Google
This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project
to make the world's books discoverable online.
It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject
to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books
are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.
Marks, notations and other maiginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the
publisher to a library and finally to you.
Usage guidelines
Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the
public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing tliis resource, we liave taken steps to
prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying.
We also ask that you:
+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for
personal, non-commercial purposes.
+ Refrain fivm automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.
+ Maintain attributionTht GoogXt "watermark" you see on each file is essential for in forming people about this project and helping them find
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.
+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just
because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other
countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of
any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liabili^ can be quite severe.
About Google Book Search
Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers
discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web
at |http: //books .google .com/I
V •"^t"*^*
FNnusH
1 ■' .nv
^(y^-
. D. WEBSTER,
RIAN ac EXPORT BOOKSELLER.
6ilij^X
ENGLISH FACULTY LIBRARY
University of Oxford.
This book should be returned on or before the latest date
below :
29APRt9S4
i1^jQC;T1964
a t\ i
Readers are asked to protect Library books from rain,
etc. Any volumes which are lost, defaced with notes, or
otherwise damaged, may have to be replaced by the
Reader responsible.
T
V •: — ■ ^.
.<
* •
»»
• ".
^^^«
"J ■ ■* '
»_
" 1
*^
.!• ~
' *'
r-i^^v,"'^
. ♦
• •>.
r . .
• r 'f
^•Ma-
**'
• • ■
FABLES
O F
M^ s o P
AND
OTHERS:-
*
TRANSLATED into ENGLISH.
WITH
INSTRUCTIVE APPLICATIONS;
And a Print before each Fable.
By SAMUEL CROXALL, D.D,
LATE'ARCHDEACON OF H£R£FORD«
THE FOURTEENTH EDITION,
GAftirVLLY RITISES AMJ> IMFROVEO*
LONDON:
Printed for J, F. and C. Rivinoton, T. Long^
MAN, B. Law, C. Dilly, J.Johnson, G. Grj.
AND J, Robinson, T, Cadell, R. Baldwin,
J. Bew, W. Goldsmith, W. Ginger, W.
Lowndes, Scatchbrd and Whitaker, W«
Bent, £. Newbery, C* Stalker, and B. C.
CoLLiMS^ 1788.
1
TOT HI Right £IoNOuaAB(,K
G E O R G E,
Lord Vifcount Sun bury, Baron
Halifax.
. My Lord,
YOU muft not be furprifed at my
beggtug Your Protedibn for this
little Book, when laflure You it was
principally intended for Your Perufal.
I had often wiflied to fee fomething of
this Kind publtfhed by an abfe Hand:
A3 And,
DEDICATION.
And, for waftt of that, have Sometimes
had an Inclination to do it myfelf : But
never came -to any Refolution in that
Point, till very lately; when, at Hortpn^
I had the Pleafure to find Your Lord-'
flrip,.tho' but in your fifth Year, capable
of reading any Thing in the EngUJh
Tongue,^ without the leaft Hefitation>
Thefe Fables, My Lord, abound in
Variety of Inftriiftion, Moral and Poli-
tical. They furnifh us with Rules for
every Station of Life : They mark out
^a proper Behaviour for us, both hi
refpeft of ourfelves and others ; and
demonftrate to usy by a Kind of Exam-
ple, every Virtue which claims our heft
Regards," and every Vice which we are
moft concerned to avoid. Confiderihg
them in this View, I could not think
*t)f any Thing more proper, to be put
ib early into Your Lordfliip's Haiids,
•as well for Your own Sake, as that.
of the Public. As I wi(h You all tbc
'*Happinefs which Man can enjoy, I
know of nothing more likely to procuife
c ^ . ^ it.
it^ til^* Your im^bing; to Your ChilJ-
M>od^ {\^ $e^ of Reafon and Pb'ilo-
io^ji, ' afi«a»Ay reftify an^fwtedten every
Part^af Y^ilr.i&ftuM Lifie* 'And as You
are By Birth intitled to a Share in Ihfe
Adipimfttati^rt of the Government, I
flatter snyjfclf diat your Country m\\ feel
the Benefit of thefe Leftures of Mora-
lity; vvhen hereafter it beholds Your
Lordihip, fteadily purfuing thofe Prin-
ciples of IJoueAy and Benevolence,
which, by fuch Inftruftions in Your In*
fancy. You will be tarught to love.
