated in the minds of - children of all ranks and degrees; for who stands so sure as to - say he is exempt from the vicissitudes of this uncertain life?_ - - _The wretch who works not for his daily bread,_ - _Sighs and complains, but ought not to be fed._ - _Think, when you see stout beggars on their stand,_ - _The lazy are the locusts of the land._ - - -REFLECTION. - -The many unhappy persons whom we daily see singing up and down in order -to divert other people, though with very heavy hearts of their own, -should warn all those who have the education of children, how necessary -it is to bring them up to industry and business, be their present -prospects ever so hopeful; that so, upon any unexpected disaster, they -might be able to turn their hands to a course which might procure them an -honest livelihood. - -The Gnat in the fable, we may further observe, is very like many -inconsiderate persons in life. They gaily buz about in the _summer of -prosperity_, and think of nothing but their present enjoyments: but -when the _winter of adversity_ comes, they poorly creep about, and -supplicate the industrious inhabitants of every _Bee-hive_, charitably to -relieve those wants which they have brought upon themselves; and often -deservedly meet the repulse, and the sting, which the Bee gives to the -Gnat in the fable. We have seen many a doted-on child, who has been -brought up to singing, dancing, and all the gay delights of this world, -and yet has been forced to shut up the last scene of a miserable life in -want and beggary; which had been prevented, if they had been early taught -the value of industry and independency, and the means, by the former, of -attaining the latter. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XVII._ - -Mercury and the Woodman. - -A Man was felling a tree on the bank of a river; and by chance let his -hatchet slip out of his hand, which dropt into the water, and immediately -sunk to the bottom. Being therefore in great distress for the loss of -his tool, he sat down and bemoaned himself most lamentably. Upon this, -_Mercury_ appeared to him, and, being informed of the cause of his -complaint, dived to the bottom of the river, and coming up again, showed -the man a golden hatchet, demanding if that were his. He denied that it -was. Upon which _Mercury_ dived a second time, and brought up a silver -one. The man refused it, alleging likewise that this was not his. He -dived a third time, and fetched up the individual hatchet the man had -lost; upon sight of which the poor wretch was overjoyed, and took it with -all humility and thankfulness. _Mercury_ was so pleased with the fellow’s -honesty, that he gave him the other two into the bargain, as a reward -for his just dealing. The man goes to his companions, and giving them an -account of what had happened, one of them went presently to the river’s -side, and let his hatchet fall designedly into the stream. Then sitting -down upon the bank, he fell a weeping and lamenting, as if he had been -really and sorely afflicted. _Mercury_ appeared as before, and diving, -brought him up a golden hatchet, asking if that was the hatchet he lost. -Transported at the precious metal, he answered, Yes; and went to snatch -it greedily. But the god detesting his abominable impudence, not only -refused to give him that, but would not so much as let him have his own -hatchet again. - - -MORALS. - - _Honesty is the best policy; religion absolutely requires it of - its votaries: and the honest man, provided his other talents - are not deficient, always carries the preference in our esteem, - before any other, in whatever business he employs himself._ - - _Truth, sacred truth, shall flourish and prevail,_ - _While all the arts of fraud and falsehood fail;_ - _The flimsy cheat wise judges soon descry;_ - _Sure those will rob, who scruple not to lie._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Notwithstanding the proneness of mankind to do evil, and the account -which some find in playing the knave, yet there cannot be invented -a more true and reasonable maxim, than that by which we are assured -that _honesty is the best policy_. If we consider it in respect to the -other world, there never was a religion but strictly required it of its -votaries. If we examine it upon account of this, we shall find that the -honest man, provided his other talents are not deficient, always carries -the preference in our esteem, before any other, in whatever business he -thinks fit to employ himself. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XVIII._ - -The Fir and a Bramble. - -My head, says the boasting Fir-tree to the humble Bramble, is advanced -among the stars; I furnish beams for palaces, and masts for shipping; -the very sweat of my body is a sovereign remedy for the sick and wounded: -whereas thou, O rascally Bramble, runnest creeping in the dirt, and art -good for nothing in the world but mischief. I pretend not to vie with -thee, said the Bramble, in the points thou gloriest in. But, not to -insist upon it, that He who made thee a lofty Fir, could have made thee -an humble Bramble, I pray thee tell me, when the Carpenter comes next -with the axe into the wood, to fell timber, whether thou hadst not rather -be a Bramble than a Fir-tree? - - -MORALS. - - _Poverty secures a man from many dangers; whereas the rich and - the mighty are the mark of malice and cross fortune; and still - the higher they are, the nearer the thunder._ - - _Minions of fortune, pillars of the state,_ - _Round your exalted heads what tempests low’r!_ - _While peace secure, and soft contentment wait_ - _On the calm mansions of the humble poor._ - - -REFLECTION. - -The answer of the humble Bramble to the proud Fir-tree is so pathetic, -that it may of itself serve for a very good moral to this fable. Nothing -of God’s works is so mean as to be despised, and nothing so lofty but it -may be humbled; nay, and the greater the height the greater the danger. -For a proud great man to despise an humble little one, when Providence -can so easily exalt the one, and abase the other, and has not for the -merit of the one, or the demerit of the other, conferred the respective -conditions, is a most inexcusable arrogance: and history has given -numberless instances, where the overgrown Fir, though a Prime Minister, -or great Prince, in the very height of its pride, has been forced to -submit to the executioner’s axe, while the humble Bramble, or contented -poor man, has continued safe and unhurt in his lowly obscurity. We may -further observe on this fable, that there is no state of life but has -its mixture of good and evil. The Fir may boast of the uses to which it -is put, and of its strength and stature; but then it has not to boast -of the creeping Bramble’s safety; for the value of the one tempts the -Carpenter’s axe, while the poverty of the other makes it little worth any -one’s while to molest it. Upon the whole matter, we may add, _That as -pride or arrogance is a vice that seldom escapes without a punishment; so -humility is a virtue that hardly ever goes without a blessing_. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XIX._ - -The Fox and the Countryman. - -A Fox being hard hunted, and having run a long chase, was quite tired. At -last he spied a country fellow in a wood, to whom he applied for refuge, -entreating that he would give him leave to hide himself in his cottage, -till the hounds were gone by. The man consented, and the Fox went and -covered himself up close in a corner of the hovel. Presently the hunters -came up, and inquired of the man, if he had seen the Fox. No, says he, I -have not seen him indeed: but all the while he pointed with his finger to -the place where the Fox was hid. However, the hunters did not understand -him, but called off their hounds, and went another way. Soon after, the -Fox, creeping out of his hole, was going to sneak off; when the man, -calling after him, asked him, if that was his manners, to go away without -thanking his benefactor, to whose fidelity he owed his life. _Reynard_, -who had peeped all the while, and seen what passed, answered, I know what -obligations I have to you well enough; and I assure you, if your actions -had but been agreeable to your words, I should have endeavoured, however -incapable of it, to have returned you suitable thanks. - - -MORALS. - - _To appear in another’s interest, while underhand we are giving - intelligence to their enemies, is treacherous, knavish, and - base._ - - _Thus by the knave, in worldly guile adept,_ - _Vows are perform’d and promises are kept:_ - _True to the form, and fearful of offence,_ - _Good soul! he swerves from nothing but the sense._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Sincerity is a most beautiful virtue: but there are some, whose natures -are so poor-spirited and cowardly, that they are not capable of exerting -it. Indeed, unless a man be steady and constant in all his actions, he -will hardly deserve the name of sincere. An open enemy, though more -violent and terrible, is not, however, so odious and detestable as a -false friend. To pretend to keep another’s counsel, and appear in their -interest, while underhand we are giving intelligence to their enemies, -is treacherous, knavish, and base. There are some people in the world -very dexterous at this kind of defamation; and can, while they seem most -vehement in the commendation or defence of a friend, throw out a hint -which shall stab their reputation deeper than the most malicious weapon, -brandished at them in a public manner, could have been capable of doing. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XX._ - -A One-Eyed Stag. - -A One-Eyed Stag that was afraid of the Huntsmen at land, kept a watch -that way, and fed with his blind side towards an arm of the sea, where he -thought there was no danger. In this hope of security, he was shot, by a -ball from a boat, and so ended his days with this lamentation: Here I am -destroyed, says he, where I reckoned myself to be safe on the one hand; -and no evil has befallen me, where I most dreaded it, on the other. But -it is my comfort that I intended the best. - - -MORALS. - - _We are liable to many accidents that no care or foresight - can prevent: but we are to provide, however, the best we can - against them, and leave the rest to Providence._ - - _The man whom we fear and suspect for a cheat,_ - _Can hardly delude us with art and deceit;_ - _But he, in whose faith we securely confide,_ - _May come round with impunity on our ~blind side~._ - - -REFLECTION. - -We are many times preserved or destroyed by those accidents or counsels -that in all probability should have had quite contrary effects. But -yet it is our part to act according to reason, and commit ourselves to -Heaven for the rest. The wisest of men have their _follies_ or _blind -sides_, and have their enemies too, who watch to take advantage of their -weakness. It behoves us therefore to look to ourselves on the _blind -side_, as the part that lies most exposed to an attack. And yet, when we -have done our best to prevent mischief, the very precaution itself serves -many times to contribute to our ruin. In short, the ways and workings of -Providence are unsearchable, and it is not in the power of human prudence -to obviate all the accidents of life. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXI._ - -A Shepherd and a Young Wolf. - -A Shepherd took a Wolf’s sucking Whelp, and trained it up with his Dogs. -The Whelp fed with them, grew up with them, and whensoever they went -out upon the chase of a Wolf, the Whelp would be sure to make one. It -fell out sometimes that the Wolf escaped; but this domestic Wolf would -be still hunting on, after the dogs had given over the chase, till he -came up to his true brethren, where he took part of the prey with them, -and then went back again to his master. And when he could come in for -no snacks with the Wolves, he would now and then make free, by the by, -with a straggling Sheep out of the flock. He carried on this trade for a -while; but at last he was caught in the fact, and hanged by his injured -master. - - -MORALS. - - _Men naturally false and treacherous are no more to be - reclaimed than Wolves. Benefits but augment their power to - do mischief, and they never fail to make use of it to the - prejudice of their benefactors._ - - _The knave profest may seem a gen’rous foe,_ - _Deserves a rope, yet claims our pity too;_ - _But dragg’d to light, and stript of his disguise,_ - _The sneaking hypocrite unpitied dies._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Ill dispositions may be dissembled for a while, but nature is very hardly -to be altered, either by counsel or education. It may do well enough -for curiosity and experiment, to try how far ill-natured men, and other -creatures, may be wrought upon by fair usage and good breeding; but the -inclination and cruelty of the dam will be hardly ever out of the Whelp. -_Thrust back nature with a pitch-fork_, says the poet, _and it will -return_. This Fable is a true portrait of an ungrateful and treacherous -mind, which, according to the proverb, _holds with the Hare, and runs -with the Hound_; which pretends greater zeal than others, like the Wolf’s -Whelp in the chase, in the detection and pursuit of a common enemy; -but at the same time divides spoils with him, and, rather than want an -opportunity of doing mischief, will prey privately upon the property he -pretends to defend. Many such instances we might give in public life; -and there have been too many such also in private life. The punishment -so richly merited in the Fable is heartily to be wished whenever they -happen, and it is a pity it should be wanted. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXII._ - -Seamen Praying to Saints. - -In a terrible tempest at Sea, one Seaman took notice that the rest of -his fellows were praying severally to so many Saints. Have a care, my -masters, says he, what you do; for what if we should all be drowned now -before the messenger can deliver his errand? would it not be better, -without going so far about, to pray to Him that can save us without help. - - -MORALS. - - _A wise man will take the nearest and surest way to obtain his - end, and to commit no business of importance to a proxy, where - he may do it himself._ - - _Inactive wishes are but waste of time,_ - _And, without efforts, pray’rs themselves a crime:_ - _Vain are their hopes, who miracles expect,_ - _And ask from heaven what themselves neglect._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Mankind, indolent and discontented, are very apt to murmur at the -dispensations of Providence, and to call for divine assistance to -extricate them from their difficulties, when it is in their own power to -accomplish what they desire. They, who will not stir a finger to promote -their own interest, have little title to expect any foreign assistance: -but when they have exerted their utmost skill and assiduity, their -prayers, if there is need for them, will be enforced by every argument -drawn from their own merit, and the compassion of those to whom they make -their application. Industry includes in itself this double blessing: -It commonly enables us to gain the point we aim at; and in that case -heightens the relish of our enjoyments, when we consider that we have -attained them by our own art and perseverance: but if we should happen -to fail in our endeavours, it excites the pity of those who are able to -serve us; and gives a grace to our petitions for assistance and relief. - -What needs any man make his court to the servants, says Sir _Roger -L’Estrange_, when his access is open to the Master? and especially when -that Master is as ready to give as the petitioner to ask. - -With regard to secular matters, we are told a pleasant story of one of -our princes, King _Charles_ II. He had often observed a country gentleman -attending to speak with one of his first ministers; and once passing -through the apartment where the gentleman happened to be alone, he asked -him his business. He told him, that he was attending upon his minister, -as he had often done, for such a post in his Majesty’s gift. The King -asked him, what he was to give for it to the minister? He said £1000. The -King humorously told him he should have it, and bid him give him £500, -and keep t’other £500 himself; and if he or his friends wanted any more -such bargains, he might apply to _himself_ directly, and be served at -half price. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXIII._ - -A Fox that had lost his Tail. - -A Fox taken in a trap was glad to compound for his neck, by leaving his -tail behind him. It was so uncouth a sight for a Fox to appear without -a tail, that the very thought of it made him weary of his life: but, -however, for the better countenance of the scandal, he got the _Master -and Wardens of the Foxes’ company_ to call a _Court of Assistants_, where -he himself appeared, and made a learned discourse upon the trouble, the -uselessness, and the indecency of Foxes wearing tails. He had no sooner -said out his say, but up rises a cunning Snap, then at the board, who -desired to be informed, whether the worthy member that moved against the -wearing of tails, gave his advice for the advantage of those that _had -tails_, or to palliate the deformity and disgrace of those that _had -none_. - - -MORALS. - - _It is the way of the world to give other people counsel for - by-ends. But yet it is a hard matter to over-rule a multitude - to their own pain and loss._ - - _Gladly Sir ~Clumsy~ would the world persuade,_ - _Not he, but all mankind are vilely made;_ - _And might the purblind and the deaf advise,_ - _’Twere better for to want both ear and eyes._ - - -REFLECTION. - -We may improve a doctrine from this, that every man has his _weak side_, -either by mischance or by nature; and that he makes it his business to -cover it, too, the best he can. In case of the worst, it is some sort -of ease to have company in misfortune. It puts a man out of countenance -to be in fashion by himself, and therefore the Fox acted cunningly to -try if he could bring his fellow Foxes to put themselves into his mode. -When we have carried a point as far as it will go, and can make no more -of it, it is a stroke of art and philosophy to look as if we did not -so much as wish for a thing that is not to be had. Every man’s present -condition has somewhat to be said for it: if it be uneasy, the skill will -be, either how to _mend_ it, or how to _bear_ it; but then there must be -no clashing with the methods, the decrees, and the laws of nature. A man -that has forfeited his honour and his conscience, seems to be much in the -condition of the Fox here that had lost his tail; and oftentimes takes as -much pains, too, to persuade all his companions to follow his fashion, -and be as corrupt as himself, that he may bring the rest of the world -down to his own standard. - -In respect to temporal affairs, they, who pretend to advise what measures -are most conducive to the public welfare, are often guided entirely by -their own private interest: but whenever they counsel any extraordinary -innovations, or endeavour to change any established proceedings long used -and approved, we may be almost certain that they have some other design, -rather than the promotion of the general good. When new regulations are -proposed, we should turn our eyes on those who propose them, and consider -with attention, whether they have not some personal motives for their -conduct, and we should be particularly cautious not to suffer ourselves -to be imposed on by _fine speeches_ and _pretended patriotism_: for _he_ -who is _very solicitous_ to bring about a scheme, not attended with any -visible advantage to the community, must only mean his own benefit; or, -like the Fox, when he has been caught himself in one trap, endeavour to -catch us in another. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXIV._ - -A Scoffer Punished. - -A Presumptuous Scoffer at things sacred took a journey to _Delphi_, -on purpose to try if he could put a trick upon _Apollo_. He carried a -sparrow in his hand under his coat, and told the god, _I have something -in my hand_, says he: _Is it dead or living?_ If the oracle should say it -was dead, he could show it alive; if living, it was but squeezing it, and -then it was dead. He that saw the iniquity of his heart, gave him this -answer: It shall e’en be which of the two thou pleasest: for it is in thy -choice to have it either the one or the other, as to the bird, but it is -not in thy power as to thyself; and immediately struck the bold scoffer -dead, for a warning to others. - - -MORALS. - - _Presumption naturally leads people to infidelity, and that - by insensible degrees to atheism: for when men have once cast - off a reverence for religion, they are come within one step of - laughing at it._ - - _That there’s a God all nature loud proclaims,_ - _Tho’ the vile Atheist the great truth disclaims;_ - _Or warp’d by prejudice, or sunk in sin,_ - _His fright’ned conscience feels the lash within._ - - -REFLECTION. - -There is no playing fast and loose with God Almighty, who sees the very -thoughts of our hearts. This way of fooling in holy things, is the very -boldest sort of impiety that can be practised. He that pretends to doubt -of an All-knowing power, has as much right to doubt of an Almighty power -too; and the bringing of one attribute in question, opens the way to a -diffidence of all the rest. It would prevent a great deal of wickedness -in the world, if men would but live and act in religious matters, -so as to own and to recognise the force and awe of a Deity in their -_practices_, as well as in their _words_: but when they come to querying -and riddling upon it, with an _If it be so and so_, the scandal of the -supposition is not to be borne; for such a way of seeming to affirm a -thing, is but one remove from a flat denial of it. Such was the Scoffer’s -question here to the oracle, which implies both the doubt of a divine -Omniscience, and a curiosity to discover the truth of the matter, with a -banter at the end of it; and so makes a consummated wickedness. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXV._ - -A Swan and a Stork. - -A Stork that was present at the song of a dying Swan, told her, it was -contrary to nature to sing so much out of season; and asked her the -reason of it. Why, says the Swan, I am now entering into a state where I -shall be no longer in danger of either snares, guns, or hunger; and who -would not joy at such a deliverance? - - -MORALS. - - _Death is a certain relief from all the difficulties, pains, - and hazards of life._ - - _This life’s a scene of bustle, care, and noise,_ - _Of certain trouble, and uncertain joys,_ - _Death ends the contest, we can only have_ - _A peaceful refuge in the silent grave._ - - -REFLECTION. - -It is a great folly to fear that which it is impossible to avoid; and it -is yet a greater folly to fear the remedy of all evils: for death cures -all diseases, and frees us from all cares. It is as great a folly again -not to prepare ourselves, and provide for an inevitable fate. We are as -sure to go out of the world, as we are that ever we came into it; and -nothing but the conscience of a good life can support us in that last -extremity. The fiction of a Swan’s singing at her death does, in the -moral, but advise and recommend it to us to make ready for the cheerful -entertainment of our last hour, and to consider with ourselves, that if -death be so welcome a relief even to animals, barely as a deliverance -from the cares, miseries, and dangers of a troublesome life, how much a -greater blessing ought all good men to account it then, that are not only -freed by it from the snares, difficulties, and distractions of a wicked -world, but put into possession (over and above) of an everlasting peace, -and the fruition of joys that shall never have an end! - -To attain this desirable state of mind, it is necessary that we reflect -fully and frequently on the uncertainty of all worldly affairs, how -flitting and transitory, and how barren of real happiness, they are; and -to endeavour at a proper discharge of our duty to _society_, by acting -well the part assigned us in it, and managing the talents committed -to our care, to beneficial ends and purposes; to our _Creator_, by a -constant and humble acquiescence in the dispensations of His providence, -and sincere and grateful acknowledgments for His numberless mercies to -_ourselves_, by restraining inordinate and unlawful desires, and bridling -our dissolute and licentious affections, duly considering, that as we -bear the stamp and image of the Deity, every debasement and pollution -offered to our persons is an affront and indignity to Him, and contrary -to His express commands: By a constant attention to these things, we may -be enabled to meet death without fear. The consciousness of a well-spent -life strips the tyrant of all his terrors; then, like the Swan in the -Fable, we shall consider him as a welcome visitant that will ease us -of this load of mortality, and usher us into a state of inexpressible -felicity. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXVI._ - -A Swallow and a Spider. - -A Spider that observed a Swallow catching of flies, fell immediately -to work upon a net to catch Swallows; for she looked upon it as an -encroachment upon her right: but the birds, without any difficulty, brake -through the work, and flew away with the very net itself. Well, says -the Spider, bird-catching is none of my talent, I perceive; and so she -returned to her old trade of catching flies again. - - -MORALS. - - _A wise man will not undertake anything without means - answerable to the end._ - - _They who by imitations covet fame,_ - _Oft incur dangers, and solicit shame;_ - _For though the bright original we prize,_ - _His abject imitator all despise._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Every man should examine the strength of his own mind with attention -and impartiality, and not fondly flatter himself by measuring his own -talents by the false standard of the abilities of another. We can no -more adopt the genius of another man than assume his shape and person; -and an imitation of his manner would no more become us than his clothes. -Man is indeed an imitative animal; but whatever we take from general -observation, without servilely copying the practice of any individual, -becomes so mixed and incorporated with our notions that it may fairly -be called our own. Almost every man has something original in himself, -which, if duly cultivated, might perhaps procure him esteem and applause; -but if he neglects his natural talents, or perverts them by an absurd -imitation of others, he becomes an object of ridicule; especially, if -he attempts to perform things beyond the compass of his strength or -understanding. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXVII._ - -A Dog, a Cock, and a Fox. - -A Dog and a Cock took a journey together. The Dog kennelled in the body -of a hollow tree, and the Cock roosted at night upon the boughs. The -Cock crowed about midnight (at his usual hour), which brought a Fox that -was abroad upon the hunt immediately to the tree; and there he stood -licking of his lips at the Cock, and, wheedling him to get him down, he -protested he never heard so angelical a voice since he was born; and what -would not he do now, to hug the creature that had given him so admirable -a serenade? Pray, says the Cock, speak to the porter below to open the -door, and I’ll come down to you. The Fox, little dreaming of the Dog so -near, did as he was directed, and the Dog presently seized and worried -him. - - -MORALS. - - _When a man has to do with an adversary who is too crafty or - too strong for him, it is right to turn him off to his match._ - - _Happy the ready wit of men of parts,_ - _Who on himself can turn the villain’s arts!_ - - -REFLECTION. - -Experience makes many a wise man of a fool, and security makes many a -fool of a wise man. We have an instance of the former in the Cock’s -over-reaching the Fox; and of the other in the Fox’s supine confidence, -that made him so intent upon his prey, as to neglect his safety; and to -fall himself into the pit that he had digged for another. It is much -the same case in the world, when Providence is pleased to confound the -presumptuous, the false, the mighty, and the bloodthirsty by judgments of -lice and frogs—that is to say, by the most despicable of instruments; and -that frequently at a crisis of time, when they think themselves sure of -the success of their mischievous projects. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXVIII._ - -The Ants and a Grasshopper. - -As the Ants were airing their provisions one winter, a hungry Grasshopper -begged a charity of them. They told him, that he should have wrought -in summer, if he would not have wanted in winter. Well, says the -Grasshopper, but I was not idle neither; for I sung out the whole season. -Nay then, said they, you’ll e’en do well to make a merry year of it, and -dance in winter to the tune that you sung in summer. - - -MORALS. - - _Action and industry is the business of a wise and a good man, - and nothing is so much to be despised as slothfulness._ Go to - the Ant, thou sluggard, _says the Royal Preacher_, consider her - ways, and be wise; _which in a few words sums up the moral of - this fable_. - - _O now, while health and vigour still remain._ - _Toil, toil, my lads, to purchase honest gain!_ - _Shun idleness! shun pleasure’s tempting snare!_ - _A youth of revels breeds an age of care._ - - -REFLECTION. - -It is hard to say of laziness or luxury, whether it be the more -scandalous, or the more dangerous evil. The very soul of the slothful -does but lie drowsing in his body, and the whole man is totally given -up to his senses; whereas the profit and the comfort of industry are -substantial, firm, and lasting; the blessings of security and plenty go -along with it, and it is never out of season. What is the Grasshopper’s -entertainment now, but a summer’s song? A vain and empty pleasure? Let -it be understood, however, that we are not to pass avarice upon the -world under title of good-husbandry and thrift, and thereby utterly to -extinguish charity. We are indeed, in the first place, to consult our -own necessities; but we are then to consider, in the second, that the -necessities of our neighbours have a Christian right to a part of what we -have to spare. - -The stress of this moral lies upon the preference of honest labour to -idleness; and the refusal of relief, on the one hand, is intended only -for a reproof to the inconsiderate loss of opportunity on the other. -This does not hinder yet, but that the Ants, out of their abundance, -ought to have relieved the Grasshopper in her distress, though it was -her own fault that brought her to it; for if one man’s _faults_ could -discharge another man of his _duty_, there would be no longer any -place left for the common offices of society. To conclude, we have our -failings, every one of us; and the improvidence of my neighbour must -not make me inhuman. The Ant did well to reprove the Grasshopper for her -slothfulness; but she did ill, after that, to refuse her charity in her -distress. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXIX._ - -The Bald Cavalier. - -When periwigs were first used, and then chiefly to cover the defect of -baldness, a certain Cavalier had one for that purpose, which passed -for his own hair. But as he was one day riding out with some others a -hunting, a sudden puff of wind blew off both his wig and his hat, and set -the company in a loud laugh at his bald pate. He, for his part, fell a -laughing with the rest, and said, Why, really, Gentlemen, this is merry -enough; for how could I expect to keep other people’s hair, who could not -preserve my own. - - -MORALS. - - _The edge of a jest is quite blunted and turned off when a man - has presence of mind to join in it against himself, or begin - it._ - - _When the loud laugh prevails at your expense,_ - _All want of temper is but want of sense;_ - _Would you disarm the sneerer of his jest,_ - _Frown not, but laugh in concert with the rest._ - - -REFLECTION. - -A frank, easy way of openness and candour agrees best with all humours; -and he that is over solicitous to conceal a defect, often does as good -as make proclamation of it. And it is a turn of art in many cases, where -a man lies open to ridicule, to anticipate the jest, and make sport with -himself first. - -The epigram of _Martial_ upon a lady, who, in a case in point, was for -hiding a defect like that of the bald Knight, and made use of false hair, -carries with it the severer sting, as she was willing and studious to -conceal it. The Poet, made _English_, says:— - - The golden hair that _Galla_ wears - Is hers: who would have thought it? - She swears ’tis hers—and true she swears, - For I know _where_ she _bought_ it. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXX._ - -A Dog and a Cat. - -Never were two creatures better together than a Dog and a Cat brought up -in the same house from a Whelp and a Kitten; so kind, so gamesome and -diverting, that it was half the entertainment of the family to see the -gambols and love-tricks that passed betwixt them. Only it was observed, -that still at meal-times, when scraps fell from the table, or a bone was -thrown to them, they would be snarling and spitting at one another under -the table like the worst of foes. - - -MORALS. - - _But as the sun, refulgent globe of light,_ - _By mists obscur’d, may shine more dimly bright;_ - _Or by some sable cloud its lustre veil’d,_ - _Lie hid in darkness from the world conceal’d;_ - _So every joy which mortals here can know_ - _Is damp’d by sorrow, or is mix’d with woe._ - _Pleasure entire, from all assaults secure,_ - _To no one’s granted, no one can ensure._ - _Ungovern’d passions to such heights will rise,_ - _That friendship’s self oft falls a sacrifice;_ - _A fire is kindled in the human breast,_ - _By words misconstru’d, or a simple jest,_ - _As some one relish often spoils a feast._ - _Thus sportful, frisking on the sunny green,_ - _Two lambkins loving are not seldom seen:_ - _Off from the flock they to a distance stray,_ - _And all a battle represent in play;_ - _Till some unlucky thrusts rouse up their rage,_ - _Pretence is gone, in earnest they engage._ - _Those whom she sung, the muse reluctant sees_ - _Differ for causes trivial as these;_ - _And full of anguish, sighing and alone,_ - _Pours out her deep-felt melancholy moan:—_ - _“Where dwelt their mutual fondness in that hour_ - _When love took leave, and kindness now no more?_ - _Alas! no more, in social converse join’d,_ - _Shall they partake the rapture of the mind?_ - _Placid content, shall fell disgust succeed,_ - _And vexing discord make enjoyment bleed?_ - _Forbid it, Heav’n! and to them gracious deign_ - _Their strict agreeing harmony again!_ - _All jarring thoughts at utmost distance keep,_ - _And bid the former in oblivion sleep!”_ - - -REFLECTION. - -Here is a perfect emblem of the practices and friendships of the world. -We contract little likings, enter into agreeable conversations, and -pass away the time so merrily and kindly together, that one would think -it impossible for anything under the sun to break the interest; and yet -upon the throwing in any cross interest among us, which is all one with -the bone under the table; nay, upon a jealous thought, or a mistaken -word or look, all former bonds are cancelled, the league broken, and the -farce concludes in biting and scratching one another’s eyes out. The same -figure will serve for princes and states, public persons and private, -married and single; people, in fine, of all professions and pretences. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXI._ - -An Impertinent and Philosopher. - -A certain pragmatical, gay, fluttering Coxcomb would needs make a -visit to a Philosopher. He found him alone in his study, and fell a -wondering how he could endure to lead so solitary a life. Sir, says the -Philosopher, you are exceedingly mistaken, for I was in very good company -till you came in. - - -MORALS. - - _What the noisy and most numerous part of the world calls good - company, is generally the most irksome and insipid thing in the - world to a wise man; a mere round of folly and impertinence, - and void of any kind of instruction or benefit to a reflecting - mind. How preferable to such a man must it be to converse with - the learned dead, rather than the unedifying and noisy living?_ - - _“~Swift~ is obscure, and ~Addison~ wants taste,_ - _~Shakespeare~ is low, and ~Milton~ all bombast”— - _Thus wit itself half-seeing fools condemn,_ - _And sense and genius are all dark to them._ - - -REFLECTION. - -It is one of the most vexatious mortifications, perhaps, of a sober and -studious man’s life, to have his thoughts disordered, and the chain of -his reason discomposed, by the importunity of a tedious and impertinent -visit; especially if it be from a fool of quality, where the station of -the man entitles him to all returns of good manners and respect. The -drift of this fable is to tell us, that good books and good thoughts -are the best company, and that they are mistaken, who think a wise -man can ever be alone. It prepares us also to expect interruptions -and disappointments, and to provide for them; but withal to take the -best care we can to prevent the plague of ill company, by avoiding the -occasions of it. The linking of a man of brains and honesty, with a -lewd, insipid companion, is effectually the emblem of that tyrant who -bound the living and the dead together; and yet this is it which the -impertinent takes for the relief of solitude, and that he calls company. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXII._ - -The Fox and the Ass. - -An Ass, finding a Lion’s skin, disguised himself with it, and ranged -about the forest, putting all the beasts that saw him into a bodily fear. -After he had diverted himself thus for some time, he met a Fox; and being -desirous to fright him too, as well as the rest, he leapt at him with -some fierceness, and endeavoured to imitate the roaring of the Lion. Your -humble servant, says the Fox; if you had held your tongue, I might have -taken you for a Lion, as others did; but now you bray, I know who you -are. - - -MORALS. - - _The more distant any person is from the thing he affects to - appear, the stronger will the ridicule be which he excites, and - the greater the inconveniencies into which he runs himself._ - - _The fop, with empty jests and silly smile,_ - _Women, or men like women, may beguile;_ - _Howe’er with fools his senseless prate may pass,_ - _The man of sense soon knows him for an Ass._ - - -REFLECTION. - -This is so trite and common a subject, that there is scarce any one who -is ignorant of it. A man is known by his words, as a tree is by the -fruit; and, if we would be apprised of the nature and qualities of any -one, let him but discourse, and he himself will speak them to us, better -than another can describe them. We may therefore perceive from this -fable, how proper it is for those to hold their tongues who would not -discover the shallowness of their understandings. - - _Asses and Owls, unseen, themselves betray,_ - _When these attempt to hoot, or those to bray._ - -The deepest rivers are most silent: the greatest noise is ever found -where there is the least depth of water. And it is a true observation, -that those who are the weakest in understanding, and most slow of -apprehension, are generally the strongest in opinion, and most -precipitate in uttering their crude conceptions. When, with a secret awe, -we regard the grave address and important mien of some senatorian person, -whom we have chanced to meet in a coffee-house, what a speaker do we -often think he must be, before we hear him speak! his air breathes the -seriousness of a privy councillor, and his erect aspect the dignity of an -eminent patriot: But he utters himself, and undeceives us; he brays, and -tells the whole company what he is. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXIII._ - -A Boar and a Fox. - -As a Boar was whetting his teeth against a tree, up comes a Fox to him. -Pray, what do you mean by that? says he. I do it, says the Boar, to be in -readiness in case of an attack by an enemy. But, replies the Fox, I see -no occasion for it, for there is no enemy near you. Well, says the Boar, -but I see occasion for it; for when I come once to be set upon, it will -be too late for me to be whetting when I should be fighting. - - -MORALS. - - _A discreet man should have a reserve of everything that is - necessary beforehand, that when the time comes for him to make - use of them, he may not be in a hurry and confusion._ - - _Wise are the people, who in peace prepare_ - _Their fleets and armies for the distant war;_ - _Who ne’er in treaties and conventions trust,_ - _Nor leave the sword, though it be sheath’d, to rust._ - - -REFLECTION. - -He that is not idle when he is at leisure, may play with his business. -A discreet man should have a reserve of everything that is necessary -beforehand; that when the time comes for him to make use of them, he may -not be in a hurry and a confusion. A wise General has not his men to -discipline, or his ammunition to provide, when the trumpet sounds _To -Arms_; but sets apart his times of exercise for one, and his magazines -for the other, in the calm season of peace. We hope to live to a good -old age: Should we not, then, lay up a store of conveniences against -that time, when we shall be most in want of them, and least able to -procure them? We must die; nay, never start; we must. Are there not some -necessary things for us to transact before we depart; at least, some -trifle or other for us to bequeath, which a sudden stroke may prevent us -from doing? Sure there is. And if so, how inexcusable shall we be, if -we defer the execution of it till the alarm comes upon us. _I did not -think of it_, is an expression unworthy a wise man’s mouth; and was only -intended for the use of fools. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXIV._ - -The Discontented Ass. - -An Ass, in a hard winter, wished for a little warm weather, and a -mouthful of fresh grass to nap upon, in exchange for a heartless truss -of straw, and a cold lodging. In good time the warm weather and the -fresh grass came on; but so much toil and business along with it, that -the Ass grows quickly as sick of the spring as he was of the winter. He -next longs for summer; and when that comes, finds his toils and drudgery -greater than in the spring; and then he fancies he shall never be well -till autumn comes: but there again, what with carrying apples, grapes, -fuel, winter provisions, and such like, he finds himself in a greater -hurry than ever. In fine, when he has trod the circle of the year in a -course of restless labour, his last prayer is for winter again, and that -he may but take up his rest where he began his complaint. - - -MORALS. - - _The life of an unsteady man runs away in a course of vain - wishes, and unprofitable discontent; an unsettled mind can - never be at rest. There is no season without its business._ - - _Who lacks the pleasures of a tranquil mind,_ - _Will something wrong in every station find;_ - _His mind unsteady, and on changes bent,_ - _Is always shifting, yet is ne’er content._ - - -REFLECTION. - -There is no measure to be taken of an unsteady mind: but still it is -either too much or too little, too soon or too late. The love of novelty -begets and increases the love of novelty; and the oftener we change, the -more dangerous and troublesome do we find this itch of variety to be. The -Ass was sick of the winter, sicker yet of the spring, more sick still of -the summer; and sickest of all of the autumn; till he is brought, in the -end, to compound for his first condition again, and so take up with that -for his satisfaction, which he reckoned upon before for his misfortune. - -Thus it is, when fickle and foolish people will be prescribing to, and -refining upon, the wise and gracious appointments of the Maker of the -world. They know not what they _are_, and they know not what they _would -be_, any farther, than that they would not be what _they are_. Let their -present state in the world be what it will, there is still something or -other in it that makes their lives wearisome: and they are as peevish -company to themselves too, as they are to their friends and neighbours; -for there is not one circumstance in nature, but they shall find matter -to pick a quarrel at: the _present_ is only the course of so many moments -into time _to come_: were it not better then for people at first to sit -down contentedly in the post where Providence has placed them, and _to -do their duty in that state of life_, as they are early and excellently -taught, _to which it has pleased God to call them_, than be forced to do -it at last, by the dear bought experience of their follies? - -This, however, we say, not to bar honest industry, or a sober application -to those studies or means that may probably contribute to the mending of -a man’s fortune; provided that he set up his resolution beforehand, not -to let himself down below the dignity of a wise man, be the issue of his -endeavours what it will. For he that is not content at _present_, carries -the same weakness along with him to the _next remove_; and whoever either -passionately covets any thing that he has not, or feels himself glutted -with a satiety of what he possesses, has already lost his hold: so that -if we would be happy, we must fix upon some foundation that can never -deceive us, and govern ourselves by the measures of sobriety and justice. - -If we look round us in the world, and likewise examine our own hearts, -we shall find that one of the principal sources of our discontent, is -the making of a false estimate of our own and our neighbours’ abilities, -and thence drawing conclusions that lead us into difficulties. Does any -citizen hold a considerable office? Or is he eminent for his fortune? -That _envy_, inherent in our nature, prompts us to examine, by what -title he enjoys those benefits and distinctions, that lift him above -the level of the community; the same principle leads us to overlook, -in some measure, his good qualities, and greatly to exaggerate his bad -ones. We are tempted next to make a comparison between him and ourselves, -and by looking through the other end of the perspective, imagine that -the balance is greatly in our favour, and without further process or -examination conclude, that the world ought to abide by our decision; -hence the numberless disappointments we meet with; hence all the -uneasiness we feel in every stage and station of life. Were we to pay a -proper attention to that celebrated sentence of the Delphic oracle, - -“KNOW THYSELF,” - -we should experience fewer disappointments, become better members of -society, and enjoy a greater portion of that tranquillity of soul, that -internal serenity of mind, without which every station in life, however -garnished with honours, however loaded with riches, may be _pronounced -miserable_. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXV._ - -The Undutiful Young Lion. - -Among other good counsels that an old experienced Lion gave to his whelp, -this was one, that he should never contend with a man: for, says he, -if ever you do, you’ll be worsted. The little Lion gave his father the -hearing, and kept the advice in his thought, but it never went near his -heart. When he came to be grown up, afterwards, and in the flower of his -strength and vigour, about he ranges to look for a man to grapple with. -In his ramble he met with a yoke of oxen, and then with a horse, saddled -and bridled, and severally asked them if they were men; but they saying -they were not, he goes after this to one that was cleaving of blocks: -D’ye hear? says the Lion, you seem to be a man: And a man I am, says the -fellow. That’s well, quoth the Lion, and dare you fight with me? Yes, -says the man, I dare: why, I can tear all these blocks to pieces, you -see. Put your feet now into this gap, where you see an iron thing there, -and try what you can do. The Lion presently put his paws into the gaping -of the wood, and with one lusty pluck made it give way, and out drops the -wedge; the wood immediately closing upon it, there was the Lion caught by -the toes. The Wood-man presently upon this raises the country, and the -Lion finding what a strait he was in, gave one hearty twitch and got his -feet out of the trap, but left his claws behind him. So away he goes back -to his father, all lame and bloody, with this confession in his mouth: -Alas! my dear father, says he, _this had never been, if I had followed -your advice_. - - -MORALS. - - _The vengeance of Heaven, sooner or later, treads upon the - heels of wilful disobedience to parents._ - - _When wayward children in the pride of youth,_ - _Scorn wisdom’s precepts, and the curb of truth;_ - _Laugh at experience, and her sagest rules,_ - _And hold restraints the doting fits of fools;_ - _They thoughtless rush, where folly leads the way,_ - _Where evils throng, and vice holds lordly sway._ - _Yet hoary age by long experience knows,_ - _Where vices flourish, and where evil grows;_ - _With cautious fondness for the budding mind,_ - _Warns from the path, where ill with ill’s combin’d;_ - _Whilst heedless youth, in all the pomp of pride,_ - _Spurn at his prudence, and his laws deride._ - _A few short years disperse the dazzling shade,_ - _Which fame excited, and which transports made;_ - _Wearied and pall’d with pleasure’s fleeting joys,_ - _Which madness raves for, and which health destroys;_ - _Too late they find, by sage experience taught,_ - _The rules of age are with true wisdom fraught._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Children are not to reason upon obedience to parents, provided there be -nothing in the command, or in the imposition, that is simply evil; for -headstrong and undutiful children seldom escape a remarkable punishment, -which gives them reason to say to their parents, _this had never been, if -I had followed your advice_. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXVI._ - -The Countryman and Ass. - -An old fellow was feeding an Ass in a fine green meadow; and being -alarmed with the sudden approach of the enemy, was impatient with the Ass -to put himself forward, and fly with all the speed that he was able. The -Ass asked him, Whether or no he thought the enemy would clap two pair of -panniers upon his back? The man said, No, there was no fear of that. Why -then, says the Ass, I will not stir an inch; for what is it to me who my -master is, since I shall but carry my panniers as usual? - - -MORALS. - - _Men in a fright, or alarmed with the apprehensions of some - imminent danger to themselves, often fly for succour to those - from whom they have not deserved any. It is prudent so to - behave in our prosperity, as that we may make every one our - friend in times of adversity: for no one is exempted from the - mutability of fortune._ - - _The man that is poor may be void of all care,_ - _If there’s nothing to hope, he has nothing to fear:_ - _Whether stocks rise or fall, or whate’er be the news,_ - _He is sure not to win, and has nothing to lose._ - - -REFLECTION. - -This fable shows us how much in the wrong the poorer sort of people most -commonly are, when they are under any concern about the revolutions of a -government. All the alteration which they can feel is, perhaps, in the -name of their sovereign, or some such important trifle. But they cannot -well be poorer, or made to work harder than they did before. And yet how -are they sometimes imposed upon, and drawn in by the artifices of a few -mistaken or designing men, to foment factions, and raise rebellions, in -cases where they can get nothing by the success; but, if they miscarry, -are in danger of suffering an ignominious, untimely death. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXVII._ - -Joy and Sorrow. - -Joy and Sorrow, two twin-sisters, once quarrelled vehemently who should -have the preference; and being unable to decide the matter, left it to -_Minos_ to determine. He tried all means to make them agree and go hand -in hand together, as loving sisters ought; but finding his counsel had -no effect upon them, he decreed that they should be linked together in -a chain; and each of them in turn should be perpetually treading upon -the heel of the other; and not a pin matter then, says he, which goes -foremost. - - -MORALS. - - _No man is to presume in prosperity, or despair in adversity; - for good and ill fortune do as naturally succeed one another, - as day and night._ - - _The Gods one time, as poets feign,_ - _Would ~pleasure~ intermix with ~pain~;_ - _And perfectly incorporate so,_ - _As one from t’other none might know;_ - _That mortals might alike partake_ - _The Good and Evil which they make._ - - _In mighty bowl they put these twain,_ - _And stirr’d and stirr’d, but all in vain:_ - _~Pleasure~ would sometimes float aloft,_ - _And ~pain~ keep ~pleasure~ down as oft:_ - _Yet still from one another fly,_ - _Detesting either’s company._ - - _The Gods, who saw they sooner might_ - _Mix fire and water, day and night,_ - _Unanimously then decreed_ - _They should alternately succeed;_ - _Each other’s motions still pursue,_ - _And a perpetual round renew:_ - _Yet still divided should remain,_ - _Tho’ link’d together with a chain._ - - _Thence comes it that we never see_ - _A perfect bliss or misery;_ - _Each happiness has some alloy;_ - _And ~grief~ succeeded is by ~joy~._ - _The ~happiest~ mortal needs must own_ - _He has a time of ~sorrow~ known:_ - _Nor can the ~poorest~ wretch deny_ - _But in his life he felt a joy._ - - -REFLECTION. - -It is the lot of mankind to be happy and miserable by turns. The -wisdom of Providence will have it so; and it is exceedingly for our -advantage that so it should be. There is nothing pure and unmixed under -the heavens; and if there were, such an abstracted simplicity would -be neither nourishing nor profitable to us. By the mediation of this -mixture, we have the comfort of Hope to support us in our distresses, -and the apprehensions of a change to keep a check upon us in the very -pride of our greatness: so that by this vicissitude of _good_ and _evil_ -we are kept steady in our philosophy and in our religion. The one minds -us of God’s omnipotence and justice; the other, of His goodness and -mercy: the one tells us, there is no trusting to our own strength; the -other preaches faith and resignation in the prospect of an overruling -Providence that takes care of us. What is it but sickness that gives -us a taste of health? bondage, the relish of liberty? and what but the -experience of want that enhances the value of plenty? that which we call -ease is only an indolence or a freedom from pain; and there is no such -thing as felicity or misery but by comparison. It is very true, that -hopes and fears are the snares of life in some respects, but they are the -reliefs of it in others. Now for fear of the worst, however, on either -hand every man has it in his power, by the force of natural reason, to -avoid the danger of falling either into presumption or despair. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXVIII._ - -The Fox and the Ape. - -Once upon a time, the beasts were so void of reason as to choose an Ape -for their King. He had danced, and diverted them with playing antic -tricks, and truly nothing would serve but they must anoint him their -sovereign. Accordingly crowned he was, and affected to look very wise and -politic. But the Fox, vexed at his heart to see his fellow-brutes act so -foolishly, was resolved the first opportunity to convince them of their -sorry choice, and punish their jackanapes of a king for his presumption. -Soon after, spying a trap in a ditch, which was baited with a piece of -flesh, he went and informed the Ape of it, as a treasure, which, being -found upon the waste, belonged to his Majesty only. The Ape, dreaming -nothing of the matter, went very briskly to take possession, but had no -sooner laid his paws upon the bait, than he was caught in the trap; -where, betwixt shame and anger, he began to reproach the Fox, calling him -rebel and traitor, and threatening to be revenged of him. At all which -_Reynard_ laughed heartily; and going off, added, with a sneer, You a -king, and not understand trap! - - -MORALS. - - _When Apes are in power, Foxes will never be wanting to play - upon them._ - - _When nations raise an idiot to the throne,_ - _He shows the people’s weakness and his own._ - - -REFLECTION. - -A weak man should not aspire to be a king; for if he were, in the -end it would prove as inconvenient to himself, as disadvantageous to -the public. To be qualified for such an office—an office of the last -importance to mankind—the person should be of a distinguished prudence -and most unblemished integrity; too honest to impose upon others, and -too penetrating to be imposed upon; thoroughly acquainted with the laws -and genius of the realm he is to govern; brave, but not passionate; -good-natured, but not soft; aspiring at just esteem; despising -vain-glory; without superstition; without hypocrisy. When thrones have -been filled by people of a different turn from this, histories show what -a wretched figure they always made; what tools they were to particular -persons, and what plagues to their subjects in general. They who studied -their passions and entered into their foibles, led them by the nose as -they pleased; and took them off from the guardianship of the public, by -some paltry amusement, that themselves might have the better opportunity -to rifle and plunder it. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXXIX._ - -The Satyr and the Traveller. - -A Satyr, as he was ranging the Forest in an exceeding cold, snowy -season, met with a Traveller half-starved with the extremity of the -weather. He took compassion on him, and kindly invited him home, to a -warm comfortable cave he had in the hollow of a rock. As soon as they -had entered and sat down, notwithstanding there was a good fire in the -place, the chilly Traveller could not forbear blowing his finger ends. -Upon the Satyr’s asking him why he did so, he answered: That he did it -to warm his hands. The honest silvan having seen little of the world, -admired a man who was master of so valuable a quality as that of blowing -heat, and therefore was resolved to entertain him in the best manner he -could. He spread the table before him with dried fruits of several sorts; -and produced a remnant of old cordial wine, which, as the rigour of the -season made very proper, he mulled with some warm spices, infused over -the fire, and presented to his shivering guest. But this the Traveller -thought fit to blow likewise; and upon the Satyr’s demanding a reason -why he blowed again, he replied: To cool his dish. This second answer -provoked the Satyr’s indignation, as much as the first had kindled his -surprise. So, taking the man by the shoulder, he thrust him out of doors, -saying: He would have nothing to do with a wretch who had so vile a -quality as to blow hot and cold with the same mouth. - - -MORALS. - - _There is no conversing with any man that carries ~two faces - under one hood~._ - - _With such an inmate who would be perplext,_ - _One hour all coldness, and all heat the next!_ - _Who would his fev’rish shiv’ring fits endure?_ - _That ague of the heart, no drug can cure._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Though the poor Traveller in the Fable was not guilty of any real crime -in what he did, yet one cannot help approving the honest simplicity -of the Satyr, who could not be reconciled to such double dealing. In -the moral sense of the Fable, nothing can be more offensive to one of -a sincere heart, than he that blows with a different breath from the -same mouth; who flatters a man to his face, and reviles him behind his -back. Some again, just like this man, to serve a present view, will blow -nothing but what is warm, benevolent, and cherishing; and when they have -raised the expectations of a dependant to a degree which they think may -prove troublesome, can, with putting on a cold air, easily chill and -blast all his blooming hopes. But such a temper, whether it proceeds from -a designed or natural levity, is detestable, and has been the cause of -much trouble and mortification to many a brave deserving man. Unless the -tenor of a man’s life be always true and consistent with itself, the less -one has to do with him the better. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XL._ - -The Eagle, the Cat, and the Sow. - -An Eagle had built her nest upon the top branches of an old oak. A wild -Cat inhabited a hole in the middle; and in the hollow part at the bottom -was a Sow, with a whole litter of pigs. A happy neighbourhood; and might -long have continued so, had it not been for the wicked insinuations of -the designing Cat. For, first of all, up she crept to the Eagle; and, -good neighbour, says she, we shall be all undone: That filthy Sow yonder -does nothing but lie routing at the foot of the tree, and, as I suspect, -intends to grub it up, that she may the more easily come at our young -ones. For my part I will take care of my own concerns; you may do as you -please, but I will watch her motions, though I stay at home this month -for it. When she had said this, which could not fail of putting the -Eagle into a great fright, down she went, and made a visit to the Sow at -the bottom; and, putting on a sorrowful face, I hope, says she, you do -not intend to go abroad to-day? Why not? says the Sow. Nay, replies the -other, you may do as you please; but I overheard the Eagle tell her young -ones, that she would treat them with a pig the first time she saw you go -out; and I am not sure but she may take up with a kitten in the meantime; -so, good-morrow to you; you will excuse me, I must go and take care of -the little folks at home. Away she went accordingly; and, by contriving -to steal out softly at nights for her prey, and to stand watching and -peeping all day at her hole, as under great concern, she made such an -impression upon the Eagle and the Sow, that neither of them dared to -venture abroad for fear of the other. The consequence of which was, that -themselves, and their young ones, in a little time were all starved, and -made prize of by the treacherous Cat and her kittens. - - -MORALS. - - _There can be no peace in any state or family where whisperers - and tale-bearers are encouraged._ - - _Ill fares that neighbourhood, where sland’rers meet_ - _With easy faith to back their base deceit:_ - _From house to house the plague of discord spreads,_ - _And brings down ruin on their hapless heads._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Busy-bodies and intermeddlers are a dangerous sort of people to have to -do withal; for there is no mischief that may not be wrought by the craft -and management of a double tongue, with a foolish credulity to work upon. -There is hardly a greater pest to government, to conversation, to the -peace of societies, relations, and families, than officious tale-bearers -and busy intermeddlers. These pick-thanks are enough to set mankind -together by the ears; they live upon calumny and slander, and cover -themselves, too, under the seal of secrecy and friendship; these are -the people who _set their neighbours’ houses on fire to roast their own -eggs_. The sin of traducing is diabolical, according to the very letter; -and if the office be artificially managed, it is enough to put the whole -world into a flame, and nobody the wiser which way it came. The mischief -may be promoted, by misrepresenting, misunderstanding, or misinterpreting -our neighbour’s thoughts, words, and deeds; and no wound so mortal, as -that where the poison works under a pretence of kindness: nay, there are -ways of commendation, and insinuations of affection and esteem, that -kill a man as sure as a bullet. This practice is the bane of trust and -confidence; and it is as frequent in the intrigues of courts and states, -as in the most ordinary accidents of life. It is enough to break the -neck of all honest purposes, to stifle all generous and public-spirited -motions, and to suppress all honourable inclinations in the very -conception. But, next to the practice of these lewd offices, deliver all -honest men, say I, from lying at the mercy of those that encourage and -entertain them. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLI._ - -The Cock and the Fox. - -A Cock being perched among the branches of a lofty Tree, crowed aloud, -so that the shrillness of his voice echoed through the wood and invited -a Fox to the place, who was prowling in that neighbourhood, in quest of -his prey. But _Reynard_, finding the Cock was inaccessible, by reason -of the height of his situation, had recourse to stratagem, in order to -decoy him down; so, approaching the tree, Cousin, says he, I am heartily -glad to see you; but at the same time I cannot forbear expressing my -uneasiness at the inconvenience of the place, which will not let me pay -my respects to you in a handsomer manner; though I suppose you will come -down presently, and so that difficulty is easily removed. Indeed, Cousin, -says the Cock, to tell you the truth I don’t think it safe to venture -myself upon the ground, for though I am convinced how much you are my -friend, yet I may have the misfortune to fall into the clutches of some -other beast, and what will become of me then? O dear, says _Reynard_, is -it possible that you can be so ignorant, as not to know of the peace that -has been lately proclaimed between all kinds of birds and beasts; and -that we are, for the future, to forbear hostilities on all sides, and to -live in the utmost love and harmony, and that under penalty of suffering -the severest punishment that can be inflicted? All this while the Cock -seemed to give little attention to what was said, but stretched out his -neck, as if he saw something at a distance: Cousin, says the Fox, what’s -that you look at so earnestly? Why, says the Cock, I think I see a pack -of hounds yonder a little way off. Oh then, says the Fox, your humble -servant, I must be gone. Nay, pray, Cousin, don’t go, says the Cock, I’m -just coming down; sure you are not afraid of dogs in these peaceable -times. No, no, says he; but ten to one whether they have heard of the -proclamation yet. - - -MORALS. - - _Perfidious people are naturally to be suspected in reports - that favour their own interest._ - - _Take courage, hence, ye wise, nor dread deceit;_ - _Good sense and craft, how seldom do they meet!_ - _Tho’ keen, yet feeble, are the sharper’s tools,_ - _And cunning’s the peculiar gift of fools._ - - -REFLECTION. - -It is a very agreeable thing to see craft repelled by cunning; more -especially to behold the snares of the wicked broken and defeated by the -discreet management of the innocent. The moral of this Fable principally -puts us in mind, not to be too credulous towards the insinuations of -those who are already distinguished by their want of faith and honesty. -When, therefore, any such would draw us into a compliance with their -destructive measures, by a pretended civility and extraordinary concern -for our interest, we should consider such proposals in their true light, -as a bait artfully placed to conceal the fatal hook, which is intended to -draw us into captivity and thraldom. An honest man, with a little plain -sense, may do a thousand advantageous things for the public good; and, -without being master of much address or rhetoric, as easily convince -people that his designs are intended for their welfare. But a wicked -designing politician, though he has a tongue as eloquent as ever spoke, -may sometimes be disappointed in his projects and be foiled in his -schemes; especially when their destructive texture is so coarsely spun, -and the threads of mischief are so large in them, as to be seen even by -those whose senses are scarce perfect enough to see and understand them. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLII._ - -Age to be Honoured. - -A pert and inconsiderate young Man happened to meet an old Man, whose age -and infirmity had brought his body almost to the shape of a bent bow. -Pray, father, says he, will you sell your bow? Save your money, you fool, -says the other; for when you come to my years, you shall have such a bow -for nothing. - - -MORALS. - - _There cannot be a greater folly and impertinence, than that of - young men scoffing at the infirmities of age._ - - _Though vig’rous health thy tide of life sustains,_ - _And youthful manhood revels in thy veins:_ - _With rev’rend awe regard the bending sage,_ - _Nor thoughtless mock th’ infirmities of age._ - - -REFLECTION. - -We are all born to die, and it is every jot as certain that we shall go -out of the world, as that we are already come into it: we are helpless in -infancy; ungovernable in youth; our strength and vigour scarce outlast -a morning sun; our infirmities hasten upon us as our years advance, and -we grow helpless in our old age as in our infancy. What, then, have the -best of us to boast of? Even time and human frailty alone will bring us -to our end without the help of any accidents or distempers; so that our -decays are as much the works of nature, as the first principles of our -being; and the young man’s conceit of the crooked bow is no better than -an irreverent way of making sport with the course of Providence; besides -shewing the folly of scoffing at that in another which he himself was -sure to come to at last, or worse. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLIII._ - -The Splenetic Traveller. - -A splenetic and a facetious man were once upon a journey: the former went -slugging on with a thousand cares and troubles in his head, exclaiming -over and over: “Lord, what shall I do to live?” The other jogged merrily -away, and left his matters to Providence and good fortune. “Well, -brother,” says the sorrowful wight, “how can you be so frolicksome now? -As I am a sinner, my heart’s e’en ready to break for fear I should want -bread.” “Come, come,” says the other, “fall back, fall edge, I have fixed -my resolution, and my mind’s at rest.” “Ay, but for all that,” says the -other, “I have known the confidence of as resolute people as yourself -has deceived them in the conclusion;” and so the poor man fell into -another fit of doubting and musing, till he started out of it all on a -sudden: “Good Sir!” says he, “what if I should fall blind?” and so he -walked a good way before his companion with his eyes shut, to try how -it would be if that misfortune should befall him. In this interim, his -fellow-traveller, who followed him, found a purse of money upon the way, -which rewarded his trust in Providence; whereas the other missed that -encounter as a punishment of his distrust; for the purse had been his, as -he went first, if he had not put himself out of condition of seeing it. - - -MORALS. - - _He that commits himself to Providence is sure of a friend in - time of need; while an anxious distrust of the divine goodness - makes a man more and more unworthy of it, and miserable - beforehand for fear of being so afterwards._ - - _Who with vain fancies do themselves possess,_ - _Are never bless’d, or can never bless;_ - _Their life perplex’d, and fretful to no end—_ - _The truly wise on Providence depend._ - - -REFLECTION. - -The two opposite humours of a cheerful trust in Providence and a -suspicious diffidence of it, with the ordinary effects and consequences -of the one and the other, are very well set forth here for our -instruction and comfort. The Divine goodness never fails those that -depend upon it, provided that, according to the advice of _Hercules_ to -the _Carter_, they put their own shoulders to the work. - -The most wretched sort of people under the sun are your dreamers upon -events, your low-spirited foreboders, supposers, and putters of cases: -they are still calculating within themselves, what if this or that -calamity, judgment, or disaster should befall them? and so they really -suffer the evils they dread most. It is very certain, that what we _fear_ -we _feel_; besides that, fancy breeds misery as naturally as it does the -small-pox. Set a whimsical head once agog upon sprites and goblins, and -he will be ready to squirt his wits at his own shadow. There is no surer -remedy for this superstitious and desponding weakness, than first to -govern ourselves by the best improvement of that reason which Providence -has given us for a guide; and then, when we have done our own part, to -commit all cheerfully for the rest to the good pleasure of Heaven, with -trust and resignation. Why should I not as well comfort myself with the -_hope_ of what may be, as torment myself with the _fear_ of it? he that -distrusts in God’s providence, does effectually put himself out of His -protection. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLIV._ - -The Young Man and the Swallow. - -A prodigal young spendthrift, who had wasted his whole patrimony in -taverns and gaming-houses among lewd, idle company, was taking a -melancholy walk near a brook. It was in the month of _January_, and -happened to be one of those warm sunshiny days which sometimes smile -upon us even in that wintry season of the year; and to make it the more -flattering, a swallow, which had made its appearance by mistake too soon, -flew skimming along upon the surface of the water. The giddy youth, -observing this, without any further consideration, concluded that summer -was now come, and that he should have little or no occasion for clothes, -so went and pawned them at the broker’s, and ventured the money for one -stake more, among his sharping companions. When this too was gone the -same way with the rest, he took another solitary walk in the same place -as before. But the weather, being severe and frosty, had made everything -look with an aspect very different from what it did before: the brook was -quite frozen over, and the poor swallow lay dead upon the bank of it; the -very sight of which cooled the young spark’s brains, and coming to a kind -of sense of his misery, he reproached the deceased bird as the author of -all his misfortunes: Ah, wretch that thou wert! says he, thou hast undone -both thyself and me, who was so credulous as to depend upon thee. - - -MORALS. - - _Some will listen to no conviction but what they derive from - fatal experience._ - - _Still blind to reason, nature, and his God,_ - _~Youth~ follows ~pleasure~, till he feels the rod_ - _Of ~sad experience~, then bemoans his fate,_ - _Nor sees his ~folly~ till it is too late._ - - -REFLECTION. - -They who frequent taverns and gaming-houses, and keep bad company, -should not wonder if they are reduced, in a very small time, to penury -and want. The wretched young fellows who once addict themselves to such -a scandalous kind of life, scarce think of, or attend to, any one thing -besides. They seem to have nothing else in their heads, but how they may -squander what they have got, and where they may get more when that is -gone. They do not make the same use of their reason that other people -do; but, like the jaundiced eye, view everything in that false light in -which their distemper and debauchery represent it. The young man in the -Fable gives us a pretty example of this; he sees a swallow in the midst -of winter, and instead of being surprised at it, as a very irregular and -extraordinary thing, concludes from thence that it is summer, as if he -had never thought before about the season. Well, the result of this wise -conclusion is of a piece with the conclusion itself; if it is summer, he -shall not want so many clothes, therefore he sells them,—for what? For -more money to squander away; as if (had his observation been just) summer -would have lasted all the year round. But the true result and conclusion -of all this is: When both his money and clothes are irrecoverably gone, -he comes to his right senses, is ready to perish with hunger, to starve -with cold, and to tear his own flesh with remorse and vexation at his -former stupidity. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLV._ - -The Brother and Sister. - -A certain man had two children, a son and a daughter: The boy beautiful -and handsome enough; the girl not quite so well. They were both very -young, and happened one day to be playing near the looking-glass, which -stood on their mother’s toilet. The boy, pleased with the novelty of the -thing, viewed himself for some time, and, in a wanton roguish manner, -took notice to the girl how handsome he was. She resented it, and could -not bear the insolent manner in which he did it; for she understood it -(how could she do otherwise) as intended for a direct affront to her. -Therefore she ran immediately to her father, and, with a great deal of -aggravation, complained of her brother; particularly, for having acted -so effeminate a part as to look in a glass, and meddle with things which -belonged to women only. The father, embracing them both with much -tenderness and affection, told them, that he should like to have them -both look in the glass every day; to the intent that you, says he to the -boy, if you think that face of yours handsome, you may not disgrace and -spoil it by an ugly temper and a foul behaviour. You, says he, speaking -to the girl, that you may make up for the defects of your person, if -there be any, by the sweetness of your manners and the agreeableness of -your conversation. - - -MORALS. - - _We often make a false estimate in preferring our ornamental - talents to our useful ones._ - - _Ill manners may deform the fairest face,_ - _But gentleness gives ugliness a grace:_ - _Sure snarling ~Veny’s~ beauty less we prize,_ - _Than ~Pug’s~ black nose with his good-natured eyes._ - - -REFLECTION. - -There is scarce anything we see in the world, especially what belongs to -and hangs about our own person, but is capable of affording us matter for -some serious and useful consideration. And this Fable, notwithstanding -the scene of it is laid at the very beginning and entrance of life, yet -utters a doctrine worthy the attention of every stage and degree thereof, -from the child to the old man. Let each of us take a glass, and view -himself considerately. He that is vain and self-conceited, will find -beauties in every feature, and his whole shape will be without fault. -Let it be so; yet, if he would be complete, he must take care that the -inward man does not detract from and disgrace the outward; that the -depravity of his manners does not spoil his face, nor the wrongness of -his behaviour distort his limbs; or, which is the same thing, make his -whole person odious and detestable to the eye of his beholders. Is any -one modest in this respect, and deficient of himself? Or has he indeed -blemishes and imperfections, which may depreciate him in the sight of -mankind? Let him strive to improve the faculties of the mind, where -perhaps nature has not crampt him; and to excel in the beauties of a good -temper and an agreeable conversation, the charms of which are so much -more lasting and unalterably endearing, than those of the other sort. -They who are beautiful in person have this peculiar advantage, that, -with a moderate regard to complaisance and good manners, they bespeak -every one’s opinion in their favour. But then, be the outside of a man -ever so rough and uncouth, if his acquired accomplishments are but sweet -and engaging, how easily do we overlook the rest, and value him, like an -oriental jewel, not by a glittering outside, which is common to baser -stones, but by his true intrinsic worth, his bright imagination, his -clear reason, and the transparent sincerity of his honest heart. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLVI._ - -The Mice in Council. - -The Mice called a General Council; and, having met, after the doors were -locked, entered into a free consultation about ways and means how to -render their fortunes and estates more secure from the danger of the Cat. -Many things were offered, and much was debated, _pro_ and _con_, upon the -matter. At last a young Mouse, in a fine florid speech, concluded upon an -expedient, and that the only one, which was to put them, for the future, -entirely out of the power of the enemy: and this was, that the Cat should -wear a bell about her neck, which upon the least motion would give the -alarm, and be a signal for them to retire into their holes. This speech -was received with great applause, and it was even proposed by some, that -the Mouse who made it should have the thanks of the assembly. Upon -which, an old grave Mouse, who had sat silent all the while, stood up, -and in another speech, owned that the contrivance was admirable, and the -author of it, without doubt, an ingenious Mouse; but, he said, he thought -it would not be so proper to vote him thanks, till he should farther -inform them how this bell was to be fastened about the Cat’s neck, and -what Mouse would undertake to do it. - - -MORALS. - - _The different lights, in which things appear to different - judgments, recommend candour to the opinions of others, even at - the time we retain our own._ - - _Not urged by vain ~ambition’s~ airy dreams,_ - _Or specious ~wit~, does ~wisdom~ form her schemes,_ - _Poise well the scales, with due ~reflection~ scan_ - _The ~means proposed~, and then adopt a plan._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Many things appear feasible in speculation, which are afterwards found -to be impracticable. And since the execution of anything is that which -is to complete and finish its very existence, what raw counsellors are -those who advise, what precipitate politicians those who proceed, to -the management of things in their nature incapable of answering their -own expectations, or their promises to others. At the same time, the -Fable teaches us not to expose ourselves in any of our little politic -coffee-house committees, by determining what should be done upon every -occurrence of maladministration, when we have neither commission -nor power to execute it. He that, upon such occasion, adjudges, as a -preservative for the state, that this or that should be applied to the -neck of those who have been enemies to it, will appear full as ridiculous -as the Mouse in the Fable, when the question is asked, Who shall put it -there? In reality we do but expose ourselves to the hatred of some, and -the contempt of others, when we inadvertently utter our impracticable -speculations, in respect of the public, either in private company or -authorised assemblies. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLVII._ - -The Old Man and Death. - -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 troubles. 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 -frightened 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. - - -MORALS. - - _Men under calamity may seem to wish for death; but they seldom - bid him welcome when he stares them in the face._ - - _“Oh with what joy would I resign my breath!”_ - _The wretch exclaims, and prays for instant death:_ - _The fiend approaching, he inverts his pray’r,_ - _“Oh grant me life, and double all my care!”_ - - -REFLECTION. - -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 accident -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 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. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLVIII._ - -The Crow and the Pitcher. - -A Crow, ready to die with thirst, flew with joy to a pitcher which he -beheld at some distance. When he came, he found water in it indeed, but -so near the bottom, that with all his stooping and straining, he was not -able to reach it. Then he endeavoured to overturn the pitcher, that so at -least he might be able to get a little of it; but his strength was not -sufficient for this. At last, seeing some pebbles lie near the place, he -cast them one by one into the pitcher; and thus, by degrees, raised the -water up to the very brim, and satisfied his thirst. - - -MORALS. - - _What we cannot compass by force, we may by invention and - industry._ - - _When ~frowning~ fates thy sanguine ~hopes~ defeat,_ - _And virtuous aims with ~disappointment~ meet,_ - _Submit not to ~despair~, th’ attempt renew,_ - _And rise ~superior~ to the ~vulgar~ crew_. - - -REFLECTION. - -Many things which cannot be effected by strength, or by the old vulgar -way of enterprising, may yet be brought about by some new and untried -means. A man of sagacity and penetration, upon encountering a difficulty -or two, does not immediately despair; but if he cannot succeed one -way, employs his wit and ingenuity another; and, to avoid or get over -an impediment, makes no scruple of stepping out of the path of his -forefathers. Since our happiness, next to the regulation of our minds, -depends altogether upon our having and enjoying the conveniences of life, -why should we stand upon ceremony about the methods of obtaining them, -or pay any deference to antiquity upon that score? If almost every age -had not exerted itself in some new improvements of its own, we should -want a thousand arts; or, at least, many degrees of perfection in every -art, which at present we are in possession of. The invention of anything -which is more commodious for the mind or body than what they had before, -ought to be embraced readily, and the projector of it distinguished with -a suitable encouragement. Such as the use of the compass, for example, -from which mankind reaps so much benefit and advantage, and which was -not known to former ages. When we follow the steps of those who have -gone before us in the old beaten tract of life, how do we differ from -horses in a team, which are linked to each other by a chain of harness, -and move on in a dull, heavy pace to the tune of their leader’s bells? -But the man who enriches the present fund of knowledge with some new -and useful improvement, like a happy adventurer at sea, discovers, as -it were, an unknown land, and imports an additional trade into his own -country. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XLIX._ - -The Fox and the Grapes. - -A Fox, very hungry, chanced to come into a Vineyard, where there hung -many bunches of charming ripe grapes; but nailed up to a trellis so high, -that he leaped till he quite tired himself without being able to reach -one of them. At last, Let who will take them! says he; they are but green -and sour; so I’ll even let them alone. - - -MORALS. - - _When a man finds it impossible to obtain the things he longs - for, it is a mark of sound wisdom and discretion to make a - virtue of necessity._ - - _Old maids who loathe the matrimonial state,_ - _Poor rogues who laugh to scorn the rich and great,_ - _Patriots who rail at placemen and at pow’r,_ - _All, like sly ~Reynard~, say “~The Grapes are sour.~”_ - - -REFLECTION. - -This Fable is a good reprimand to a parcel of vain coxcombs in the world, -who, because they would never be thought to be disappointed in any of -their pursuits, pretend a dislike to everything which they cannot obtain. -There is a strange propensity in mankind to this temper, and there are -numbers of grumbling malcontents in every different faculty and sect in -life. The discarded statesman, considering the corruption of the times, -would not have any hand in the administration of affairs for all the -world. The country squire damns a court life, and would not go cringing -and creeping to a drawing-room for the best place the King has in his -disposal. A young fellow, being asked how he liked a celebrated beauty, -by whom all the world knew he was despised, answered, She had a stinking -breath. How insufferable is the pride of this poor creature man! who -would stoop to the basest, vilest actions, rather than be thought not -able to do anything. For what is more base and vile than lying? And when -do we lie more notoriously, than when we disparage and find fault with a -thing for no other reason but because it is out of our power. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE L._ - -The Viper and the File. - -A Viper entering a smith’s shop, looked up and down for something to eat, -and seeing a File, fell to gnawing it as greedily as could be. The File -told him, very gruffly, that he had best be quiet and let him alone; for -that he would get very little by nibbling at one, who, upon occasion, -could bite iron and steel. - - -MORALS. - - _It’s the fate of envy to attack those characters that are - superior to its malice._ - - _Witlings! beware, nor wantonly provoke_ - _Those who with int’rest may repay the joke;_ - _Some claim our pity who fall preys to wit,_ - _But all men triumph o’er the ~Biter Bit~._ - - -REFLECTION. - -By this Fable we are cautioned to consider what any person is, before -we make an attack upon him after any manner whatsoever: Particularly -how we let our tongues slip in censuring the actions of those who are, -in the opinion of the world, not only of an unquestioned reputation, so -that nobody will believe what we insinuate against them; but of such -an influence, upon account of their own veracity, that the least word -from them would ruin our credit to all intents and purposes. If wit be -the case, and we have a satirical vein, which at certain periods must -have a flow, let us be cautious at whom we level it; for if the person’s -understanding be of better proof than our own, all our ingenious sallies, -like liquor squirted against the wind, will recoil back upon our own -faces, and make us the ridicule of every spectator. This Fable, besides, -is not an improper emblem of Envy; which, rather than not bite at all, -will fall foul where it can hurt nothing but itself; and such is its -malignancy, that the greatest wits and brightest characters in all ages -have ever been the objects of its attack. Ought we not, then, to guard -against the admission of an inmate that not only attempts to injure the -virtuous part of mankind, but also effectually ruins the peace of its -possessor? - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LI._ - -The Mountains in Labour. - -The Mountains were said to be in labour, and uttered most dreadful -groans. People came together, far and near, to see what birth would be -produced; and after they had waited a considerable time in expectation, -out crept a mouse. - - -MORALS. - - _To raise uncommon expectations renders an ordinary event - ridiculous._ - - _Thus the vain Alchymist, in promise bold,_ - _Beholds projection big with MINES of GOLD:_ - _But now, his glasses burst, he thinks him rich_ - _To save ~a little oil to cure the itch~._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Great cry and little wool, is the _English_ proverb; the sense of which -bears an exact proportion to this Fable. By which are exposed, all those -who promise something exceeding great, but come off with a production -ridiculously little. Projectors of all kinds, who endeavour by artificial -rumours to raise the expectations of mankind, and then by their mean -performances defeat and disappoint them, have, time out of mind, been -lashed with the recital of this Fable. How agreeably surprising is -it to see an unpromising favourite, whom the caprice of fortune has -placed at the helm of state, serving the commonwealth with justice and -integrity, instead of smothering and embezzling the public treasure to -his own private and wicked ends! And on the contrary, how melancholy, -how dreadful! or rather, how exasperating and provoking a sight is it to -behold one, whose constant declarations for liberty and the public good -have raised people’s expectations of him to the highest pitch, as soon -as he is got into power exerting his whole art and cunning to ruin and -enslave his country! The sanguine hopes of all those that wished well to -virtue, and flattered themselves with a reformation of everything that -opposed the well-being of the community, vanish away in smoke, and are -lost in a dark, gloomy, uncomfortable prospect. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LII._ - -The Two Frogs. - -One hot sultry summer, the lakes and ponds being almost everywhere dried -up, a couple of Frogs agreed to travel together in search of water. At -last they came to a deep well, and sitting upon the brink of it, began -to consult, whether they should leap in or no. One of them was for it; -urging, that there was plenty of clear spring water, and no danger of -being disturbed. Well, says t’other, all this may be true; and yet I -can’t come into your opinion for my life: For, if the water should happen -to dry up here too, how should we get out again? - - -MORALS. - - _We ought never to change our situation in life, without duly - considering the consequences of such a change._ - - _On things of ~moment~ with thyself debate._ - _Nor, inconsiderate, ~change~ thy present state,_ - _Nor on the ~specious good~ lay too much stress,_ - _Lest ~greater~ Ills incur, in shunning ~less~._ - - -REFLECTION. - -The moral of this Fable is intended to put us in mind _to look before we -leap_. That we should not undertake any action of importance, without -considering first, what the event of it is like to prove, and how we -shall be able to come off, upon such and such provisos. A good General -does not think he diminishes anything of his character when he looks -forward, beyond the main action, and concerts measures, in case there -should be occasion, for a safe retreat. - -How many unfortunate matches are struck up every day for want of this -wholesome consideration? Profuse living, and extravagant gaming, both -which terminate in the ruin of those that follow them, are mostly owing -to a neglect of this precaution. Wicked counsellors advise, and ignorant -princes execute those things, which afterwards they often dearly repent. -Wars are begun by this blind stupidity, from which a state is not able -to extricate itself with either honour or safety; and projects are -encouraged by the rash accession of those, who never considered how they -were to get out, till they had plunged themselves irrecoverably into -them. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LIII._ - -The Thief and the Dog. - -A thief coming to rob a certain house in the night, was disturbed in his -attempts by a fierce vigilant dog who kept barking at him continually. -Upon which the thief, thinking to stop his mouth, threw him a piece of -bread: But the dog refused it with indignation; telling him, that before, -he only suspected him to be a bad man; but now, upon his offering to -bribe him, he was confirmed in his opinion; and that, as he was entrusted -with the guardianship of his master’s house, he should never cease -barking while such a rogue as he lay lurking about it. - - -MORALS. - - _Nothing can alter the honest purposes of the man, who despises - an insidious bribe; and whose mind is proof against temptation._ - - _~Faithful~ to ~man~, and to thy conscience ~just~,_ - _~Spurn~ him who ~tempts~ thee to ~betray~ thy trust._ - _An ~honest mind’s~ the choicest gift of ~heav’n~,_ - _How ~blest~ to whom th’ ~etherial spark~ is given!_ - - -REFLECTION. - -A man who is very free in his protestations of friendship, or offers -of great civility, upon the first interview may meet with applause and -esteem from fools, but contrives his schemes of that sort to little or no -purpose, in the company of men of sense. - -It is a common and known maxim, to suspect an enemy, even the more, for -his endeavouring to convince us of his benevolence; because the oddness -of the thing puts us upon our guard, and makes us conclude, that some -pernicious design must be couched under so sudden and unexpected a turn -of behaviour: But it is no unnecessary caution to be upon the watch -against even indifferent people, when we perceive them uncommonly forward -in their approaches of civility and kindness. The man, who at first sight -makes us an offer, which is due only to particular and well-acquainted -friends, must be either a knave, and intends by such a bait to draw -us into his net; or a fool, with whom we ought to avoid having any -communication. - -Thus far the consideration of this Fable may be useful to us in private -life; what it contains farther, in relation to the public, is, That a -man, truly honest, will never let his mouth be stopped with a bribe; -but the greater the offer is which is designed to buy his silence, the -louder and more constantly will he open against the miscreants who would -practise it upon him. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LIV._ - -Hercules and the Carter. - -As a clownish fellow was driving his Cart along a deep miry lane, the -wheels stuck so fast in the clay, that the horses could not draw them -out. Upon this, he fell a bawling and praying to _Hercules_ to come and -help him. _Hercules_ looking down from a cloud, bid him not lie there, -like an idle rascal as he was, but get up and whip his horses stoutly, -and clap his shoulder to the wheel, adding, That this was the only way -for him to obtain his assistance. - - -MORALS. - - _Prayers and wishes amount to nothing: We must put forth our - own honest endeavours to obtain success on the assistance of - heaven._ - - _Inactive wishes are but waste of time,_ - _And, without efforts, pray’rs themselves a crime:_ - _Vain are their hopes who miracles expect,_ - _And ask from heaven what themselves neglect._ - - -REFLECTION. - -This Fable shews us how vain and ill-grounded the expectations of those -people are, who imagine they can obtain whatever they want by importuning -heaven with their prayers; for it is so agreeable to the nature of the -Divine Being, to be better pleased with virtuous actions and an honest -industry, than idle Prayers, that it is a sort of blasphemy to say -otherwise. These were the sentiments of honest good heathens, who were -strangers to all revealed religion: But it is not strange that they -should embrace and propagate such a notion, since it is no other than the -dictate of common reason. What is both strange in itself, and surprising -how it could be made so fashionable, is, that most of those whose reason -should be enlightened by Revelation, are very apt to be guilty of this -stupidity, and, by praying often for the comforts of life, to neglect -that business which is the proper means of procuring them. How such a -mistaken devotion came to prevail, one cannot imagine, unless from one -of these two motives; either that people, by such a veil of hypocrisy, -would pass themselves upon mankind for better than they really are; -or are influenced by unskilful preachers (which is sometimes, indeed -too often, the case) to mind the world as little as possible, even to -the neglect of their necessary callings. No question but it is a great -sin for a man to fail in his trade or occupation, by running often to -prayers: it being a demonstration in itself, though the Scripture had -never said it, that we please God most, when we are doing the most good: -And how can we do more good, than by a sober honest industry, _to provide -for those of our own household_, and to endeavour _to have to give to -him that needeth_. The man who is virtuously and honestly engaged, is -actually serving God all the while, and is more likely to have his silent -wishes, accompanied with strenuous endeavours, complied with by the -Supreme Being, than he who begs with a fruitless vehemence, and solicits -with an empty hand: A hand which would be more religious were it usefully -employed, and more devout, were it stretched forth to do good to those -that want it. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LV._ - -The Sick Kite. - -A Kite had been sick a long time; and finding there were no hopes of -recovery, begged of his mother to go to all the churches and religious -houses in the country, to try what prayers and promises would effect in -his behalf. The old Kite replied: Indeed, dear Son, I would willingly -undertake anything to save your life, but I have great reason to despair -of doing you any service in the way you propose: For, with what face can -I ask anything of the Gods in favour of one whose whole life has been a -continued scene of rapine and injustice, and who has not scrupled upon -occasion to rob the very altars themselves? - - -MORALS. - - _After a long life spent in acts of impiety and wickedness, we - may justly suspect the sincerity of a death-bed repentance._ - - _Thus early sinning, and repenting late,_ - _The dying debauchee would bribe his fate;_ - _Pray’rs, alms, and promises he tries in vain,_ - _Not sick of follies past, but present pain._ - - -REFLECTION. - -The rehearsal of this Fable almost unavoidably draws our attention to -that very serious and important point, the consideration of a death-bed -repentance. And, to expose the absurdity of relying upon such a weak -foundation, we need only ask the same question with the Kite in the -Fable: How can he, that has offended the Gods all his life-time by doing -acts of dishonour and injustice, expect that they should be pleased with -him at last, for no other reason but because he fears he shall not be -able to offend them any longer; when, in truth, such a repentance can -signify nothing, but a confirmation of his former impudence and folly? -For sure no stupidity can exceed that of the man who expects a future -judgment, and yet can bear to commit any piece of injustice, with a sense -and deliberation of the fact. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LVI._ - -The Two Pots. - -An earthen pot and one of brass, standing together upon the river’s -brink, were both carried away by the flowing in of the tide. The earthen -pot showed some uneasiness, as fearing he should be broken; but his -companion of brass bid him be under no apprehensions, for that he would -take care of him. Oh! replies the other, keep as far off as ever you can, -I entreat you; it is you I am most afraid of: For, whether the stream -dashes you against me, or me against you, I am sure to be the sufferer; -and therefore, I beg of you, do not let us come near one another. - - -MORALS. - - _Reciprocal pleasure and advantage is the only rational - foundation for real friendship._ - - _Born to the comforts of an humble state,_ - _Fly their embrace, if courted by the great._ - _Happy to learn, how ill you can afford_ - _The vast expense of how-d’yes from my lord._ - - -REFLECTION. - -A man of a moderate fortune, who is contented with what he has, and finds -he can live happily upon it, should take care not to hazard and expose -his felicity by consorting with the great and the powerful. People of -equal conditions may float down the current of life without hurting each -other; but it is a point of some difficulty to steer one’s course in the -company of the great, so as to escape without a bulge. One would not -choose to have one’s little country-box situated in the neighbourhood -of a very great man; for whether I ignorantly trespass upon him, or he -knowingly encroaches upon me, I only am like to be the sufferer. I can -neither entertain nor play with him upon his own terms; for that which is -moderation and diversion to him, in me would be extravagance and ruin. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LVII._ - -The Sparrow and the Hare. - -A Hare, being seized by an Eagle, squeaked out in a most woful manner. -A Sparrow that sat upon a tree just by and saw it, could not forbear -being unseasonably witty, but called out, and said to the Hare: So ho! -what! sit there and be killed? Pr’ythee, up and away; I dare say, if you -would but try, so swift a creature as you are would easily escape from -the Eagle. As he was going on with his cruel raillery, down came a Hawk, -and snapt him up; and, notwithstanding his vain cries and lamentations, -fell a devouring of him in an instant. The Hare, who was just expiring, -yet received comfort from this accident, even in the agonies of death; -and, addressing her last words to the Sparrow, said: You, who just now -insulted my misfortune with so much security, as you thought, may please -to shew us how well you can bear the like, now it has befallen you. - - -MORALS. - - _The mutability of human affairs is such, that no situation, - however seemingly advantageous, ought to make us jest with the - misfortunes of others._ - - _Tradesman, insult not, if a neighbour fail._ - _Lest, by and by, yourself should go to jail;_ - _Nor, if a damsel slip, Prude, shake your head,_ - _Lest you yourself next month be brought to bed._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Nothing is more impertinent than for people to be giving their opinion -and advice in cases in which, were they to be their own, themselves would -be as much at a loss what to do. But so great an itch have most men to -be directors in the affairs of others, either to shew the superiority of -their understanding, or their own security and exemption from the ills -they would have removed, that they forwardly and conceitedly obtrude -their counsel, even at the hazard of their own safety and reputation. -There have been instances of those who, either officiously or for the -jest’s sake, have spent much of their time in reading lectures of economy -to the rest of the world, when at the same time their own ill husbandry -has been such, that they were forced to quit their dwelling and take -lodgings, while their goods were sold to make a composition for the debts -which they owed to petty tradesmen. - -Without giving more examples of this kind, of which every one may furnish -himself with enough from his own observation, we cannot but conclude that -none are greater objects of ridicule than they who thus merrily assume a -character which, at the same time, by some incidents of their life, they -convince us of their being so unfit for. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LVIII._ - -The Cat and the Fox. - -As the Cat and the Fox were talking politics together, on a time, in -the middle of the forest, _Reynard_ said, Let things turn out ever so -bad, he did not care, for he had a thousand tricks for them yet before -they should hurt him. But pray, says he, Mrs Puss, suppose there should -be an invasion, what course do you design to take? Nay, says the Cat, -I have but one shift for it; and if that won’t do, I am undone. I am -sorry for you, replies _Reynard_, with all my heart, and would gladly -furnish you with one or two of mine, but indeed, neighbour, as times go, -it is not good to trust; we must even be every one for himself, as the -saying is, and so your humble servant. These words were scarce out of his -mouth, when they were alarmed with a pack of hounds that came upon them -full cry. The Cat, by the help of her single shift, ran up a tree, and -sat securely among the top branches; from whence she beheld _Reynard_, -who had not been able to get out of sight, overtaken with his thousand -tricks, and torn in as many pieces by the dogs which had surrounded him. - - -MORALS. - - _Successful cunning often makes an ostentatious pretension to - wisdom._ - - _The sly politician may boast of his arts,_ - _How his budget is full, and by cunning he’s guided;_ - _But the wise and the wary, less proud of his parts,_ - _With a single expedient is better provided._ - - -REFLECTION. - -A man that sets up for more cunning than the rest of his neighbours, is -generally a silly fellow at the bottom. Whoever is master of a little -judgment and insight into things, let him keep them to himself and make -use of them as he sees occasion; but he should not be teasing others -with an idle and impertinent ostentation of them. One good discreet -expedient made use of upon an emergency, will do a man more real service, -and make others think better of him, than to have passed all along for a -shrewd, crafty knave, and be bubbled at last. When any one has been such -a coxcomb as to insult his acquaintance, by pretending to more policy -and stratagem than the rest of mankind, they are apt to wish for some -difficulty for him to shew his skill in; where, if he should miscarry -(as ten to one but he does), his misfortune, instead of pity, is sure to -be attended with laughter. He that sets up for a biter, as the phrase -is, being generally intent upon his prey, or vain of shewing his art, -frequently exposes himself to the traps of one sharper than himself, and -incurs the ridicule of those whom he designed to make ridiculous. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LIX._ - -The Old Hound. - -An old Hound, who had been an excellent good one in his time, and given -his master great sport and satisfaction in many a chase, at last, by -the effect of years, became feeble and unserviceable. However, being in -the field one day, when the Stag was almost run down, he happened to be -the first that came in with him, and seized him by one of his haunches; -but, his decayed and broken teeth not being able to keep their hold, the -Deer escaped, and threw him quite out. Upon which, his master, being in -a great passion, was going to strike him, when the honest old creature -is said to have barked out his apology: Ah! do not strike your poor old -servant; it is not my heart and inclination, but my strength and speed -that fail me. If what I now am displeases, pray don’t forget what I have -been. - - -MORALS. - - _Useful services, performed in youth, ought not to be cancelled - by old age and infirmities._ - - _Oh let not those whom honest servants bless,_ - _With cruel hand their age infirm oppress;_ - _Forget their service past, their former truth,_ - _And all the cares and labours of their youth._ - - -REFLECTION. - -This Fable may serve to give us a general view of the ingratitude -of the greatest part of mankind. Notwithstanding all the civility -and complaisance that is used among people where there is a common -intercourse of business, yet, let the main spring, the probability of -their being serviceable to each other, either in point of pleasure or -profit, be but once broken, and farewell courtesy. So far from continuing -any regard in behalf of past favours, that it is very well if they -forbear doing anything that is injurious. If the master had only ceased -to caress and make much of the old Hound when he was past doing any -service, it had not been very strange; but to treat a poor creature ill, -not for a failure of inclination, but merely a defect of nature, must, -notwithstanding the crowd of examples there are to countenance it, be -pronounced inhuman and unreasonable. - -There are two accounts upon which people that have been useful are -frequently neglected. One, when they are so decayed, either through age -or some accident, that they are no longer equal to the services they have -formerly done; the other, when the occasion or emergency which required -such talents no longer exists. _Phædrus_, who more than once complains of -the bad consequences of age, makes no other application to this Fable, -than by telling his friend _Philetas_, with some regret, that he wrote it -with such a view; having, it seems, been repaid with neglect, or worse -usage, for services done in his youth to those who were then able to -afford him a better recompense. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LX._ - -Two Young Men and the Cook. - -Two young men went into a cook’s shop, under pretence of buying meat; -and while the cook’s back was turned, one of them snatched up a piece -of beef, and gave it to his companion, who presently clapt it under his -cloak. The cook turning about again, and missing his beef, began to -charge them with it; upon which, he that first took it swore bitterly -he had none of it. He that had it swore as heartily, that he had taken -up none of his meat. Why look ye, gentlemen, says the cook, I see your -equivocation; and though I can’t tell which of you has taken my meat, I -am sure, between you both, there’s a thief, and a couple of rascals. - - -MORALS. - - _Evading the truth is just as blameable as denying it._ - - _Thus quibbling thieves evade the charge,_ - _Offend the laws, and go at large:_ - _But though ’tis hard the crime to fix,_ - _We know they’re guilty by their tricks._ - - -REFLECTION. - -An honest man’s word is as good as his oath; and so is a rogue’s too; for -he that will cheat and lie, why should he scruple to forswear himself? Is -the latter more criminal than either of the former? An honest man needs -no oath to oblige him; and a rogue only deceives you the more certainly -by it, because you think you have tied him up, and he is sure you have -not. In truth, it is not easy, with the eye of reason, to discern, that -there is any good in swearing at all. We need not scruple to take an -honest man’s bare asseveration; and we shall do wrong if we believe a -rogue, though he swears by the most solemn oaths that can be invented. - -There are, besides, a sort of people who are rogues, and yet don’t know -that they are such; who, when they have taken an oath, make a scruple of -breaking it, but rack their invention to evade it by some equivocation -or other; by which, if they can but satisfy their acquaintance, and serve -their own scheme they think all is well, and never once consider the -black and heinous guilt which must attend such a behaviour. They solemnly -call the supreme Being to witness; to what? to a sham, an evasion, a lie. -Thus these unthinking, prevaricating wretches, at the same time that they -believe there is a God, act as if there were none; or, which is worse, -dare affront him in the highest degree. They who by swearing would clear -themselves of a crime, of which they are really guilty, need not be at -much pains about wording their oath; for, express themselves how they -will, they are sure to be forsworn. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LXI._ - -The Dog and the Sheep. - -The Dog sued the Sheep for a debt, of which the Kite and the Wolf were -to be judges. They, without debating long upon the matter, or making -any scruple for want of evidence, gave sentence for the plaintiff; who -immediately tore the poor Sheep in pieces, and divided the spoil with the -unjust judges. - - -MORALS. - - _We cannot reasonably hope for justice in a court, where the - judges are interested in the decision._ - - _Whose life is safe, if tried before a judge,_ - _That to the hapless pris’ner bears a grudge?_ - _Whose property secur’d from lawless fury,_ - _If any private int’rest warps the jury?_ - - -REFLECTION. - -Deplorable are the times, when open bare-faced villany is protected and -encouraged, when innocence is obnoxious, honesty contemptible, and it is -reckoned criminal to espouse the cause of virtue. Men originally entered -into covenants and simple compacts with each other for the promotion of -their happiness and well-being, for the establishment of justice and -public peace. How comes it then that they look stupidly on, and tamely -acquiesce, when wicked men pervert this end, and establish an arbitrary -tyranny of their own upon the foundation of fraud and oppression? Among -beasts, who are incapable of being civilised by social laws, it is no -strange thing to see innocent helpless sheep fall a prey to dogs, wolves, -and kites: But it is amazing how mankind could ever sink down to such a -low degree of base cowardice, as to suffer some of the worst of their -species to usurp a power over them, to supersede the righteous laws of -good government, and to exercise all kinds of injustice and hardship -in gratifying their own vicious lusts. Wherever such enormities are -practised, it is when a few rapacious statesmen combine together, to get -and secure the power in their own hands, and agree to divide the spoils -among themselves. For as long as the cause is to be tried only among -themselves, no question but they will always vouch for each other. But, -at the same time, it is hard to determine which resemble brutes most, -they in acting, or the people in suffering them to act their vile selfish -schemes. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LXII._ - -The Proud Frog. - -An Ox, grazing in a meadow, chanced to set his foot among a parcel of -young frogs, and trod one of them to death. The rest informed their -mother, when she came home, what had happened; telling her, that the -beast which did it was the hugest creature that ever they saw in their -lives. What, was it so big? says the old Frog, swelling and blowing up -her speckled belly to a great degree. Oh, bigger by a vast deal, say -they. And so big? says she, straining herself yet more. Indeed, Mamma, -say they, if you were to burst yourself, you would never be so big. She -strove yet again, and burst herself indeed. - - -MORALS. - - _The silly ambition of vying with our superiors, in station and - fortune, is the direct road to ruin._ - - _Ye cits! of narrow means and small estate,_ - _View not with envy the luxurious great:_ - _Think that from riot bankruptcies will come,_ - _And mark your prudent neighbour worth a plum._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Whenever a man endeavours to live equal with one of a greater fortune -than himself, he is sure to share a like fate with the Frog in the Fable. -How many vain people of moderate easy circumstances burst and come to -nothing, by vying with those whose estates are more ample than their own! -Sir _Changeling Plumbstock_ was possessed of a very considerable demesne, -devolved to him by the death of an old uncle of the city, who had adopted -him his heir. He had a false taste of happiness; and, without the least -economy, trusting to the sufficiency of his vast revenue, was resolved to -be outdone by nobody, in shewish grandeur and expensive living. He gave -five thousand pounds for a piece of ground in the country, to set a house -upon, the building and furniture of which cost fifty thousand more; and -his gardens were proportionably magnificent. Besides which, he thought -himself under a necessity of buying out two or three tenements which -stood in his neighbourhood, that he might have elbow room enough. All -this he could very well bear; and still might have been happy, had it not -been for an unfortunate view which he one day happened to take of my Lord -_Castlebuilder’s_ gardens, which consist of twenty acres, whereas his own -were not above twelve. For from that time he grew pensive; and before the -ensuing winter, gave five and thirty years’ purchase for a dozen acres -more to enlarge his gardens, built a couple of exorbitant greenhouses -and a large pavilion at the farther end of a terrace walk, the bare -repairs and superintendencies of all which call for the remaining part of -his income. He is mortgaged pretty deep, and pays nobody; but, being a -privileged person, resides altogether at a private cheap lodging in the -city of _Westminster_. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LXIII._ - -The Dove and the Bee. - -The Bee, compelled by thirst, went to drink in a clear purling rivulet; -but the current, with its circling eddy, snatched her away, and carried -her down the stream. A Dove, pitying her distressed condition, cropt a -branch from a neighbouring tree, and let it fall into the water, by means -of which the Bee saved herself, and got ashore. Not long after, a Fowler, -having a design upon the Dove, planted his nets and all his little -artillery in due order, without the Bird’s observing what he was about; -which the Bee perceiving, just as he was going to put his design in -execution she bit him by the heel, and made him give so sudden a start, -that the Dove took the alarm, and flew away. - - -MORALS. - - _Charity will have its rewards one time or other; for certain - in the promised recompense hereafter, perhaps in a grateful - return here._ - - _Hail gratitude! the spark whence virtue springs,_ - _And adoration to the King of kings;_ - _The greatest bliss the feeling bosom knows,_ - _The source whence every gen’rous action flows._ - - -REFLECTION. - -One good turn deserves another; and gratitude is excited by so noble -and natural a spirit, that he ought to be looked upon as the vilest -of creatures, who has no sense of it. It is, indeed, so very just and -equitable a thing, and so much every man’s duty, that to speak of it -properly one should not mention it as anything meritorious, or that may -claim praise and admiration, any more than we should say a man ought to -be rewarded or commended for not killing his father, or forbearing to set -fire to his neighbour’s house. The bright and shining piece of morality, -therefore, which is recommended to us in this Fable, is set forth in this -example of the Dove, who, without any obligation or expectation, does -a voluntary office of charity to its fellow-creature in distress. The -constant uninterrupted practice of this virtue is the only thing in which -we are capable of imitating the great Author of our being, whose _Beloved -Son_, besides the many precepts He has given to enforce this duty, used -this expression as a common saying, _It is more blessed to give than to -receive_. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LXIV._ - -The Collier and the Fuller. - -The Collier and the Fuller, being old acquaintance, happened upon a -time to meet together; and the latter, being but ill provided with a -habitation, was invited by the former to come and live in the same house -with him. I thank you, my dear friend, replies the Fuller, for your kind -offer, but it cannot be; for if I were to dwell with you, whatever I -should take pains to scour and make clean in the morning, the dust of you -and your coals would blacken and defile, as bad as ever, before night. - - -MORALS. - - _We commonly imbibe the principles and manners of those with - whom we associate._ - - _With vice allied, however pure,_ - _No virtue can be long secure:_ - _Shun then the traitress and her wiles,_ - _Whate’er she touches she defiles._ - - -REFLECTION. - -It is of no small importance in life, to be cautious what company we -keep, and with whom we enter into friendships. For though we are ever -so well disposed ourselves, and happen to be ever so free from vice and -debauchery, yet, if those with whom we frequently converse are engaged -in a lewd, wicked course, it will be almost impossible for us to escape -being drawn in with them. - -If we are truly wise, and would shun those _siren_ rocks of pleasure upon -which so many have split before us, we should forbid ourselves all manner -of commerce and correspondence with those who are steering a course -which, reason tells us, is not only not for our advantage, but must end -in our destruction. - -All the virtue we can boast of will not be sufficient to ensure us, if -we embark in bad company. For though our philosophy were such, as that -we could preserve ourselves from being tainted and infected with their -manners, yet their character would twist and entwine itself along with -ours in so intricate a fold, that the world would not take the trouble -to unravel and separate them. Reputations are of a subtle insinuating -texture like water; that which is derived from the clearest spring, if -it chances to mix with a foul current, runs on, undistinguished, in one -muddy stream for the future, and must for ever partake of the colour and -condition of its associate. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LXV._ - -The Boy and his Mother. - -A little Boy, who went to school, stole one of his school-fellow’s -horn-books, and brought it home to his mother; who was so far from -correcting and discouraging him upon account of the theft, that she -commended and gave him an apple for his pains. In process of time, as the -child grew up to be a man, he accustomed himself to greater robberies; -and at last, being apprehended and committed to gaol, he was tried and -condemned for a felony. On the day of his execution, as the officers -were conducting him to the gallows, he was attended by a vast crowd of -people, and among the rest by his mother, who came sighing and sobbing -along, and deploring extremely her son’s unhappy fate; which the criminal -observing, he called to the sheriff, and begged the favour of him, that -he would give him leave to speak a word or two to his poor afflicted -mother. The sheriff (as who would deny a dying man so reasonable a -request) gave him permission; and the felon, while every one thought -he was whispering something of importance to his mother, bit off her -ear, to the great offence and surprise of the whole assembly. What, say -they, was not this villain contented with the impious acts which he has -already committed, but he must increase the number of them, by doing -this violence to his mother? Good people, replied he, I would not have -you be under a mistake; that wicked woman deserves this, and even worse -at my hands; for if she had chastised and chid, instead of rewarding and -caressing me, when in my infancy I stole the horn-book from the school, I -had not come to this ignominious untimely end. - - -MORALS. - - _Youthful minds, like the pliant wax, are susceptible of the - most lasting impressions, and the good or evil bias they then - receive is seldom or ever eradicated._ - - _Fathers and mothers! train your children’s youth_ - _To virtue, honour, honesty, and truth;_ - _Dreadful! to bring about your child’s damnation,_ - _And give your sons a ~Tyburn~ education._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Notwithstanding the great innate depravity of mankind, one need not -scruple to affirm, that most of the wickedness, which is so frequent -and so pernicious in the world, arises from a bad education; and that -the child is obliged either to the example or connivance of its parents, -for most of the vicious habits which it wears through the course of its -future life. The mind of one that is young is, like wax, soft and capable -of any impression which is given it: but it is hardened by time, and -the first signature grows so firm and durable, that scarce any pains or -application can erase it. It is a mistaken notion in people, when they -imagine that there is no occasion for regulating or restraining the -actions of very young children, which though allowed to be sometimes -very naughty in those of a more advanced age, are in them, they suppose, -altogether innocent and inoffensive. But, however innocent they may be, -as to their intention then, yet, as the practice may grow upon them -unobserved, and root itself into a habit, they ought to be checked and -discountenanced in their first efforts towards anything that is injurious -or dishonest; that the love of virtue and the abhorrence of wrong and -oppression may be let into their minds, at the same time that they -receive the very first dawn of understanding, and glimmering of reason. -Whatever guilt arises from the actions of one whose education has been -deficient as to this point, no question but a just share of it will be -laid, by the great Judge of the world, to the charge of those who were, -or should have been, his instructors. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LXVI._ - -The Wanton Calf. - -A Calf, full of play and wantonness, seeing the Ox at plough, could not -forbear insulting him. What a sorry poor drudge art thou, says he, to -bear that heavy yoke upon your neck, and go all day drawing a plough at -your tail, to turn up the ground for your master! But you are a wretched -dull slave, and know no better, or else you would not do it. See what a -happy life I lead; I go just where I please; sometimes I lie down under -the cool shade; sometimes frisk about in the open sunshine; and, when I -please, slake my thirst in the clear sweet brook: But you, if you were -to perish, have not so much as a little dirty water to refresh you. The -Ox, not at all moved with what he said, went quietly and calmly on with -his work: and, in the evening, was unyoked and turned loose. Soon after -which he saw the Calf taken out of the field, and delivered into the -hands of a priest, who immediately led him to the altar, and prepared to -sacrifice him. His head was hung round with fillets of flowers, and the -fatal knife was just going to be applied to his throat, when the Ox drew -near and whispered him to this purpose: Behold the end of your insolence -and arrogance; it was for this only you were suffered to live at all; and -pray now, friend, whose condition is best, yours or mine? - - -MORALS. - - _To insult people in distress is the property of a cruel, - indiscreet, and giddy temper; for on the next turn of fortune’s - wheel, we may be thrown down to their condition, and they - exalted to ours._ - - _Thus oft the industrious poor endures reproach_ - _From rogues in lace, and sharpers in a coach;_ - _But soon to ~Tyburn~ sees the villains led,_ - _While he still earns in peace his daily bread._ - - -REFLECTION. - -We may learn by this Fable the consequence of an idle life, and how well -satisfied laborious, diligent men are, in the end, when they come quietly -to enjoy the fruits of their industry. They who, by little tricks and -sharpings, or by open violence and robbery, live in a high extensive way, -often, in their hearts at least, despise the poor honest man, who is -contented with the virtuous product of his daily labour, and patiently -submits to his destiny. But how often is the poor man comforted, by -seeing these wanton villains led in triumph to the altar of justice, -while he has many a cheerful summer’s morning to enjoy abroad, and many a -long winter’s evening to indulge himself in at home, by a quiet hearth, -and under an unenvied roof: Blessings, which often attend a sober, -industrious man, though the idle and the profligate are utter strangers -to them. - -Luxury and intemperance, besides their being certain to shorten a man’s -days, are very apt not only to engage people with their seeming charms -into a debauched life, utterly prejudicial to their health, but to -make them have a contempt for others, whose good sense and true taste -of happiness inspire them with an aversion to idleness and effeminacy, -and put them upon hardening their constitution by innocent exercise -and laudable employment. How many do gluttony and sloth tumble into an -untimely grave! while the temperate and the active drink sober draughts -of life, and spin out their thread to the most desirable length. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LXVII._ - -Jupiter and the Herdsman. - -A Herdsman, missing a young heifer that belonged to his herd, went up -and down the forest to seek it. And having walked a great deal of ground -to no purpose, he fell a praying to _Jupiter_ for relief; promising -to sacrifice a Kid to him, if he would help him to a discovery of the -thief. After this, he went on a little farther, and came near a grove -of oaks, where he found the carcase of his heifer, and a lion grumbling -over it, and feeding upon it. This sight almost scared him out of his -wits; so down he fell upon his knees once more, and addressing himself -to _Jupiter_; O _Jupiter_! says he, I promised thee a Kid to show me the -thief, but now I promise thee a bull, if thou wilt be so merciful as to -deliver me out of his clutches. - - -MORALS. - - _We ought never to supplicate the Divine power, but through - motives of religion and virtue; prayers, dictated by passion or - interest, are unacceptable to the Deity._ - - _Short-sighted wretch! endure thy care,_ - _Nor heave th’ impatient sigh:_ - _Heav’n hears thee, but perhaps thy pray’r_ - _’Tis mercy to deny._ - - -REFLECTION. - -How ignorant and stupid are some people, who form their notions of the -Supreme Being from their own poor shallow conceptions; and then, like -froward children with their nurses, think it consistent with infinite -wisdom and unerring justice to comply with all their whimsical petitions. -Let men but live as justly as they can, and just Providence will give -them what they ought to have. Of all the involuntary sins which men -commit, scarce any are more frequent, than that of their praying absurdly -and improperly, as well as unseasonably, when their time might have been -employed so much better. The many private collections, sold up and down -the nation, do not a little contribute to this injudicious practice: -Which is the more to be condemned, in that we have so incomparable a -public liturgy; one single address whereof (except the Lord’s Prayer) may -be pronounced to be the best that ever was compiled; and alone preferable -to all the various manuals of occasional devotion, which are vended by -hawkers and pedlars about our streets. It is as follows:— - - _Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, who knowest our - necessities before we ask, and our ignorance in asking; we - beseech thee to have compassion upon our infirmities; and - those things, which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for - our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us, for the - worthiness of thy Son ~Jesus Christ~ our Lord._ - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE LXVIII._ - -There’s no To-morrow. - -A Man, who had lived a very profligate life, at length being awakened -by the lively representations of a sober friend on the apprehensions of -a feverish indisposition, promised that he would heartily set about his -reformation, and that To-morrow he would seriously begin it. But the -symptoms going off, and that To-morrow coming, he still put it off till -the next, and so he went on from one To-morrow to another; but still he -continued his reprobate life. This his friend observing, said to him, I -am very much concerned to find how little effect my disinterested advice -has upon you: But, my friend, let me tell you, that since your To-morrow -never comes, nor do you seem to intend it shall, I will believe you -no more, except you set about your repentance and amendment this very -moment: for, to say nothing of your repeated broken promises, you must -consider, that the time that is past is no more; that To-morrow is _not_ -OURS; and the _present_ NOW is all we have to boast of. - - -MORALS. - - _That compunction of heart cannot be sincere, which takes - not immediate effect, and can be put off till To-morrow. The - friend’s closing observation in the Fable is so good a moral, - that we need add nothing to it._ - - _~Eager~ to mend, and ~brookless~ of delay,_ - _~Sincere~ repentance waits no ~future~ day;_ - _The ~present~ moment only is allow’d;_ - _~Uncertain~ hopes and fears ~to-morrow~ shroud._ - - -REFLECTION. - -Whoever considers this emblem, will find it to be his own case; we -promise, and we put off, and we sin, and go on sinning: but still, as -our conscience checks us for it, we take up faint purposes, and half -resolutions, to do so no more, and to lead a new life for the future. -Thus, with the young fellow here, we indulge ourselves in our pleasures -from time to time; and when we have trifled away our lives, day after -day, from one To-morrow to another, that same To-morrow never comes. -This is the sluggard’s plea and practice; the libertine’s, the miser’s; -and in short, whose is it not? Now, if we would but consider the vanity -and vexation of a lewd course of life; the impiety first of entering -into vows, which we intend beforehand not to perform, and afterward of -breaking them; the folly and the presumption of undertaking anything -that is wholly out of our power; the necessity of improving every -moment of our lives; the desperate and the irreparable hazard of losing -opportunities; we should not venture body and soul upon the necessity -of a procrastinated repentance, and postpone the most certain duties of -a man, and of a Christian; for there is no To-morrow, nor anything, in -truth, but the present instant, that we can call our own. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -PART III. - -FABLES, _in Verse_. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE I._ - -The Cuckoo Traveller. - - A Cuckoo once, as Cuckoos use, - Who’d been upon a winter’s cruise, - Return’d with the returning spring— - Some hundred brothers of the wing, - Curious to hear from foreign realms, - Got round him in a tuft of elms. - He shook his pinions, struck his beak, - Attempted twice or thrice to speak; - At length, up-rising on his stand, - - “Old England! Well, the land’s a land! - But rat me, gentlemen,” says he, - “We passage-fowl that cross the sea - Have vast advantages o’er you; - Whose native woods are all you view. - The season past, I took a jaunt - Among the isles of the Levant; - Where, by the way, I stuff’d my guts - With almonds and pistachio nuts. - ’Twas then my whim some weeks to be - In that choice garden, Italy: - But, underneath the sky’s expanse, - No climate like the south of France! - You’ve often heard, I dare to swear, - How plenty ortolans are there; - ’Tis true, and more delicious meat, - Upon my honour, I ne’er eat; - The eggs are good; it was ill luck - What day I had not ten to suck; - Yet notwithstanding, to my _goût_, - The bird’s the sweeter of the two.” - He went on, talking pert and loud, - When an old Raven, ’mongst the crowd, - Stopp’d short his insolent career— - “Why, what a monstrous bustle’s here! - You travell’d, sir! I speak to you, - Who’ve passed so many countries thro’; - Say, to what purpose is’t you roam, - And what improvements bring you home? - Has Italy, on which you doat, - Supply’d you with another note? - Or France, which you extol so high, - Taught you with better grace to fly? - I cannot see that both together - Have alter’d you a single feather: - Then tell not us of where you’ve been, - Of what you’ve done, or what you’ve seen; - While you and all your rambling pack - Cuckoos go out, Cuckoos come back.” - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE II._ - -The Ant and the Grasshopper. - - ’Twas that bleak season of the year, - In which no smiles, no charms appear; - Bare were the trees; the rivers froze; - The hills and mountains capt with snows; - When, lodging scarce and victuals scant, - A Grasshopper address’d an Ant: - And, in a supplicating tone, - Begg’d he would make her case his own. - - “It was, indeed, a bitter task - To those who were unused to ask; - Yet she was forc’d the truth to say, - She had not broke her fast that day; - His worship, tho’, with plenty bless’d, - Knew how to pity the distress’d; - A grain of corn to her was gold, - And Heav’n would yield him fifty-fold.” - - The Ant beheld her wretched plight, - Nor seem’d unfeeling at the sight; - Yet, still inquisitive to know - How she became reduc’d so low, - Asked her—we’ll e’en suppose in rhyme— - What she did all the summer time? - - “In summer time, good sir,” said she, - “Ah! these were merry months with me! - I thought of nothing but delight, - And sung, Lord, help me! day and night: - Through yonder meadows did you pass, - You must have heard me in the grass.” - - “Ah!” cry’d the Ant, and knit his brow— - “But ’tis enough I hear you now; - And, Madam Songstress, to be plain, - You seek my charity in vain: - What, shall th’ industrious yield his due - To thriftless vagabonds like you! - Some corn I have, but none to spare, - Next summer learn to take more care; - And in your frolic moods, remember, - July is follow’d by December.” - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE III._ - -The Wolf and the Dog. - - A prowling Wolf, that scour’d the plains, - To ease his hunger’s griping pains, - Ragged as courtier in disgrace, - Hide-bound, and lean, and out of case, - By chance a well-fed Dog espy’d, - And being kin, and near ally’d, - He civilly salutes the cur: - “How do you, Cuz? Your servant, sir. - O happy friend! how gay thy mien! - How plump thy sides, how sleek thy skin! - Triumphant plenty shines all o’er, - And the fat melts at ev’ry pore! - While I, alas! decay’d and old, - With hunger pin’d, and stiff with cold, - With many a howl and hideous groan, - Tell the relentless woods my moan. - Pr’ythee (my happy friend!) impart - Thy wondrous, cunning, thriving art.” - “Why, faith, I’ll tell thee as a friend, - But first thy surly manners mend; - Be complaisant, obliging, kind, - And leave the Wolf for once behind.” - The Wolf, whose mouth began to water, - With joy and rapture gallop’d after, - When thus the Dog: “At bed and board, - I share the plenty of my lord; - From ev’ry guest I claim a fee, - Who court my lord by bribing me. - In mirth I revel all the day, - And many a game at romps I play: - I fetch and carry, leap o’er sticks, - With twenty such diverting tricks.” - “’Tis pretty, faith,” the Wolf reply’d, - And on his neck the collar spy’d: - He starts, and without more ado, - He bids the abject wretch adieu: - “Enjoy your dainties, friend; to me - The noblest feast is liberty: - The famish’d Wolf, upon these desert plains, - Is happier than a fawning cur in chains.” - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE IV._ - -The Nightingale. - - How few with patience can endure - The evils they themselves procure. - A Nightingale, with snares beset, - At last was taken in a net: - When first she found her wings confin’d, - She beat and flutter’d in the wind, - Still thinking she could fly away; - Still hoping to regain the spray: - But, finding there was no retreat, - Her little heart with anger beat; - Nor did it aught abate her rage; - To be transmitted to a cage. - The wire apartment, tho’ commodious, - To her appear’d excessive odious; - And though it furnish’d drink and meat, - She car’d not, for she could not eat; - ’Twas not supplying her with food; - She lik’d to gather it from the wood: - And water clear, her thirst to slake, - She chose to sip from the cool lake: - And, when she sung herself to rest, - ’Twas in what hedge she lik’d the best: - And thus, because she was not free, - Hating the chain of slavery, - She rather added link to link: - —Just so men reach misfortune’s brink. - At length, revolving on her state, - She cries, “I might have met worse fate, - Been seiz’d by kites or prowling cat, - Or stifled in a school boy’s hat; - Or been the first unlucky mark, - Sure hit by some fantastic spark.” - Then conscience told her, want of care - Had made her fall into the snare; - That men were free their nets to throw; - And birds were free to come or go: - And all the evils she lamented, - By caution might have been prevented. - So, on her perch more pleas’d she stood, - And peck’d the kindly offer’d food; - Resolv’d, with patience, to endure - Ills she had brought, but could not cure. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE V._ - -The Two Foxes. - - Two hungry Foxes once agreed - To execute a bloody deed, - And make the farmer’s poultry bleed. - Thus, as their rage was very hot, - Cocks, hens, and chickens went to pot. - The one (the slaughter being o’er) - Young, and a perfect epicure, - Propos’d on all the spoil to sup, - And at one meal to eat it up. - The other old, at heart a miser, - Refus’d his scheme, and thought it wiser - To lay aside some of the prey, - And so provide for a bad day. - “Listen, my child,” says he, “to age; - Experience has made me sage: - I know the various turns of fate: - How changeable is every state! - A mighty treasure we have found; - Success has all our wishes crown’d; - See! the vast havoc all around! - Oh let us not be lavish, son, - Nor throw away what we have won! - Oh let us not consume our store, - But, being frugal, make it more!” - “Your fine harangue,” replies the other, - “Might take, were I a griping brother: - But, as I’m generous and free, - It ne’er shall have effect on me. - I’ll live, old daddy, while I may - Indulge my noble self with prey, - And feast in spite of all you say. - But should I not—why, to our sorrow, - The fowls will stink before to-morrow. - If we return—the clown will watch us; - And, hang the dog, he’ll surely catch us: - In ambush he will watch our waters, - Or else with dogs beat up our quarters.” - - This said, each fox himself obey’d, - Pursu’d the scheme that he had laid. - - The younger one fell to the meat;— - And died o’ercharg’d with what he eat. - The old one, as with joy next morning, - To his hid spoil he was returning, - Ta’en by the farmer in surprise, - Fell by his hand a sacrifice. - - Thus each man has his ruling passion, - And ev’ry age its inclination: - The young are heedless in their measures, - And boundless in pursuit of pleasures: - The old are all persuasion past, - Positive, and griping to the last. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE VI._ - -The Butterfly and Boy. - - ’Twas on a day serene and fair, - The sun was bright and æther clear, - The rocking winds were lull’d to rest, - And ev’ry murmuring gale supprest; - When, tempted by th’ alluring heat, - A Fly forsook her dark retreat - To taste the sweetness of the skies, - And tinge her wings with various dyes; - Restless she rov’d her narrow tour, - And borrow’d paint from ev’ry flow’r; - Till, deck’d with all the insect grace, - She sparkled fairest of her race. - - In all her splendour, pomp, and pride, - The winged-gem a Boy espy’d; - Who, pleas’d to see how bright it shone, - Resolv’d to make the prize his own; - And straight with speed began to trace - The gilded Fly from place to place: - But, conscious of some danger near, - The Butterfly her course would steer, - Now high, then low, now here, then there, - To balk the aim, or shun the blow - She justly dreaded from her foe. - - The Lad, still eager to pursue - The Fly that always kept in view, - Thro’ many a lane and meadow went, - His soul so on the prize was bent, - Undaunted ran from morn to noon, - To gain the heart-enchanting boon. - - At length, when sweat bedew’d his face, - And almost weary of the chase, - The Fly in evil hour is caught, - And homewards by the conqueror brought; - Who vainly hop’d, the glorious spoil - Would more than recompense his toil; - But while, with pleasure and surprise, - Her form and beauty feast his eyes, - The Fly escapes, and mounts the skies, - With rallied force augments her flight, - And quick evades his keenest sight; - Then he, deluded youth! gave o’er - All hope to find the booty more. - Enrag’d condemns his cruel fate, - And wept his folly—but too late. - - Thus foolish mortals waste their days, - In seeking pleasures, wealth, and praise; - They hunt for honours, titles, fame, - And risk their souls to gain a—name; - Chase every glitt’ring toy they spy, - Just as the Lad pursu’d the Fly, - And e’er they grasp the bauble—die. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE VII._ - -The Hounds in Couples. - - Wedlock, a name not much in fashion, - Subservient ofttimes is to passion. - How oft we see a thoughtless pair, - Brought up by Nature’s fost’ring care, - When love first fires their youthful breast, - Pant with impatience to be blest: - Tempers unstudied! thoughts untried! - Yet sigh, alas! to be allied. - Because their hours of courtship run - Sweet, under love’s meridian sun, - They think to breathe a tranquil life, - And be the happy man and wife. - Vain thought!—the flatt’ring phantom flies, - And opes at length their purblind eyes. - Then—— but attend my simple story, - The sequel will appear before ye. - - The morning dawns, with orient sky, - Clad with its purple royalty, - Once more’s the throne of infant day, - And all th’ horizon round looks gay. - The horn deep-ton’d the huntsman fills, - The strains re-echo from the hills; - Unkennell’d for the bloody chase, - Impatient rush the babbling race: - Some, widely stretching o’er the plain, - Vocif’rous chaunt the heedless train; - These stretch their limbs, while others bound - In wanton circles o’er the ground. - - The squire survey’d with secret pride - The mottled pack on either side: - The puppies did not ’scape his view; - Their youthful tricks were pleasing too. - But lest a part unskill’d, and young, - Should lead the rest with lavish tongue, - It was decreed they should be tied, - And trudge in couples, side by side. - To Ringwood, Sweetlips was assign’d: - These two with patience jogg’d behind. - To Trueman, so ’twas doom’d by fate, - Maiden was yok’d as trav’lling mate: - In these an early fondness grew, - If he did this, she’d do so too; - From Maiden Trueman scarce would stray, - But spent with her the livelong day; - For her the half-pick’d bone he’d spare, - And guard her with a lover’s care. - If he in playful frolic run, - Or bask’d beneath th’ enlivening sun, - As sure she would his steps attend, - Or near his side her length extend. - From one calm mind their actions grew; - But now, alas! they spring from two. - Divided cares invade each breast; - Divided thoughts and interest; - Now ’tis they feel the galling chain, - And howl for liberty again. - To join the pack if he’s inclin’d, - She with slow pace will drag behind: - He this way draws, she tugs another, - They prove tormentors to each other. - Now boldly they exert their might, - Snarl answers snarl—bite follows bite; - With double ire their fury burns, - And gains them mastership by turns. - But strength victorious rules the field, - To force superior all must yield: - At length subdued the fair one lies, - And calls assistance by her cries; - But ah! in vain, no succour’s near, - The hunt pursue the tim’rous hare. - Too late she sees from whence arose - The source of all her bleeding woes: - Secluded now from every friend, - Her sorrows but with life can end, - What’s to be done—reflection’s vain, - And serves but to increase her pain; - Quite spent, she howling yields her life, - A prey to discontent and strife. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE VIII._ - -The Sow and the Peacock. - - In days of yore, as authors tell, - When beasts and birds could read and spell, - No matter where, in town or city, - There liv’d a Swine exceeding witty; - And, for the beauties of her mind, - Excelling all her bristl’d kind: - But yet, to mortify her pride, - She found at last her failing side. - Philosophy she had good store, - Had ponder’d Seneca all o’er; - Yet all precautions useless prove - Against the pow’r of mighty love. - - It happen’d on a sultry day, - Upon her fav’rite couch she lay,— - ’Twas a round dunghill soft and warm, - O’ershadow’d by a neighb’ring barn,— - When lo, her winking eyes behold - A creature with a neck of gold, - With painted wings and gorgeous train, - That sparkled like the starry plain: - His neck and breast all brilliant shine - Against the sun. The dazzl’d Swine, - Who never saw the like before, - Began to wonder and adore; - But seeing him so fair and nice, - She left her dunghill in a trice; - And, fond to please, the grunting elf - Began to wash and trim herself; - And from the stinking pool she run - To dry her carcase in the sun; - And rubb’d her sides against a tree: - And now, as clean as hogs can be, - With cautious air and doubtful breast, - The glitt’ring Peacock thus address’d: - - “Sir, I, a homely rural Swine, - Can boast of nothing fair nor fine, - No dainties in our troughs appear, - But, as you seem a stranger here, - Be pleas’d to walk into my sty, - A little hut as plain as I. - Pray venture through the humble door; - And tho’ your entertainment’s poor, - With me you shall be sure to find - An open heart and honest mind; - And that’s a dainty seldom found - On cedar floors and city ground.” - - Thus far the Sow had preach’d by rule, - She preach’d, alas! but to a fool; - For this same Peacock, you must know, - Had he been man, had been a beau: - And spoke, like them, but mighty little - That to the point could tend a tittle: - And with an air that testify’d - He’d got at least his share of pride, - He thus began: “Why, truly now, - You’re very civil, Mrs Sow: - But I am very clean, d’ye see; - Your sty is not a place for me. - Should I go through that narrow door, - My feathers might be soil’d or tore; - Or scented with unsav’ry fumes: - And what am I without my plumes?” - - The much offended Sow replies, - And turns asquint her narrow eyes, - “Sir, you’re incorrigibly vain, - To value thus a shining train; - For when the northern wind shall blow, - And send us hail, and sleet, and snow, - How will you save from such keen weathers, - Your merit—sir, I mean your feathers? - As for myself,—to think that I - Should lead an idiot to my sty, - Or strive to make an oaf my friend, - Makes all my bristles stand on end: - But for the future, when I see - A bird that much resembles thee, - I’ll ever make it as a rule, - The shining case contains a fool.” - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE IX._ - -The King-Dove. - - Thousands, who start at Nero’s name, - With Nero’s power would act the same; - And few in humble spheres can know - How much to want of pow’r they owe— - The passions sleep unrous’d by might, - As objects lie forgot in night; - Tho’ unregarded till they’re seen, - They both exist beneath the screen, - And Sol returning, grandeur near, - The passions rise, and shapes appear: - And e’en a dove, the Fable tells, - Begirt with pow’r a tyrant swells— - Thus runs the tale—Between the Kite - And Doves there chanc’d a fatal fight, - Before his force their numbers fled, - The victor on the captives fed— - What can be done?—they pine, they grieve, - The spar’d can scarce be said to live.— - - At last, their king Columbo’s call - Commands the senate to the hall: - Columbo, best of doves and kings, - Up-rising clapt his painted wings, - Then thus harangu’d ’em from above, - And spake the monarch, and the Dove— - “My suff’ring friends, with grief and pain - I fear we meet but to complain; - Yet my fond bosom fain would know - Your thoughts of our relentless foe— - If any, blest with skill to save, - Have plann’d the proud oppressor’s grave, - Whatever perils shall attend - A scheme to save one bleeding friend, - I’ll meet, I’ll vanquish, or no more - Return to this opprobrious shore: - For oh! to steal the tyrant’s breath, - I’d perch upon the dart of death.” - He ceas’d, and soft applauses sprung - From ev’ry heart to ev’ry tongue: - Then one arose among the rest, - And mov’d,—That Jove might be addrest, - Arms on their monarch to bestow, - Like those so dreadful on their foe. - The rest consent, the pray’r is made, - Jove will’d, and Nature straight obey’d. - Columbo feels his form distend, - His beak grow crook’d, claws extend; - On his increasing strength presumes, - And pleas’d he shakes his alter’d plumes, - To single combat dares the foe, - And deep imprints the fatal blow. - The Kite expires,—and peace again - Reviv’d to bless Columbo’s reign. - - But flush’d with conquest, proud in arms, - He longs, he pants, for fresh alarms, - And to himself elated thought— - “Had I these gifts of Jove for nought?” - Now swelling high with proud disdain, - He scorns his meek, his peaceful train; - A thousand wives the monarch claims, - And seizes all their fairest dames; - A thousand slaves attend his will, - A thousand nests his treasures fill; - None for themselves eat, sleep, or love, - ’Tis all the King’s—imperial Dove! - Too noble grown for common food, - He longs to taste of pigeon’s blood; - Nor long the appetite withstood. - With treble anguish now they moan - A wide destroyer on their throne, - Despairing drag the galling chain, - And vainly curse Columbo’s reign. - This fatal change let man informed pursue, - Catch rising truths from every fabled view, - And learn from hence no dang’rous pow’r to trust, - E’en with the wise, the gentle, and the just. - Since e’en that pow’r less prompts to good than ill, - And bends to vice vain man’s unequal will— - Wrongs to redress ne’er arm alone your friend, - But, cloth’d in equal might, his steps attend; - Let equal arms your injur’d rights maintain, - Divide the strength, the labours, honours, gain: - Still on a level, tho’ with conquest bright, - No traitor thoughts shall rise from matchless might: - Peace with her genuine charms shall either bless, - And just dependencies prevent excess. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE X._ - -The Camelion. - - Oft has it been my lot to mark - A proud, conceited, talking spark, - With eyes, that hardly serv’d at most - To guard their master ’gainst a post, - Yet round the world the blade has been - To see whatever could be seen. - Returning from his finish’d tour, - Grown ten times perter than before, - Whatever word you chance to drop, - The travell’d fool your mouth will stop; - “Sir, if my judgment you’ll allow— - I’ve seen—and sure I ought to know”— - So begs you’d pay a due submission, - And acquiesce in his decision. - - Two travellers of such a cast, - As o’er Arabia’s wild they past, - And on their way in friendly chat - Now talk’d of this, and then of that, - Discours’d a while ’mongst other matter, - Of the Camelion’s form and nature. - “A stranger animal,” cries one, - “Sure never liv’d beneath the sun: - A lizard’s body lean and long, - A fish’s head, a serpent’s tongue; - Its tooth with triple claw disjoin’d; - And what a length of tail behind! - How slow its pace, and then its hue— - Who ever saw so fine a blue?” - - “Hold there,” the other quick replies, - “’Tis green—I saw it with these eyes, - As late with open mouth it lay, - And warm’d itself in sunny ray; - Stretch’d at its ease the beast I view’d, - And saw it eat the air for food.” - - “I’ve seen it, sir, as well as you, - And must again affirm it blue: - At leisure I the beast survey’d, - Extended in the cooling shade.” - - “’Tis green, ’tis green, sir, I assure ye.” - “Green!” cries the other in a fury. - - “Why, sir—d’ye think I’ve lost my eyes?” - “’Twere no great loss,” the friend replies; - “For, if they always serve you thus, - You’ll find ’em but of little use.” - - So high at last the contest rose, - From words they almost came to blows: - When luckily came by a third— - To him the question they refer’d; - And begg’d he’d tell ’em, if he knew, - Whether the thing was green or blue. - - “Sirs,” cries the umpire, “cease your pother— - The creature’s neither one nor t’other. - I caught the animal last night, - And view’d it o’er by candle light: - I mark’d it well—’twas black as jet— - You stare—but, sirs, I’ve got it yet, - And can produce it.” “Pray, sir, do: - I’ll lay my life, the thing is blue.” - “And I’ll be sworn, that when you’ve seen - The reptile, you’ll pronounce him green.” - - “Well, then, at once to ease the doubt,” - Replies the man, “I’ll turn him out: - And when before your eyes I’ve set him, - If you don’t find him black, I’ll eat him.” - He said; then full before their sight - Produc’d the beast, and lo! ’twas white. - Both star’d, the man look’d wondrous wise— - “My children,” the Camelion cries, - Then first the creature found a tongue, - “You all are right, and all are wrong: - When next you talk of what you view, - Think others see, as well as you: - Nor wonder, if you find that none - Prefers your eye-sight to his own.” - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XI._ - -The Three Warnings. - - The tree of deepest root is found - Least willing still to quit the ground; - ’Twas therefore said by ancient sages, - That love of life increas’d with years: - So much, that in our latter stages, - When pains grow sharp, and sickness rages, - The greatest love of life appears. - - This great affection to believe, - Which all confess, but few perceive, - If old assertions can’t prevail, - Be pleas’d to hear a modern tale. - - When sports went round, and all were gay - On neighbour Dobson’s wedding-day, - Death call’d aside the jocund groom - With him into another room: - And looking grave,—“You must,” says he, - “Quit your sweet bride, and come with me.” - “With you! and quit my Susan’s side! - With you!” the hapless husband cry’d: - “Young as I am; ’tis monstrous hard; - Besides, in truth, I’m not prepar’d: - My thoughts on other matters go, - This is my wedding-night, you know.” - - What more he urg’d I have not heard: - His reasons could not well be stronger; - For Death the poor delinquent spar’d, - And left to live a little longer. - Yet calling up a serious look, - His hour-glass trembling while he spoke, - “Neighbour,” he said, “Farewell: No more - Shall death disturb your mirthful hour; - And further to avoid all blame - Of cruelty upon my name, - To give you time for preparation, - And fit you for your future station, - Three several warnings you shall have - Before you’re summon’d to the grave, - Willing for once I’ll quit my prey, - And grant a kind reprieve: - In hopes you’ll have no more to say, - But when I call again this way - Well pleas’d the world will leave.” - To these conditions both consented, - And parted, perfectly contented. - - What next the hero of our tale befell, - How long he liv’d, how wise, how well, - How roundly he pursu’d his course,— - And smok’d his pipe, and strok’d his horse,— - The willing muse shall tell: - He chaffer’d on, he bought, he sold, - Nor once perceiv’d his growing old, - Nor thought of death as near: - His friends not false, his wife no shrew, - Many his gains, his children few, - He pass’d his hours in peace; - But while he view’d his wealth increase, - While thus along life’s dusty road - The beaten track content he trod, - Old time, whose haste no mortal spares, - Uncall’d, unheeded, unawares, - Brought on his eightieth year. - - And now one night in musing mood, - As all alone he sat, - Th’ unwelcome messenger of fate, - Once more before him stood. - - Half kill’d with anger and surprise, - “So soon return’d!” old Dobson cries: - “So soon, d’ye call it!” Death replies: - “Surely, my friend, you’re but in jest; - Since I was here before, - ’Tis six and forty or fifty years at least, - And you are now fourscore.” - - “So much the worse,” the clown rejoin’d: - “To spare the aged would be kind: - However, see your search be legal; - And your authority—Is’t regal? - Else you are come on a fool’s errand, - With but a secretary’s warrant. - Besides, you promis’d me three warnings, - Which I have look’d for nights and mornings. - But, for that loss of time and ease, - I can recover damages.” - - “I know,” cries Death, “that at the best, - I seldom am a welcome guest; - But don’t be captious, friend, at least: - I little thought you’d still be able - To stump about your farm and stable; - Your years have run to a great length, - I wish you joy tho’ of your strength.” - - “Hold,” says the farmer, “not so fast, - I have been lame these four years past.” - - “And no great wonder,” Death replies, - “However you still keep your eyes, - And sure to see one’s loves and friends - For legs and arms would make amends.” - - “Perhaps,” says Dobson, “so it might, - But latterly I’ve lost my sight.” - - “This is a shocking story, faith, - Yet there’s some comfort still,” says Death; - “Each strives your sadness to amuse, - I warrant you hear all the news.” - - “There’s none,” cries he, “and if there were - I’m grown so deaf I could not hear.” - “Nay then,” the spectre stern rejoin’d, - “These are unjustifi’ble yearnings; - If you are lame, and deaf, and blind, - You’ve had your three sufficient warnings. - So come along, no more we’ll part, - He said, and touch’d him with his dart; - And now old Dobson, turning pale, - Yields to his fate—so ends my tale.” - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XII._ - -The Caterpillar and Butterfly. - - The morning blush’d with vivid red, - And night in sudden silence fled; - Sad Philomel no more complains, - The lark begins his sprightly strains; - Light paints the flow’rs of various hue, - And sparkles in the pendent dew; - Life moves o’er all the quicken’d green, - And beauty reigns, unrival’d queen. - - Green as the leaf, on which he lay, - A Caterpillar wak’d to-day: - And look’d around, and chanc’d to ’spy - A leaf of more inviting dye; - From where he lay he crawl’d, and found - The verdant spot’s indented bound; - Stretch’d from the verge, he strove to gain - The neighb’ring leaf, but strove in vain. - In that nice moment, prompt to save, - A brother worm this warning gave. - - “Oh! turn, advent’rous as thou art, - Nor hence, deceiv’d by hope, depart; - What