I ana happy, irpon ftveral Accounts,
in the Opportunity I take in addreffii^'
.myfelf to Yqi^v Lordftip* in this early
Tinae of Yqur .Life. . Without any Re-
, flexion upon Your Parte, My Lord, I
comfort myfelf with the Confideration,
that You are not yet able to difcern all
the Imperfedlions of my Performance
Nay, when you are a little older, and
-Your Judgment is ftrong enough to dif-
cover every Weaknefs inthe following
'Sheets^ You will yet remember for what
^ A 4 a young
DEDICATION.
a young Capacity they, were intended ;
and whatever You may think of the
Style and Language, the honeft Purpofe
of the Whole canndt fail of Your Appro-^
bation.
Another Advantage, My Lord, is^
That when I tell the World You are
the moft lovely and the moft engaging
Child that ever was born^ I cannot be
charged with ofiending in Point of
Flattery. No one evec faw You but
thought the fame.
Aud this puts me in Mind, that You
^ure defcei^d fiom d Race of Patrons*
Arts and Learning did not owe more to
the Influeiice of Metenas at Rome^ than
they have done to that of Montagu at
LiOndon. Perhaps* young as You are.
You may think it ftrangc to find Your-
felf at the Head of a Dedication ; But,
My Lord, nobody elfe will wonder at
it. You are born to proted and encou-
rage all Endeavours at the Public Good.
We cannot help telling You, that we
eiipcd it from you : and we beg Leav<5
to
\
DEDICATION.
to put You in Mind to affcrt Your na*
tive Right*
If it is true, that Virtue may be con-
veyed by Blood, and communicated by
Example, I have all the Prefumptipn
imaginable for what I aflert. My Lord^
Your Father, the Earl of Halifax,
poflefles every agreeable Quality in
Life: Whether natural or acquired, I
will not pretend to determine. They
are fb eafy and habitual to Him^ one
would think them born with Him;
but at the fame Time fo accomplifti-
cd, that we cannot but difcover thev
have had the Advantage of a finifhed
Education*
If I durft follow the Suggeftions of
a Heart truly fenfible of them, I could
dwell with Pleafure upon every Parti-
cular of his Worth. But nobody who
deferve§ Applaufe fo much, declines it
more than he does. Indeed, My Lord,
his Merit is fo great, that we canqot do
him Juftice in that RefpeiS^ without of-
fending him.
A 5 Thar,
D E b I C A T I O N.
That^ upon all Occafions, you may-
imitate the Example he fets, and copy-
out his Virtues, for your 'own and the
Welfare of Mankind, is the finccre
Wifh of,
M^ Lord,
Tour hordjhifi
moji obedient^ and
moji humble Servant^
Hampton-Court,
May I, 1722.
«. CROXALL.
PREFACE
SO much bas been already faid concerning -J^/ and
his Wfitmgs, both by ancient and modem Authors,
that the Subjed Teems to be quite exhauflcd. The dif-
ferent Conjedlurcs, Opinions, Traditions, and Forge-
ries, which from Time to Time we have had given to
us of him', wotttd fill a large Volume : But they are, for
the moft Part^ fo inconfiftent and abfard, that it wouM
be but a dull Amufemcnt for the Reader to be led into
fuch 1 Maee of Uncertainty : Since Herodotus^ the moft
ancient Ortek Hiftorian, did not flonriA till near an
hundred Years after jEfip.