though the leaf, that tempts thee, shows - More tasteful food, more soft repose; - What, though with brighter spangles gay, - Its dew reflects an earlier ray? - Oh! think what dangers guard the prize; - Oh! think what dangers; and be wise! - The pass from leaf to leaf forbear; - Behold how high they wave in air! - And should’st thou fall, tremendous thought! - What ruin would avenge thy fault? - Thy mangled carcase, writh’d with pain, - Shall mark with blood the dusty plain: - Then death, the dread of all below, - Thy wish—will surely end thy woe; - Untimely death, for now to die, - Is ne’er to rise a butterfly.” - “A Butterfly!” th’ Advent’rer cry’d, - “What’s that?” “A bird,” his friend reply’d, - “To which this reptile form shall rise, - And gorgeous mount the lofty skies; - The joyful season time shall bring, - He bears it on his rapid wing. - An age there is, when all our kind, - Disdain the ground, and mount the wind: - And should thy friend this age attain—” - With haste the worm reply’d again, - “Say what assurance canst thou give, - That I with birds a bird shall live? - For could I trust thy pleasing tale, - No wanton wish should e’er prevail; - For what, that worms obtain, can vie - With bliss of birds that wing the sky?” - “Believe my words,” th’ Adviser said, - “Since not of private int’rest bred; - Not on thy life or death depend - My pleasure or my pain—— Attend! - Like thee, to all the future blind, - I knew not wings for worms design’d, - Till yon last sun’s ascending light - Remov’d the dusky shades of night. - Soon as his rays, from heav’n sublime, - Shone on that leaf you wish to climb; - That leaf, which shades, in earliest hours, - This less conspicuous spot of ours: - Surpris’d, a lovely form I saw, - That touch’d me with delight and awe; - ’Twas near, and while my looks betray’d - My wonder,” thus the Stranger said: - - “If view’d by thee with wond’rous eyes - My graceful shape and vary’d dyes, - New wonder still prepare to feel, - Amazing truths my words reveal: - For know, like thine my humble birth; - Like thee, I crawl’d a worm on earth.” - - “Ah! mock me not,” said I, “nor seek - A worthless triumph o’er the weak; - Canst thou, thy form with down o’erspread, - By nature crown’d thy regal head, - Canst thou my reptile shape have worn? - My reptile shape, of all the scorn! - Hast thou! whose gorgeous wings display - Each vary’d tint that drinks the day, - More bright than drops of orient dew, - More gay than flow’rs of gaudiest hue, - With purple edg’d, and fring’d with gold, - Like light, too splendid to behold! - Hast thou, an abject worm like me, - Crawl’d prone on earth! it cannot be.” - - “Oh! cease the doubts,” the Stranger cry’d, - “To faith thy happiness ally’d— - Not thrice the morn these eyes have view’d, - Since genial spring my life renew’d; - From death-like slumbers wak’d, I found - A guardian shell invest me round; - The circling shield I broke, nor knew - How long my safety hence I drew; - But soon perceiv’d, and knew the spot, - Where once, a worm, I fix’d my lot; - The _past_ with wonder touch’d my breast, - More wonder still the _now_ imprest, - With pleasure mixt—the pleasure grew, - At ev’ry thought, at ev’ry view; - Transform’d, my unknown pow’r I try, - I wave my wings, I rise! I fly! - Enraptur’d with the blissful change, - From field to field I wanton range; - From flow’r to flow’r, from tree to tree, - And see whate’er I wish to see; - Now glide along the daisy’d ground; - Now wheel in wanton circles round; - Now mount aloft, and sport in air, - Transported, when I will, and where, - Still present, to whate’er invites, - Each moment brings me new delights; - Nor fear allays the joys I know, - The dangers scorn’d that lurk below; - No trampling hoof, my former dread, - Can crush me, mangled, to the dead. - Ev’n man himself pursues, in vain, - My sportive circuit o’er the plain.” - He said, and raptur’d with the thought, - New charms his bright’ning plumage caught, - He clapt his wings, his rapid flight - I trac’d with fond desiring sight, - Oh! glorious state—reserv’d to this, - I risk not life for reptile bliss; - Oh! catch the glowing wish from me, - The same the bliss reserv’d for thee; - Desist from ev’ry rash design, - And beauty, plumes, and wings are thine. - He ceas’d—th’ Advent’rer thus reply’d: - “By thee the fancy’d change be try’d, - The _now_ is _mine_, the _now_ alone, - The _future_ fate’s—a dark unknown! - To nature’s voice my ears incline; - All lovely, loving, all divine! - To joy she courts, she points the way, - And chides this cold, this dull delay. - Farewell—let hope thy bliss supply, - And count thy gains with fancy’s eye; - Be thine the wings that time shall send, - Believing and obliging friend.”— - - He said, and sneering sly disdain, - The neighb’ring leaf attempts to gain; - He falls—all bruis’d on earth he lies; - Too late repents, and groans, and dies. - His friendly monitor, with care, - Avoids each pleasure-baited snare, - False pleasure, false, and fatal too! - Superior joys he keeps in view; - They come—the genial spring supplies - The wings he hoped, and lo! he flies; - Tastes all that summer suns prepare, - And all the joys of earth and air! - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XIII._ - -The Two Doves. - - Two Turtles once, of gentlest kind, - In softest bands by love were join’d; - ’Til tired of home Columbo grew, - And pensive sigh’d for something new; - For distant realms prepar’d to part,— - When spoke the partner of his heart: - “Why should my dear Columbo rove, - And leave me widow’d in the grove— - What ill can worse than absence prove? - Yet let the toils, the perils, cares, - Which fate for travellers prepares, - Retard thy speed—attend the spring, - And wait the zephyr’s aiding wing; - What haste?—this hour, ill omen’d found! - The raven’s croak was heard around; - Hawks, nets, and ills of ev’ry kind - Henceforth shall haunt my boding mind; - And what does Heav’n at home deny - That thou canst wish, or Heav’n supply?” - - These words in doubt Columbo hold, - Still weakly vain, and rashly bold; - At length his restless wish prevails, - And love, and fear, and prudence fails: - When thus he spoke with cheerful air— - “From Turturella far be care, - No more let tears those eyes distain, - Whate’er I seek three days shall gain; - Returning then, to thee I’ll tell - Whate’er I saw, or me befell: - Amusing thus the pensive day, - Who little see, can little say, - Of rich description full, my tale - Shall oft thy listening ear regale; - The scenes I’ll paint so strong, so true, - In fancy thou shalt travel too.” - - This said, Farewell dissolves his heart, - And wet with mutual tears they part. - - As Turturella pensive sate, - In fancy wand’ring with her mate, - Far as her utmost ken she sees - A bird approach by slow degrees; - Not form’d for flight he seem’d, nor song, - But stopp’d by turns, and limp’d along: - Her pains who feels can tell alone, - The bird for chang’d Columbo known; - Her mate, with pearly tears to greet, - Down from her nest she flew to meet. - Awhile with silent grief opprest, - At length she softly him addrest: - “Oh! tell me, dear Columbo, tell - What scenes you saw, what woes befell; - Why wounded thus Columbo mourns, - And ere th’ appointed day returns?” - With falt’ring voice Columbo cry’d, - “From thee no more my heart I hide— - Scarce from this peaceful grove I past - When sudden clouds the skies o’ercast; - I saw the storm, for shelter sought, - A single tree that shelter brought, - Thin leav’d, and pervious to the show’r, - I felt the rig’rous season’s power. - The cloud dissolv’d, benumb’d with cold, - Again my dripping wings unfold; - In neighb’ring fields some corn I view, - And, hov’ring near, a turtle too; - By flatt’ring hopes deluded there, - I struggled in the fowler’s snare: - The turtle tutor’d to betray, - Beneath the bait a net there lay. - Unwonted strength despair supply’d, - I broke the snare my feet that ty’d; - With less than half my tail I fled, - And trail’d behind a broken thread, - A remnant of the snare, when lo! - A vulture sees me, dreadful foe! - Just as he stoop’d to snatch the prey, - From heav’n an eagle wing’d his way; - I, while the sons of rapine fight, - Improv’d the lucky hour in flight - The ruins of a cot were near, - I thought my dangers ended here; - Deceitful thought! a playful boy - (The cruel race in sport destroy) - Whirl’d round the sling, the rapid stone - Laid bare my pinion to the bone. - Yet reach I living this abode, - What signal mercies Heav’n bestow’d! - Left in this grove to sigh alone - What fate has Turturella known?” - “More signal yet, by far,” said she, - “The mercies Heav’n bestow’d on me.” - “Alas! what woes,” Columbo cry’d, - “In this short absence hast thou try’d? - What near escapes to equal mine? - Amazing marks of love divine!” - “The woes averted from my head - Are those which thou hast felt,” she said; - “No near escapes ’twas mine to prove, - What more amazing mark of love! - In _ease_ and _safety_ more I gain - Than _life_ to thee, preserv’d with pain, - See then the mercies that I meant, - Which Heav’n to give me, gave Content! - Learn hence the gifts of Jove to prize, - And, ere misfortunes teach, be wise.” - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XIV._ - -The Beau and Butterfly. - - When summer deckt each sylvan scene, - And sunshine smil’d along the green, - When groves allur’d with noon-tide shade, - And purling brooks refresh’d the glade; - An empty form of empty show, - A flutt’ring insect, call’d a Beau, - In gaudy colours rich and gay, - A mere papilio of the day, - Was seen around the fields to rove, - And haunt, by turns, the stream and grove: - A silver zone entwin’d his head, - His belly shone with lively red, - His wings were green, but studded o’er - With gold-embroider’d spots before. - Around him various insects came, - Of diff’rent colour, different name; - And, ting’d with every gorgeous dye, - Among the rest a Butterfly; - His wings are spread with wanton pride, - And beauty fades from all beside. - The Beau beholds, with envious eyes, - The living radiance as it flies: - “And shall,” said he, “this worthless thing. - That lives but on a summer’s wing, - This flying worm, more gaudy shine, - And wear a dress more gay than mine? - Is this wise Nature’s equal care - To deck a Butterfly so fair, - While man, her worthiest, greatest part, - Must wear the homely rags of art?” - Thus reason’d he, as reason beaux, - The subject of their logic clothes; - When thus the Butterfly reply’d, - With deeper tints by anger dy’d: - “Vain, trifling mortal! could’st thou boast - To prize what Nature prizes most - On man bestow’d, thou would’st not see - With envy aught she gives to me. - This painted vestment, all my store, - She gives, and I can claim no more— - But man, for greater ends design’d, - Should boast the beauties of the mind. - More bright than gold with wisdom shine, - And virtue’s sacred charms be thine: - To rule the world by reason taught, - On dress disdain to waste a thought; - For he, whom folly bends so low, - Ambitious to be thought a beau. - Is studious only to be gay, - In toilet-arts consumes the day; - And, the long trifling labours o’er, - Takes wing, and bids the world adore; - Looks down with scorn on rival flies, - Himself less splendid and less wise; - With scorn, his scorn return’d again, - Proud insect! impotently vain! - The fool who thus by self is priz’d, - By others justly is despis’d.” - She said, and flutter’d round on high, - Nor stay’d to hear the Beau’s reply. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XV._ - -The Bears and Bees. - - As two young Bears in wanton mood, - Forth-issuing from a neighb’ring wood, - Came where th’ industrious Bees had stor’d - In artful cells their luscious hoard; - O’erjoy’d they seiz’d with eager haste - Luxurious on the rich repast. - Alarm’d at this, the little crew - About their ears vindictive flew. - The beasts, unable to sustain - Th’ unequal combat, quit the plain: - Half blind with rage, and mad with pain, - Their native shelter they regain; - There sit, and now discreeter grown, - Too late their rashness they bemoan; - And this by dear experience gain, - “That pleasure’s ever bought with pain.” - So when the gilded baits of vice - Are plac’d before our longing eyes, - With greedy haste we snatch our fill, - And swallow down the latent ill; - But when experience opes our eyes, - Away the fancied pleasure flies— - It flies, but oh! too late we find - It leaves a real sting behind. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XVI._ - -The Trees. - - Once on a time, when great Sir Oak - Held all the trees beneath his yoke, - The monarch, anxious to maintain, - In peaceful state, his sylvan reign, - Saw, to his sorrow and distraction, - His subject trees take root in faction, - And, though late join’d in union hearty, - Now branching into shoots of party, - Each sturdy stick of factious wood - Stood stiff and stout for public good: - For patriots ever, ’tis well known, - Seek others welfare, not their own, - And all they undertake, you know, - Is meant _pro bono publico_. - The hardy Fir, from northern earth - Who took its name, and drew its birth, - The Oak plac’d next him to support - His government, and grace his court. - The Fir, of an uncommon size, - Rear’d his tall head unto the skies, - O’er-topp’d his fellow-plants, his height - Who view’d, and sicken’d at the sight: - With envy ev’ry fibre swell’d, - While in them the proud sap rebell’d; - “Shall then,” they cried, “the Ash, the Elm, - The Beech, no longer rule the helm? - What! shall the ignoble Fir, a plant, - In tempest born, and nurs’d in want, - Far from black regions of the north, - And native famine, issue forth; - In this our happier soil take root, - And dare our birthright to dispute?” - On this the fatal storm began, - Confusion thro’ the forest ran; - Mischief in each dark shade was brewing, - And all betoken’d general ruin: - While each, to make their party good, - Brib’d the vile shrubs and underwood: - And now the Bramble and the Thistle - Sent forth essay, ode, epistle; - To which anon, with equal mettle, - Replied the Thorn and stinging Nettle. - “What’s to be done, or how oppose - The storm which in the forest rose?” - Grief shook the mighty monarch’s mind, - And his sighs labour’d in the wind. - At length, the tumult, strife, and quarrel, - Alarming the sagacious laurel, - His mind unto the King he broke, - And thus addrest him: “Heart of Oak! - Sedition is on foot, make ready; - And fix your empire firm and steady. - Faction in vain shall shake the wood, - While you pursue the general good. - Fear not a foe, trust not a friend, - Upon yourself alone depend. - If not too partially ally’d, - By fear or love to either side, - In vain shall jarring factions strive, - Cabals in vain dark plots contrive. - Slave to no foe, dupe to no minion, - Maintain an equal just dominion: - So shall you stand by storms unbroke, - And all revere the ROYAL OAK.” - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XVII._ - -The Philosopher and Glow-Worm. - - When toilsome hours of day were spent, - The world seem’d wrapt in calm content, - Each anxious care forsook the breast, - Sleep gently clos’d each eye to rest, - Cynthia her brightest aspect wore, - And Heav’n’s expanse was studded o’er, - A sage, by meditation drawn, - Forsook his cot, and sought the lawn; - In contemplation deep he stray’d, - And nature’s dozing charms survey’d; - On either hand new beauties view’d, - As he his tranquil walk pursu’d. - By chance, a Glow-Worm, in his way, - Shone forth his little glitt’ring ray, - Proudly unfolding ev’ry grace, - As trailing round from place to place; - Illumining the moss-fring’d plain. - On other worms he look’d disdain. - The sage, with philosophic eye, - Survey’d the wand’rer crawling by; - Then stooping low, with gentle hand, - High lifts him from the dew-fraught land. - The grub, tho’ not dismay’d thro’ fear, - Conscious he was not in his sphere, - Withdrew his beam of light away, - To hear what man—vain man—would say. - The learn’d Philosopher, amaz’d, - Paus’d for some time, and anxious gaz’d; - Astonish’d that the worm should die - So soon, then careless threw it by; - But first, this application made:— - “This creeping reptile, lo! is dead, - And with his life, his glory’s fled. - So is’t with all _ambition’s_ race, - Who fill up each exalted place: - Brilliant they shine with borrow’d ray, - And wanton in the blaze of day, - ’Till fortune’s second wheel turns round, - And leaves them where they first were found.” - - The Glow-Worm with attention heard, - And weigh’d with prudence ev’ry word, - Trim’d bright his little lamp again. - And shone more beauteous o’er the plain - Then thus address’d the wond’ring sage, - The known Philos’pher of the age: - “Know thou, the happy pow’r to shine - Is truly man’s as well as mine; - I know my sphere, did he the same, - He’d tread _that_ path that leads to fame; - Did he in dang’rous times retire, - And check with care _ambition’s_ fire, - Like me he might new lustre spread. - And deck with laurels fresh his head. - But, coxcomb like, he’s led astray - To shine, and shines but for a day.” - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XVIII._ - -The Angler and the Philosopher. - - Beside a gentle murm’ring brook - An Angler took his patient stand; - He ey’d the stream with anxious look, - And wav’d his rod with cautious hand. - - The bait with nicest art was drest, - The fishes left their safe retreat; - And one more eager than the rest, - Look’d, long’d, and swallow’d the deceit. - - Too late she felt the poignant smart, - Her pitying friends her fate deplore; - The Angler with well-practis’d art, - Play’d, hook’d, and drew her to the shore. - - Lur’d by the beauty of the day, - The sun now sinking in the sky, - A sage pursu’d his walk that way, - And saw the bleeding victim lie. - - Far in the vale of years declin’d, - He watch’d the course of nature’s law; - And thus with philosophic mind, - He moralis’d on what he saw: - - “Indulge, awhile, the pensive vein, - And fix this image in your mind; - You’ve hook’d a fish; observe its pain, - And view the state of human kind. - - “Fate gives us line, we shift the scene, - And jocund traverse to and fro; - Pain, sickness, still will intervene, - We feel the hook where’er we go. - - “If, proudly, we our schemes extend, - And look beyond the present hour, - We find our straiten’d prospects end, - And own an over-ruling pow’r. - - “Awhile we sport, awhile lament, - Fate checks the line, and we are gone; - Dragg’d from our wonted element, - To distant climes, untry’d, unknown.” - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XIX._ - -The Lion and other Beasts in Council. - - The kingly ruler of the plain,[10] - Just ent’ring on his savage reign, - To grace his coronation feast, - Sent and invited every beast; - And soon the royal cave beheld - With all his various subjects fill’d: - For leagues of peace were lately made, - And lambs and wolves together play’d; - Foxes and tim’rous hares agree - With dogs, their common enemy: - And now a sumptuous table spread, - Friendly they altogether fed; - And having din’d, sit still and prate - Familiarly of this and that: - Till with a kind, yet serious look, - The King, desiring audience, spoke. - - “My friends, and loving subjects all, - Who’ve kindly thus obey’d my call, - I give you thanks, and now I crave - Your further kindness to receive: - I’m seated on the throne, you see, - In peaceable tranquillity; - No cares of war disturb my breast; - With taxes you are not opprest; - This life I’ll therefore spend in joy; - None shall be happier than I. - But lest I should pursue false bliss, - What I would ask of you is this, - To tell me—what true pleasure is?” - - The beasts seem’d pleas’d with this request; - Each thought he could advise him best, - And striving who should silence break, - They all at once rose up to speak: - Till by his majesty’s command, - Their forward zeal was soon restrain’d; - Who calmly bidding them sit down, - And let him hear them one by one, - Th’ impatient Monkey thus began: - - “Pleasure, my liege, is free from strife, - To lead a thoughtless, easy life; - Airy, and wild, and brisk, and gay, - To sing, and dance, and laugh, and play; - Now following this, now that, and that, - And so’t be new, no matter what; - Free from all rules of just and fit, - Do mischief first, then laugh at it: - This is diversion, pleasure, wit.” - - The Ass was here provok’d to rise, - And gravely thus bray’d his advice: - “If,” said he, “real pleasure is - In such buffoonery as this, - Then beaux and smarts, amongst mankind, - Are in their notions most refin’d; - But well we know, by men of sense, - They’re tax’d with vain impertinence. - I therefore think true pleasure lies - (If I may be thought fit t’advise) - In careless indolence and ease, - Not suff’ring anything to tease, - Regardless what th’ ambitious fly at, - So we’re but undisturb’d and quiet; - Well knowing ’tis but to attain - More ease, that they’re at so much pain. - And he’s more happy, none can doubt it, - Who’s easy without taking pains about it.” - - Now rose the Hog, and with a grunt, - “Pleasure,” cry’d he, “they know nought on’t. - A life trail’d on in laziness - Can only suit a stupid Ass, - And fool’d away in Monkey mirth, - It’s really full as little worth; - For doing nothing worthy fame - And doing nothing’s much the same. - But if you’d real pleasure know, - Let generous liquor smiling flow; - In jovial crews spend every hour, - And drink, and sing, and rant, and roar: - Thus every care will sink and drown, - Whilst mirth and joy run laughing round. - I seem a monarch while I drink so, - And you’ll be a god do you but think so.” - - Here bursts the Goat into a laugh, - And thus beginning with a scoff: - “Doubtless,” said he, “it must be fine - T’exalt a nasty, dirty swine, - To such a height in fancying, - As to believe himself a King. - But that which thus perverts our senses - Can have, I think, but small pretences - To recommend it to our favour, - As pleasure of the truest flavour. - Nature, methinks, should guide in this, - Who seems t’have shewn the highest bliss, - In having plac’d the sweetest gust, - In gratifying natural lust. - And that ’tis the sublimest joy, - I think ’s so plain none can deny. - Witness the mad tormenting pain, - When disappointed, we sustain. - Witness how eagerly we press on, - Witness our raptures in possession.” - - But here the Leopard, rising slow, - Expos’d his beauteous spots to show, - And with a grave majestic face, - Thus gave his verdict in the case: - “Pleasure consists not in such short - Imperfect transitory sport, - Of which the pains we’re at to get it, - O’erpays the bliss when we come at it; - Nor can it e’er be call’d true joy, - With such a mixture of alloy. - No, that must be the most refin’d - Which most exalts and charms the mind; - And nothing sure more charming is, - Than honour, pomp, and dignities, - Than grandeur and magnificence, - Than sumptuous trains and vast expense, - Than place, distinction, and preferment, - And when we die, a grand interment.” - - At this the Horse, with noble look, - Raising his crested neck, thus spoke: - “That merit should be rais’d on high, - I think ’s so just none can deny; - But he who places all his bliss - In the external pomp of this, - Knows not what greatness, nor what pleasure is; - His judgment errs as much at least - As his who thinks that painting best - Which is in gaudiest colours drest. - Of both we may affirm the same, - Their taste lies only in the gilded frame. - I grant preferment, honour, place, - Are rising steps to happiness; - But whilst we’re upwards thus aspiring, - We’re anxious still, and still desiring. - To act with an unbounded will, - Can only our desires fulfil; - Whence, the highest bliss, in my opinion, - Must be in power and dominion.” - - Thus all their various sense exprest, - And each advis’d what he thought best: - But still what each as best esteem’d - Was by the next that spoke condemn’d: - Meanwhile the savage monarch sate, - Attentive to the warm debate; - The nature saw, without disguise, - Of every beast in his advice. - But soon the disputants grew rude, - Confusion, noise, tumultuous feud - Enrage the jarring multitude. - Till weary’d out, the royal beast - Thus spoke, and silenc’d all the rest: - - “Cease, cease your vain contention, cease - Your shallow schemes of happiness; - Which only have confirm’d me more, - ’Tis where I thought it was before. - Greatness is no establishment - Of real bliss, or true content; - Luxurious banquets soon disgust; - We’re quickly pall’d with sensual lust: - Virtue alone can give true joy; - The sweets of virtue never cloy. - To take delight in doing good, - In justice, truth, and gratitude, - In aiding those whom cares oppress, - Administ’ring comfort to distress: - These, these are joys which all who prove - Anticipate the bliss above. - These are the joys, and these alone - We ne’er repent or wish undone.” - He spoke; the beasts without delay - Rose from their seats, and sneak’d away. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XX._ - -The Goat and Fox. - - Studious from diff’ring tales to show - That virtue makes our bliss below, - My warning voice to ev’ry heart, - May ev’ry faithful ear impart; - This one important truth believ’d, - Who can by vice be still deceiv’d? - Bliss is our aim, and bliss our end, - And he who points the path, a friend. - A Goat and Fox, by joint consent, - Together once a journey went; - With patient steps from morning’s dawn, - They measur’d hill, and vale, and lawn; - When Phœbus in the zenith rode, - A cheerless, pathless waste they trod; - The fainting wand’rers wide around, - With sighs survey’d the burning ground; - Again, and yet again they look, - To find the welcome cooling brook; - The welcome cooling brook in vain - They sought around the sun-burnt plain. - Onward they slowly pass, when lo! - A pit—and water—deep below; - Urg’d by a strong desire to drink, - They both leap headlong from the brink. - For appetite still foremost goes, - Quite blind to all beyond its nose; - And reason, impotently kind, - A tardy friend, limps far behind. - - Now when our pair had drank amain, - They thought of getting out again; - And long with aching hearts they try’d, - But this the steep ascent denied. - Reynard at length the goat addrest, - And thus his wily thought exprest: - - “Courage, my friend,—be rul’d by me, - We’ll soon from this mischance be free; - Here—of the pit the shallowest place, - On your hind legs your body raise, - And while thy horns my weight sustain, - At one light bound the shore I’ll gain; - And thence effectual aid can lend - To save thee, too, my dearest friend?”