As fbr his Life, with which we are entertained in fo
complete a Manner* before moft of the Editions of his
Fables, it was invented by one Maximms Piajinttes, tGreei
Monk ; and, if we may judge of him fram that Com po-
rtion, jaft as judicious and learned a Perfon, as the reft of
his Fraternity arc at this Day obferved to be* Sure there
never were (b many Blunders ai)d childiih D/eams. mixed
up together^ as are to be met with in 4^e ihort Compafa
A 6 . ' of
PREFACE.
of that Pieee. For a Monk» he might be very good and.
i^'ife, ,bat in Point of Hiftory and Chronology, he fhews
himftlf to be vcty ignorant. He brings jEjfef to Bafy"
Ivfty in the Reign of I^ng Ljcerus, a King of his own
making ; for his Name is not to be found in any Ca-
talogue, from Nahonafar to Altxander th$ Great i Na^
honadiusy mofk probably, reigning in Babylon about
that Time. He fends him into Egypt in the Days of
Ni&aneho, who was not in being till two Hundred
Years afterwards ; with fbme other grofi Miftaket of
that Kind, which fufficiently (hew us that this Life was
a Work of Invention, and that the Inventor was a
bungliftg poor Creature. He never mentions JSJbp*^
being at Athens i though Pbadrns fpeaks of him as 'one
that lived the greateil Part of his Time there ; and it
appears that he bad a Statue ereded in that City to his
Memory, done by the Hand of the famed Lyfippus. He
writes of him as living at Somas , and interefting him-
felf in a public Capacity in the Adminiflration of the
Affairs of that Place; yet, takes not theleaft Notice of
the Fable which ^AriftatU tells as he fpoke in Behalf of
a famous Demagogue there, when he was impeached for
embezzling tht^ public Money ; nor does he indeed give
OS the ieail Hint of fuch a Circumftance. An ingenions
Man might have laid together all the Materials of this
Kind that are to be found in good old Authors, and, by
the Help of a bright Invention, conneAed and worked
them up wich Succefs; we might have fwallowed fach
an impofition well enough, becaufe we (hould not have
known how (o contradiA it : But in Planndits^i Cafe, the
Impoflure is doubly difcovered ; firfl, as he has the im-
queilioeed Authority of AntiquitjF againd him ; fecond*
ly, (and if the other did not condemn him) as he has
^Ar'ifi, Riet, Lib. 2. Cdp. %u '
9 intro-
PREFACE.
introdflced the witty, ^creet, jiHiicioat JBfip^ qnib«
bliBg in a Strain ot low Monaftic Wagpry, and at
archly dull as a Moantebank's Jeiler.
That there was a Life of JBfift either written or
traditionary, before AriJt§tU*% Time, 10 pretty plain ;
and that there was Ibmcthing of that Kind extant in
Jupt/iui*% Ragn, is, I think, at undonbted; iinco
Pbadms mentions many Tran&ftionsof hts, daring hit
Abode at Jtknu. Bat it is as certain, that FUunuUs
met with nothing of this Kind ; or, at leaft, that he
inet not with the Acconnu with v^ich they were for*
niihed, becanfe of the Omiffions before-mentioned |
and confeqaently with node fo aathenticand good. Hp
feems to have thrown together fome merry Conceits
which occnrred to him in the Coi»He of his Reading,
foch as he thought were worthy of jE/o^, and very
confidently obtrudes them upon as for his* Bat, when
at laft he brings him to Dilpbos (where he was put to
Death by being thrown down from a Precipice) that the
Ddfbians might have fome Colour of Jo^ce for what
they intended to dp, he favours th«n with the fame
Stratagem which Jofipb made uie of to bring back his
Brother Benjamin ; they.clandeltinely convey a Cup into
his Baggie, overtake him opon the Road, after a Itrift
Search £nd him guilty ; upon that Pretence carry him
back to the City, cotidemn and execute him.
As I would neither impofe upon others^ nor be im-
poied upon, I cannot, as foihe have done, letfuch StuiF
as this pafs for the Life of the great JSfip. Planudu
has Httle Authority for any Thing he has delivered con-
cerning Jiim ; nay, as far as I can £nd, his whole Ac-
count, from the Beginning to the End, is mere Idvep-
tion, excepting fome few Circumftances ; fuch as the
Place of' his Birth, and of his Death ; for in rt^^^k. of
the Time in which be lived, he has blundered t%Tt^
gioufly.
n
:p R R E A C R.
.wkh -^y^, wiick wene fiir eAough from hfeiag fo.
Xanthus, his fuppofed Mtft^r, p«tt ki« Wife into -a
Pafion, by bringing fiich d Pfece erf" I>e£irmity into
lier Hoof?* ais our Author is deicrlMl.to be. Up«n
■ thifi,'tke Mafter. reproacbe& hi# Sla^efw^ not -Irt taxing
v&methitg witty, at;a,Timc cha^f^c/ned torcqaircitfo
; ihach: Aft'ii ^tv^ J^t «am^ mi|i flli|>,4»ib^ witH.a
. fetirkal Reiiexio» «pcH» Woro^n, takf« ivvnx B^ripid^s^
■ the fampus Greek Tfi^dian, Now Emiphies hftppescd
- jiot to be born till about fonricore Year$ %fter jEfpp'^
: Dcairh. What Credit therjeforc cam be givea to a«y
• Thing Planuiiet.ffiy^. of him f
i As to the PJacc of bis Btrth, I will tlloiv, with the
. Generality of thofe whoha¥e wmten about kim, that it
* wight haye bew fome Town inPMrjigui M^or. Lnciun
cafts him AMr*«ras I 4^«| : In Pb^drus he is ftyied Fhryx
JEJc^fus\ and A. Gellius, making mention of him, fays,
jE/apus zlle,^ i PifryV^* Fi^ulaior. That iie was alfo
by Condition a Slave, we may conclude ffom what
Ph^drus f relates of him« But whether at both 8amos
■ and Athens, be does not particularly mention : Tho' I
am inclined to think it was^t the laueronly; becaufehe
- oiiea fpeaks of him' as living at that Place; and never
at any other. Which looks as if Pbainius believed that
he had never lived any i|i^hcre elfe. Nor do I fee bow
' be CO aid help being of that Opinion, if others of the
.-Ancients, whofe Credit is equally good, did not carry
Jiim into other Places* Arijiotle introduces him (as I
mentioned before) fpeaking in public to the SamioMs,
• vpon the Occaiion of their Demagogue, or Prime Mi-
- nifter, being impeached for plundering the Common-
!ivealch : In which Oration he miakes him infert the %
•J- Lib. 1* Fab. 9. & Lib. 3. Fah. ig.^
t CKCY, of thic CdUetiM*
-^ Fablo
PREFACE.
Fable of tke Fox wlio wM peHercd ^ith PIIm $ aftd
wlio, upon an Hedgehog's offering to drive them aw«y,
' would not c^afent to it, apon Sufpkioft that a n€w
Swars) would come- in their room, and drain him of all
the reft of the Blood in his Body. Which jE/op applif s
tliQB : Te Min •/ Samos, Uf me intremly^ H d9 as the F^x
4id% for this Man bm*ving get Memy eneugby can hone no
farther Occafon to rob you ; but if you put him to Deaths
fame eteedy Ftrfon will fill his PUee, nnhofe Wants mufi be
f applied out of your Property*
I canaotbttt think ^fop was fomething above the De-
gree of a Slave, whan he made fojch a Figure as an emi*
nent Speaker in the BamianSiztt. Perhaps he might have
been in that low Condition in the former Part of his
J^ife; and therefore Pbadrus^ who had been of the fame
Rank himfelf, might love to inlarge upon this Circum-
iUnce, fince ke does not choie to reprefent him in any
higher Sphere. Unlefs we allow him to be X fpeaking
in as public a Capacity to the Athenians^ upon the Occa-
ficn of Pififiratus'^% feizing their Liberties, as we have
before fiippofed he did to the Samians, Bpt however^
granting that he was once a Slave, we have great An-
thority that he was afterward^ not only fttt, but in high
Veneration and Efteem with all that knew him ; efpeci*
ally all that were eminent for Wifdom and Virtue. Ptu*
torch, in his Banquet of the Se*uen Wife Men, among fc-
veral other illuftrious Perfons, celebrated for their Wit
and Knowledge, introduces jEfop, And, tho' in one
Place he feems to be ridiculed by one of the Company
for being of a clumfy mongrel Shape, yet in general he
is reprefented as very courtly and polite in his Beha-~
vioor. He rallies Solon and the reft for taking too much.