— - - The Goat consents—and by his aid - The Fox his leap successful made; - His friend look’d up, well pleased no doubt, - And deem’d himself as good as out; - But the false Fox with barb’rous sneer, - Cry’d, “Pox! how came you scrambling here?” - The Goat reply’d, “Forbear to flout, - Lest I should ask how you got out.” - Said he, “Of that no doubt remains, - You’d horns, my friend,—and I had brains, - You wear that wisdom on your chin, - Which I, more modest, hide within. - We beasts of sprightly thought despise - All who like thee look gravely wise— - Improve these useful hints aright, - You’ll profit much—and so good night.” - - This said, he titt’ring slunk away, - The Goat remain’d to death a prey. - In wonder lost, with horror chill’d, - With anguish, indignation fill’d, - The traitor-friend’s enormous guile, - Engross’d his shudd’ring soul awhile; - Awhile the wretched beast forgot - His pity’d, helpless, hopeless lot; - But after short suspense his woes - Return’d—as the stem’d torrent flows, - With trebled force—he scarce sustain’d - The shock—and thus at length profan’d: - “For ever let that maxim cease, - ‘That virtue’s paths are paths of peace.’ - Where’s that reward which learned pride - Boasts none from virtue can divide? - Where the sure woes of various kinds, - Which fate to vice for ever binds? - Life, joy (or what could make him smile). - The Fox obtains thro’ horrid guile; - My life, my humble guiltless joys, - At once a gen’rous trust destroys; - Jove’s slumb’ring vengeance lets him fly, - His goodness slumbers while I die.” - - A sylvan god who pass’d that way - (Of old none wander’d more than they), - By chance the rash impeachment heard, - And instant on the brink appear’d. - “Look up,” he cries, “no more despair, - The help you wish prevents your prayer; - Safe on the wish’d substantial plain, - I’ll set thy dying feet again. - The Fox with envy didst thou see? - Henceforth thyself a Fox shalt be.— - Thou shalt his prosp’rous vice possess, - And taste a Fox’s happiness.” - - The thing was done as soon as said, - A Fox, the Goat enfranchis’d, fled; - But feels within his alter’d mind, - His narrow’d love to self confin’d. - No more from others good his breast - The social joy serene possess’d; - No more by kind compassion mov’d, - His mercy is by foes approv’d. - Now mutual wants, love’s band below, - No means to fix a friend bestow; - Unlov’d, unloving, deep in earth - He gives his schemes of plunder birth. - From injur’d man, his friend so late, - He fears the stroke of potent hate; - With grief looks back on periods past, - His bloodless food, a blest repast! - Which late he cropt in peace profound, - With flocks, and herds, and men around; - Yet now abhors that guiltless food, - To rapine doom’d, and thirst of blood; - And mourns the days (to this a slave) - When heav’n a happier nature gave: - “By dear experience now I know, - That virtue’s only bliss below,” - He, sighing, said, in sad despair, - And thus prefers a falt’ring pray’r: - “Ye gracious pow’rs who rule above! - Who virtue and it’s vot’ries love! - I see my fault, my fault repent, - And own I ask’d the pains you sent. - I now th’ unrighteous thought forego. - That vice is bliss, and virtue woe: - Oh! make me what I was again, - Tho’ faint I tread the scorching plain; - Tho’ with a faithless Fox I stray, - Me tho’ again his wiles betray, - Make me a goat, tho’ void of wit, - You leave me dying in the pit: - ’Tis better far than thus alone - To live without one joy my own; - For while the past my mind retains, - My present pleasures are but pains.” - - He pray’d, to Jove the pray’r ascends; - His ear to pray’rs like these He lends. - “I (said the god) thy wish fulfil, - Henceforth, be virtuous—if you will - Be man—to him that pow’r I give; - Go, and by past experience live.” - Transform’d again with lifted eyes, - The man his story thus applies:— - - “From what appears, how little do we know - What others feel of happiness or woe! - Is vice your envy when of health possess’d, - With power, and pelf, and all externals blest? - Know that amidst that health, and power and pelf, - The thriving villain must abhor himself; - For who can bear, tho’ desperately brave, - The voice of conscience when it calls him knave? - Or who so dull, without regret to miss - Of conscious goodness the substantial bliss? - Ask your own heart, and search thro’ all you know, - Consult each various scene of life below, - All, all this universal truth attest, - The virtuous are, and can alone be blest.” - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXI._ - -The Kite and Nightingale. - - I’ll try to mimic honest _Gay_, - Who had a very decent way; - A pleasant wight of simple sort, - For ever filliping the court. - Let courts be quiet, if they know - The happy knack of being so. - The pestilence flies everywhere, - Almost indefinite as air: - All places need the fanning breeze, - To dissipate the rank disease. - Vice—(not like beasts for show—confin’d) - Runs mad at large, and bites mankind: - Alike the taint infects the brain - Of those that dwell in court and plain: - The same wild fury acts the will - In different ways, with different skill. - - A starving Kite, upon a bar - (Worn out with long fatigues of war), - Whose pointed claws, and hooked bill, - Shew’d his profession was to kill, - Thus grieving spoke in doleful strain: - (Your heart will pity and disdain)— - - “How blind is everything on earth! - And how injurious to my worth! - Tho’ all the cote my sorrow see, - No dove will help me with a pea: - _Hob’s_ field they robb’d a month together, - I never hurt a single feather; - The lark, whom I secure to rest - (I slew the snake that robb’d her nest), - Will not a little worm supply; - But would rejoice to see me die. - No crow invites me to a treat, - Tho’ what I kill’d he often eat. - Man, were he grateful, would determine - My merit in destroying vermin; - And make me happy to the last, - In justice to my service past. - But man, that thankless wretch is he, - Prefers yon Nightingale to me.” - - “Alas! (the Nightingale replies) - I own my little merit lies - In innocence and tender cares - About my family affairs; - Or chaunting soft a pretty tale, - To please my neighbours of the vale; - Perhaps we gratitude may want, - Because you are too arrogant: - Your worth, display’d with all your skill, - Lies chiefly in omitting ill; - And only then for want of power - To seize the dove you would devour. - There’s not a lark that flies, but knows - You long to grasp her in your claws. - The crow you never meant to treat; - You left him what you could not eat; - And man, who most a villain needs, - Detests you for your wicked deeds. - You pilfer duckling, game, and chicken, - Which furnish man with dainty picking. - There’s not a poacher roams the wood, - But who would shoot you, if he could.” - - Just had he said; forth pops a spark, - With gun and spaniel from the park; - The Kite he kens, with levell’d gun, - And brings the bloody boaster down. - - Thus justly villains are repaid, - Who follow mischief as a trade: - Who merit can pretend alone, - When cruel work is to be done, - To crush their kindred sort of men - With sword, with halter, or with pen; - Whose hollow merit is, at best, - To seem the most, and be the least; - Who own no right, pursue no guide, - But only interest or pride; - Or both together do prefer, - To run most certainly to err. - Such always claim beyond their due, - And always think you wrong them too; - Do all the wrong, yet most complain, - Whene’er they spread the net in vain; - Or bait a hook that fails to catch - The simple trout for which they watch - And innocence, with squint and frown, - Condemn _for vices all their own_. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXII._ - -The Four Bulls. - - Friendship! source of bliss sedate, - Best balm for all the wounds of fate! - ’Tis thine the sinking heart to raise, - When love retires, and health decays; - Unmix’d with thy sublimer fire, - Love’s but a fev’rish low desire, - And ill the self-destroying flame - Deserves that soft angelic name. - - Oh! could this verse, this fabling lay, - Extend or but confirm thy sway! - Or, warn’d by this, if only one - Thy foes’ destructive arts shall shun! - - Since dangers rise with every sun, - With ev’ry sand united run; - Four Bulls, by mutual vows ally’d, - The morrow’s unknown ills defy’d; - As one they mov’d, they fought, they fed, - And safety rose by union bred, - Nor this alone the good they found, - The private bliss of each went round; - Hence doubly bless’d the gen’rous heart, - Which scorns the bliss it can’t impart. - From day to day the Lion came, - But matters still appear’d the same: - This smote his inmost soul with grief, - For much he long’d for fav’rite beef; - What can he do? he fears to wage - Unequal war, and four engage. - Thought follows thought—he finds in vain: - Yet thought to thought succeeds again. - Half-form’d resolves, and embryo schemes, - And all the train of statesmen’s dreams, - With conflict rude disturb his mind, - To this nor that success inclin’d. - Suspense presides with fluttering wings, - From which she shakes a thousand stings. - - In this disastrous doubting case, - The Fox appears—with thinking face; - On him his royal master laid - His load of care, secure of aid; - Who paus’d a while with sober grace, - Then thus refin’d upon the case:— - - Not things of moment most, I find, - Have broke the union of the mind; - Ev’n mere mistakes, that pet or pride - Have made, the sacred band divide, - And deepest enmities arise. - From trifling things among the wise. - In friendship, slight’s the deepest wound, - And that is fancy’d more than found. - These hints improv’d, our ends may gain, - The Bulls divided, count ’em slain; - The Lion, pleas’d, reply’d, he knew - The Fox could forge a lie—or two; - Which he opin’d, in points like this, - Would not be very much amiss. - - Here wiser Reynard shook his head, - And this would never do, he said: - ’Tis ours to make these foolish elves, - My lord, be liars to themselves: - Suspicion rais’d, the very eye - Will unsuspected gravely lie, - And, when a friend it shall survey, - Th’ idea of a foe display, - As you shall see—— Away he flew, - And, to the friends as near he drew, - He smooth’d his brow, he coin’d a smile, - And put on all the masks of guile. - Then whispers one with friendly nod, - “Mark, is not yon behaviour odd? - The Bull must surely mean affront, - His tail is next you—fie upon’t! - How slighting that! and there’s another - Can scarce some high resentment smother; - He snorts, he paws, and fain would shew - By vengeance whence his troubles flow. - The third, how dull! regardless still, - What fate you prove, or good or ill.” - Appearance (treach’rous witness) here - Confirms the sounds that cheat his ear; - Suspicion soon alarm’d, and pride, - At once, to self the whole apply’d. - The Bull withdraws, resolv’d as due, - They first for his return should sue. - - The Fox returns, and boasts his arts, - And to his liege the truth imparts: - “The Bull who turn’d his tail so rude, - Meant only not his ear t’ intrude; - And he that spurn’d so fierce the ground - With anguish felt a hornet wound. - The third, the downy turf who prest, - Sought but the sweets of peaceful rest. - But come, to his remote retreat - I’ll guide my royal master’s feet.” - They go; the victim mourns too late - His absent friends and helpless state. - And slain, the Fox exulting cries, - “Not one but all shall be our prize.” - - Away he goes, and thus again - Infus’d soft flatt’ry, deadly bane! - “Great sir (says he to one), I swear - Your friends are rude, indeed they are; - Friendship a decent due respect - Should, rather than destroy, protect. - Superior far to these you rise, - The wise affirm: we trust the wise; - Your nobler port, your finer wit, - All with united voice admit; - And yet no just distinction’s made - No deference shewn, no homage paid. - I wonder at your choice, but here - ’Tis silence best becomes my sphere, - Tho’ might your slave presume to tell - What all the forest thinks as well, - These are perhaps the only Two - With whom your worth would lose its due.” - - The Bull (how easy praise deceives!) - With pleasure hears, with pride believes; - Puts on the lofty looks and airs - Which humble merit never wears. - To treat him as an equal now - Inflames his heart, contracts his brow - ’Tis envy, or, ’tis worse, ’tis hate, - Denies due honour to his state; - He could not bear th’ affronts they gave, - They break his peace, they make him rave; - They lov’d and they rever’d, he thought, - Less than the wretches knew they ought; - And (as is usual) storm’d and swore - That they might love and rev’rence more. - His friends, alarm’d, in deep amaze - On him, and on each other, gaze, - Disgust, in either’s bosom bred, - Was shewn as diff’ring tempers led, - One bold and warm the taunts returns, - And with contagious anger burns, - Than this, not plagues are sooner caught, - Nor with more dreadful evils fraught, - The other, meek, in secret pines, - And friends he could not keep resigns; - Resigns, tho’ late, with yearning heart, - And mourns persuasion’s useless art. - Retiring now he leaves the fray, - The Fox still mark’d his pensive way, - The Lion found and seiz’d his prize, - And, like the first, the second dies. - - The two who yet alive remain, - In dreadful conflict shake the plain; - The Fox observes the doubtful fight, - One drops—he smiles with fell delight; - Flies with the joyful news, and brings - The King to take what’s now the King’s. - Faint, breathless, bleeding on the ground, - The hapless victor soon they found; - He falls an unresisting prey, - And crowns the triumphs of the day. - - This tale a sage once told his son, - And thus apply’d it when he’d done:— - - “Do you, my child, with unsuspecting eye, - O’erlook what others labour to descry; - Kind to all faults, and to all failings blind, - Be you the last to think affronts design’d. - Cold seems thy friend?—by the severest laws - Thy conduct try, to find the latent cause. - Let thy heart pant for universal praise, - Such as, unbrib’d, to virtue, virtue pays. - Is this withheld? try ev’ry winning art - To melt the hard, to soothe the froward heart. - Sue for esteem—to all but fawning bend, - Whom this will purchase is a worthless friend; - But scorn the thought as vainest of the vain, - That what good-nature loses, pride will gain. - Less than your merit does your friend approve? - Still merit more—his love constrain with love. - This conduct try’d remains he still the same? - Learn you to pity what the world will blame. - The gen’ral censure, his neglect ensures, - Thy honour brightens and thy praise secures.” - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXIII._ - -The Pepper-Box and Salt-Cellar. - - The ’squire had din’d alone one day, - And _Tom_ was call’d to _take away_: - _Tom_ clear’d the board with dextrous art: - But, willing to secure a tart, - The liquorish youth had made an halt, - And left the pepper-box and salt - Alone upon the marble table: - Who thus, like men, were heard to squabble. - - Pepper began, “Pray, sir,” says he, - “What business have you here with me? - Is’t fit that spices of my birth - Should rank with thee, thou scum of earth? - I’d have you know, sir, I’ve a spirit - Suited to my superior merit— - Tho’ now, confin’d within this caster, - I serve a Northern Gothic master; - Yet born in _Java’s_ fragrant wood, - To warm an Eastern monarch’s blood, - The sun those rich perfections gave me, - Which tempted _Dutchmen_ to enslave me. - - “Nor are my virtues here unknown, - Tho’ old and wrinkled now I’m grown. - Black as I am, the fairest maid - Invokes my stimulating aid, - To give her food the poignant flavour, - And, to each sauce, its proper savour. - Pasties, ragouts, and fricassees, - Without my seasoning, fail to please: - ’Tis I, like wit, must give a zest, - And sprightliness to ev’ry feast. - - “Physicians too my use confess; - My influence sagest matrons bless; - When drams prove vain, and cholics teaze, - To me they fly for certain ease. - Nay, I fresh vigour can dispense, - And cure ev’n age and impotence: - And when of dulness wits complain, - I brace the nerves, and clear the brain. - - “But to the ’squire here, I appeal— - He knows my real value well: - Who, with one pepper-corn content, - Remits the vassal’s annual rent— - Hence then, Sir Brine, and keep your distance, - Go lend the scullion your assistance; - For culinary uses fit, - To salt the meat upon the spit; - Or just to keep our meat from stinking— - And then—a special friend to drinking!” - - “Your folly moves me with surprise,” - The silver tripod thus replies, - “Pray, Master Pepper, why so hot? - First cousin to the mustard-pot! - What boots it how our life began? - ’Tis breeding makes the Gentleman; - Yet would you search my pedigree, - I rose like Venus from the sea: - The sun, whose influence you boast, - Nurs’d me upon the British coast. - - “The chymists know my rank and place, - When nature’s principles they trace: - And wisest moderns yield to me - The elemental monarchy. - By me all nature is supply’d - With all her beauty, all her pride! - In vegetation I ascend; - To animals their vigour lend; - Corruption’s foe, I life preserve, - And stimulate each slacken’d nerve. - I give jonquils their high perfume; - The peach its flavour, rose its bloom: - Nay, I’m the cause, when rightly trac’d, - Of Pepper’s aromatic taste. - - “Such claims you teach me to produce; - But need I plead my obvious use, - In seasoning all terrestrial food; - When heaven declares, that Salt is good. - - “Grant then, some few thy virtues find; - Yet Salt gives health to all mankind: - Physicians sure will side with me, - While cooks alone shall plead for thee: - In short, with all thine airs about thee, - The world were happier far without thee.” - - The ’squire, who all this time sat mute, - Now put an end to their dispute: - He rung the bell—bade Tom convey - The doughty disputants away— - - The Salt, refresh’d by shaking up, - At night did with his master sup: - The Pepper, Tom assign’d his lot - With vinegar, and mustard pot: - A fop with bites and sharpers join’d, - And, to the side-board, well confin’d. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXIV._ - -The Sheep and the Bramble-Bush. - - A thick-twisted brake in the time of a storm, - Seem’d kindly to cover a sheep: - So snug, for a while, he lay shelter’d and warm. - It quietly sooth’d him asleep. - - The clouds are now scatter’d—the winds are at peace, - The sheep’s to his pasture inclin’d; - But ah! the fell thicket lays hold of his fleece, - His coat is left forfeit behind. - - My friend, who the thicket of law never tried, - Consider before you get in; - Tho’ judgment and sentence are pass’d on your side, - By Jove, you’ll be fleec’d to your skin. - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXV._ - -The Blackbird and Bullfinch. - - Perch’d on a poplar’s verdant spray, - A Blackbird sung the hours away; - Charm’d all around, and seem’d to call - On echo from his Lordship’s hall. - Confin’d in state a Bullfinch there, - The melting music chanc’d to hear— - Bursting with envy, silence broke, - And thus from gilded cage he spoke:— - - “Cease, bungler, thy discordant noise, - Untun’d thy throat, and harsh thy voice; - How dar’st thou, vagrant, as thou art, - To me thy dissonance impart? - Know’st thou I sing by studied rules, - And brag the learning of the schools? - Soft rapture to the heart convey, - And charm the list’ning soul away? - To please my Lord, and soothe his cares, - I warble soft Italian airs; - Which he in gratitude repays - With costly food, and gen’rous praise: - Whilst thou, condemn’d through air to rove, - Or hide thee in the gloomy grove, - To feebly suck thy beverage scant, - And pine in endless care and want; - To rocks and woods thy tale belongs, - Fit audience for thy stupid songs! - Away! no more my palace dun, - Or Dick, or Tom, shall fetch the gun.” - - He ceas’d—The fable bird returns - (With rising scorn his bosom burns), - “Thou little lordling, void of sense, - Dar’st thou, imperious, warn me hence? - Know, parasite, thy threats are nought, - Nor boast thy cage too dearly bought: - Above the frigid rules of art, - ’Tis nature’s dictates I impart; - Nor ever prostitute my lays, - But grateful sing my Maker’s praise; - Whilst echoing o’er the hills and plains, - I cheer the nymphs and lab’ring swains; - Whether the rising notes I swell, - Or lightly load the passing gale; - With bolder music fill the grove, - Or gently call my mate to love: - Whether the joys of summer sing, - Or chant the beauties of the spring; - The varied notes still new appear, - And sweet transition charms the ear: - Whilst thou, puff’d up with self-conceit, - And idle thoughts of being great, - Nor freedom canst thyself allow, - Nor give to others what is due; - But pedant-like, in pride, elate - (With notions, as thy prison, strait), - Think’st thou alone can urge the strain, - Thy boasted learning then, how vain! - Attend this truth, and know for once, - That _learning ne’er unmade the dunce_.” - - -[Illustration] - -_FABLE XXVI._ - -The Conceited Fly. - - ’Twas in the charming month of May - (No matter, critics, for the day), - When PHŒBUS had his noon attain’d, - And in his blaze of glory reign’d; - A FLY as gay as e’er was seen, - Clad o’er in azure, jet, and green; - Gay, for his part, as birthday beau, - Whose soul is vanish’d into show; - On PAUL’S famed temple chanc’d to light, - To ease his long laborious flight: - There, as his optics gaz’d around - (An inch or two their utmost bound), - He thus began:—“Men vainly tell - How they in works of skill excel: - This edifice they proudly show - To prove what human art can do; - ’Tis all a cheat—before my eyes - What infinite disorders rise! - HERE hideous cavities appear, - And broken precipices THERE: - They never us’d the plane or line, - But jumbled heaps without design.” - - He ceas’d contemptuous;—and as FLIES - Discern with microscopic eyes, - From what he saw he reason’d right, - But how inadequate the sight! - To mark the building from its base, - The pillar’d pomp, the sculptur’d grace, - The dome, the cross, the golden ball, - Much less the grand result of all! - - So impious WITS, with proud disdain, - REDEMPTION’S hidden ways arraign, - Deem it beneath a BEING wise, - And, judging with their insect eyes, - View but a part, and then deny - Th’ ETERNAL WISDOM of the sky. - But can thy ken, presumptuous man, - Unfold this deep and wondrous plan? - As well might insect organs see - Th’ harmonious structure rais’d by thee, - As thine imperfect tube explore - This wise and gracious system o’er. - - -_FINIS._ - -[Illustration] - - - - -FOOTNOTES - - -[1] An impression is given in “Jackson,” at page 477 (Edition 1861, -Bohn). See also next page. - -[2] Suidas. - -[3] Alsop. - -[4] Philostratus. - -[5] Pliny. - -[6] Priscian. - -[7] Institut. Orat. i. c. 9. - -[8] De Repub. Lib. ii. - -[9] This alludes to the well-known Fable of _The Fox and the Grapes_, -which, however absurd it may appear in this part of the world, is not so -in the East, for Dr Hasselquist, in his Travels, p. 184, observes, that -“the Fox is an animal common in _Palestine_, and that there is plenty -of them near the convent of St John in the Desert about vintage time; -and they destroy all the vines unless they are strictly watched.” To the -same effect _Solomon_ saith in the _Canticles_, ii. 15, “_Take us the -Foxes, the little Foxes that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender -grapes._” Therefore this ancient Apologue is very properly restored, -without prejudice to nature or common sense. - -[10] The Lion. - - - - -THE INDEX. - - PAGE - - PART I. - - _Ass and his Master_ 25 - _Ant and Caterpillar_ 52 - _Bee and the Fly_ 11 - _Bear and the Bees_ 31 - _Bear and Two Friends_ 33 - _Belly and the Limbs_ 37 - _Beggar and his Dog_ 61 - _Blind Man and Lame_ 47 - _Boy and the Nettle_ 60 - _Butterfly and the Rose_ 4 - _Clock and the Dial_ 5 - _Country Maid and the Milk-Pail_ 8 - _Daw with borrowed Feathers_ 40 - _Dog and the Crocodile_ 23 - _Eagle and the Crow_ 27 - _Eagle and the Owl_ 43 - _Fortune and School-boy_ 36 - _Fox and the Bramble_ 3 - _Fox and the Stork_ 63 - _Genius, Virtue, and Reputation_ 15 - _Hermit and the Bear_ 18 - _Huron and Frenchman_ 12 - _Industry and Sloth_ 16 - _Jupiter’s Lottery_ 54 - _Lion and the Gnat_ 22 - _Lion, Bear, Monkey, and Fox_ 48 - _Lion and the Ass_ 29 - _Lion, Tiger, and Fox_ 28 - _Miller, his Son, and Ass_ 1 - _Mock-bird_ 51 - _Oak and the Willow_ 32 - _Partial Judge_ 20 - _Passenger and Pilot_ 19 - _Sick Lion, Fox, and Wolf_ 45 - _Snipe Shooter_ 56 - _Spider and Silkworm_ 10 - _Sun and the Wind_ 59 - _Tortoise and Two Crows_ 7 - _Trees and the Bramble_ 65 - _Trumpeter_ 30 - _Two Horses_ 49 - _Two Dogs_ 57 - _Trouts and Gudgeon_ 58 - _Two Lizards_ 53 - _Wasps and the Bees_ 35 - _Wolf in Disguise_ 24 - _Wolf and the Lamb_ 39 - _Wolf and Shepherds_ 42 - - PART II. - - _Age to be Honoured_ 164 - _Ant and Fly_ 79 - _Ants and Grasshopper_ 130 - _Ass, Ape, and Mole_ 76 - _Bald Cavalier_ 132 - _Boar and Fox_ 140 - _Boy and False Alarms_ 91 - _Boy and his Mother_ 218 - _Brother and Sister_ 172 - _Cat and Fox_ 201 - _City Mouse and Country Mouse_ 69 - _Cock and the Jewel_ 67 - _Cock and Fox_ 161 - _Collier and Fuller_ 216 - _Countryman and Snake_ 100 - _Countryman and Ass_ 148 - _Crow and Pitcher_ 180 - _Discontented Ass_ 142 - _Dog and the Shadow_ 87 - _Dog, Cock, and Fox_ 128 - _Dog and Cat_ 134 - _Dog and Sheep_ 209 - _Dog and Bee_ 214 - _Eagle, Cat, and Sow_ 158 - _Father and his Sons_ 93 - _Fir and Bramble_ 106 - _Fox and the Crow_ 73 - _Fox and Countryman_ 109 - _Fox and Ass_ 138 - _Fox and Ape_ 153 - _Fox and Grapes_ 182 - _Fox that had lost his Tail_ 117 - _Gnat and Bee_ 102 - _Hares and the Frogs_ 76 - _Hercules and Carter_ 192 - _Horse and Ass_ 82 - _Husbandman and Stork_ 85 - _Impertinent and Philosopher_ 136 - _Joy and Sorrow_ 150 - _Jupiter and Herdsman_ 224 - _Mercury and Woodman_ 104 - _Mice in Council_ 175 - _Mountains in Labour_ 186 - _Old Man and Death_ 177 - _Old Hound_ 204 - _One-eyed Stag_ 111 - _Peacock and Crane_ 89 - _Proud Frog_ 211 - _Satyr and Traveller_ 155 - _Seamen Praying to Saints_ 115 - _Sick Father and Children_ 95 - _Sick Kite_ 195 - _Scoffer Punished_ 120 - _Shepherd and Young Wolf_ 119 - _Sparrow and Hare_ 199 - _Splenetic Traveller_ 166 - _Stag looking into the Water_ 97 - _Swan and Stork_ 123 - _Swallow and Spider_ 126 - _Thief and Dog_ 190 - _There’s no To-morrow_ 226 - _Two Frogs_ 188 - _Two Pots_ 197 - _Two Young Men and Cook_ 206 - _Undutiful Young Lion_ 146 - _Viper and File_ 184 - _Wanton Calf_ 221 - _Young Man and Swallow_ 169 - - PART III. - - _Angler and Philosopher_ 276 - _Ant and Grasshopper_ 231 - _Bears and Bees_ 269 - _Beau and Butterfly_ 267 - _Blackbird and Bullfinch_ 304 - _Butterfly and Boy_ 239 - _Camelion_ 250 - _Caterpillar and Butterfly_ 257 - _Cuckoo Traveller_ 229 - _Four Bulls_ 293 - _Conceited Fly_ 306 - _Goat and Fox_ 284 - _Hounds in Couples_ 241 - _King-Dove_ 247 - _Kite and Nightingale_ 290 - _Lion and other Beasts in Council_ 278 - _Pepper-box and Salt-cellar_ 299 - _Philosopher and Glow-worm_ 274 - _Sheep and Bramble-bush_ 303 - _Sow and Peacock_ 244 - _The Nightingale_ 235 - _Two Foxes_ 237 - _Three Warnings_ 253 - _Trees_ 271 - _Two Doves_ 263 - _Wolf and Dog_ 233 - -PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY - -EDINBURGH AND LONDON - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bewick's Select Fables, by Thomas Bewick - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEWICK'S SELECT FABLES *** - -***** This file should be named 60874-0.txt or 60874-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/8/7/60874/ - -Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - 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