Liberty in prefcribing Rules for the Conda6l of Sove«
reign Princes ; putting them in Mind, that thofe who
X Fhad* Lib. i. Fab. 2.
^ ' aipire
P R E F A C E.
afpire to be theFriend$ and Connfellorsof fuch^lofe chat
Charader, and carry Matters too far when they proceed
to ceo fure .and find Fault with them. Upon the Credit
of Flutartbi jikewi/e, we fix the Life of JBfip in the
Time of Crafus, King o^ Ljdia ; with whom he was in
fuch Eileem, as te be deputed by him to confult the
Oracle at Delplnis, and be fent as his Envoy to Ftriaiukr
King of Corinth ; which was about three Hundred and
twenty Years after the Timem which ^0w^ lived, and
five Hundred and Fifty before Chrift,
Now» though this imaginary Banquet of P/»ftfrri& doe^
not carry with it the- Weight of a Prions Hillory, yet
we may take it for granted, that he introduced nothing
in his fifiitious Scene, which might contradid either the
written or traditionary Life of ./^/ ; but rather chofe to
make every Thing agree with it. Be that as it will, this
is the Sum of the Account which we have to give t>f
him. Nor, indeed, is it material for us to know the little
trifling Circutoftances of his Life ; as whether he lived
^xZamos or Athens^ whether he was a Slave or a Free-
man, whether handfome or ugly. He, has lef^ us a Le-
gacy in his Writings that will preferve his Memory dearv
and perpetual among us : What we have to do, theie-
fore, is to (hew ourfelves worthy of fo valuable a Pre*
fent, and to adt, in all Refpeds, as near as we can to
the Will and Intention of the Donor. They who are^
governed by Reafbn, need no other Motive than the
mere Goodnefs of a Thing to incite them to the Prac-
tice of it. But Men, for the moft Part, are fo fupcrfi-^
cial in their Enquiries, that they take all upon Truft ;
and have no Taftc for any Thing but what is fupported
by the Vogue of others, and which it is incooAflent with
the Faftiion of the World not to admire.
As an Inducement, therefore, to fuch as thefe to like
thcPcrfon and Coaverfation ^Mfofy 1 mufl affure them
PREFACE.
diat he warheld in great Eflectn by moil of the great
Wits of old. There is feared an Author among the An*
cient Greeh, who mixed any Thing of Morality in his
Writings* but either quotes or mentions him. Socrmtes
is defcribed by * Plato as turning fome of his Fables
into Verfe; and that in feme of thofe ferions Honrs
i^ich he fpcnt in Prifon, a little before his Deaths
Ariftopbants not only takes Hints from him« but men*
tions him much to his Honour^ as one whofe Works
were, or ought to be read before any other. He brings
in one Man upbraiding another with Ignorance and
Illiteratenefs in thefe Words, ^^ Aifxrwro? viirarixcf, T*^
baife not fo much as read iEfop ; it being, as Smiita
obfervcs, a proverbial Expr^ion. Ariftoile (as you have
fcen) /peaks of him to his Advantage. Latrtius tells as
Demetrius Pbalereus wrote a book intituled Ar<riMrii«», 9t
Altroutiiift Aoyvf £»wAy»* ; being a Colle£lion of Fa-
bles, ib many of which were j^/of^f, Or done in his
Manner, that he thought fit to call the whole by his
Name. Ennius and Horace have embelHihed their Poe-
try with him. n^drus gives him abundant Applaaie.
And A. Gtllius delivershis Opinion of him in a Manner
too particular to be omitted. .£fep tbe Pbrygisui (£iya
he) the famous Fahulifl, has juftly acfutrida Reputaiiom,
for bis fflfdom; for, as to thofe Things which are tem*
fcial and adwftahle for us to do, he does uot dilate oMd
*frefcribt them in that haughty dogmatic^ ^^y% fi ««'^
ufed by fome other Philefophers ; but dreffes up a Parcel of
mgreeabk entertaining Stories, and by them conveys to the
Mind the moft ntiholefome and feafonable DoBrine, in tU
moft acceptable and pleafant Manner. As that f Fable of
bis, for Example, of the Lark and her Young Ones,
mtartts us, in the prettieft Way imaginable, never to U^
0fip Strefs upon the Affiftance of others ^ in regard to teitp
' • /» Ph«4oAe* * tFab.XXXVIII^
Ajfdit
PREFACE-
Mem, Then he. proceeds to giyc ^s a, fine Verfion of
,the Fable itfelf j and, having finilhed it. This f Mi of
^op, fays the, is a Leaure to us conctrni^g the liitU J8/.
Jiance w ought to ha^ys upon Friends nnd Relations, and
r ^hai n^ da thigra've Booh ofPhiloJopbers teach ^ m^Pi,
'zT* *^^ '^ ^^"^'^ ^^/^^«/^« 9ur/el<ves onJy j and n4t
. foei upon tho/i Things ^hich art beyond our Rtacb, as any
<Q^Hctrnof our4*
Thu$ we fee, whatever his Perfon was, the Beanies
' of his Mind were v^xj charminjg and engaging ; that the
. inoft celebrated among the .Ancients were his Admirers;
th^t they fpeak of him with Raptures, and pay as great
' ^^^^?*^ ^^ Wm, as to any of the. other wife Me^i who
. lived in the fame Age- Nor can I perceive, from any
; ^^^^^ of Antiquity, that he was fo deformed as the
, Monk has reprefented him. If he had, he mnft have
been fo mooftrous and /hocking to the Eye, ^s not
.only to be a y^ry improper Envoy for a great King, but
icarce fit to be admitted as a Slave in any private Fa-
.Hiily. Indeed, from what Plutarch hints of him, I fuf-
: pea he had fomething particular in his Mien, but r^-
, th€r Odd than \}g\y^ and more ^pt to excite Mirth than
.Difguft, in thofe that con ver fed with him. Perhaps
fomething hiimorous difplayed itfelf in his Countenance
afi well as his Writings ; and it might be upon Account of
• both, that he, got the Name of r€X4;To>ot^ as Lucitm
calls him, and ,his Works that of rt;«r«. However,
•. %VQ -wiJl go a middle Way ; and withoijt injGfting upqn
I his beauty, or giving into his Deformity, allow him to
' >a^e made a merry comical Figure ;^ at leail as hand-
. fome as Socrates; but at the fame Time conclude, th?it
. thi^ Particularity in the Frame qF his Body was fo far
\^^m k^^g of any. Diiad vantage to )iiip, that it g^v^^a
mirthful
1^ R E F A G E.
*inirthfar Caft to every Thing hefdd, Md addtd a Kind
of Poignancy to his Converfation.
We have Teeii what Opinioft the Andencs lud of our
Author, and his Writings. Now, as to the Manrv^r ^f
conveying Inftru^ion by Fables In generat, tho* man^
good Vouchers of Antiquity fafficiently recommend it,
^et, to avoid tiring the Reader's Patience, I (hall wave all
-Quotatiotic from chence, and lay btfo/e him the TeftU
mony <yf aModern; whofe Authority, in Potntof Judge-
ment, itditoniequtntly in the prefent Cafe, may be as
readily acknowledged as that of any Ancient of them
all. t ^aSUi, fays Mr. Addifon, n^tn th9firfi Pieces •/
Wit that made their Appteiranie in the World \ and home
been ftill bighlyualuedy not only in Times ef the great eft
Sin^lieity, hut e^mong the moft polite Jget of Mankind.
Jotham V Fahle of the Trees // the oldefttbat is extant^ and
• «J hedutiful as anj 'which have been madefince that Tiitl0
Nathan'/ Fahle ofK\\e poor Man and his Lamb, // like-
n»}i/e more ancient than any that is extant ^ hefides the
abo've-nuntioned^ and had Jo good an Effed, as to convey
Jnftruaion to the Ear of a King, ^without offending it, and
to bring the Mast after God^s own Heart to a right Senfe of
Ms Guilty and bis Duty. WefrndM^^ inihe maft diftant
Ag€s of Greece. And, ifnne look into the ntery Beginning
of the Cotnmoetwealtb ef Rome, 'we fee a Mutiny among
the common People appeafed by the Fable of § the Belly
and the Limbs ; which was indeed 'very proper to gain the
Attention of an incenfed Rabble, «/ a Time, ijohen, perhaps,
they would haw tern to Pieces any Man who had preached
the fame Doarime to them, in an open and direa Mann^^
As Fables took their Birth in the -ntery Infancy of Learning,
they nenjor fiourififed more than when Learning was at its
guateft Height. Tojuftify this Affmion, I Jball put my
Reader in MindofJiorsLCC, the greateft Wit and Critic in
' X Spca. No. 183,' § Fab. XXX VII.
the
P R E F A C E.
*
$bi Auguftan Jgt ; and $f Boiieaii* tht mtft com A Put
among the Moderns ; not to mention la Fontaine, ovi^ fy
tit* Way of Writings is come more into Vogne than any
other Anthor of our Times. After this, he proceeds to
give ibme Account of that Kind of Fable, in which the
Paiions, and other imaginary Beings, are AAors ; and
concludes with a moft beautiful one of that Sort, of his
own contriving. In another Place, he gives us a Tran-
flation from Homer of that inimitable Pkble comprifed
■m
in the Interview betwixt Jnpiter and Juno^ when the lat-
ter made Ufe of the Girdle of Venus, to recal the Af-
feiftionof her hufband ; a Piece never fufficicntly to be
recommended to the Pcrufal of fuch of the Fair Sex, as
are ambitious of acquitting themfelves handforaely in
Point cf conjugal Complacence. But I muil not omit
the excellent Preface, by which the Fable is introduced,
% Reading is to the Mind, fays he,wii^a/ Exercife is to the
Body: As by the one. Health is frtfer^ed, flrengthened^
and invigorated ; hy the other Virtue {which is tke Health
of the Mind) is kept alive, cherijhed, and confirmed. But^
as Exerci/e becomes tedious and painful when we make Ufe
of it only as the Means of Health, fo Reading is too apt $e
grow une^fy and burthtnfme, when we apply ourfelves $9
it only for our Improvement in Virtue. JFor this Reafou,
the Virtue which we gather frpm a Fahle, or an Allegory^
is Hie the Health we get by Hunting, as we are engaged in an
agreeable Purfuit thai draws us on with Pleafure, and
makeius infenfible of the Fatigues that accompany it.
Having given my Reader the Opinion of this great
Man, who has fpoken fo much and fo well in Favour of
the Subjeil I am concerned in, there is no Room for me
to enlarge farther upon that Head. His Argument dc-
monftrajcs the Ufefulnefs and Advantage of this Kind of
PREFACE.
Wridngt beyond pontradi^oii : Tt therdbie ontf n*
iiudns that I mike ^me Apology for troabling the Pnb*
lie with a new Edition, Df what they have had fi» oftaa,
and in fo many 4iArent Forms already.
Nothing of this Natare has been done^ finee £#-
ftrmmg^i Time, worth mentioning; and we had nothing
before, bat what (as he t obferves) was fo infifid mnd
JUa in tbt Mors!, umJfi eomr/e mad tmamib in the 8tjfh
ami Didi9n, that they wire ratbir dmngir$ui tbmnfr^s^
*/r, M H the Purpofifir which tbijf wire prineifMj^ iu»
tended \ and likely t$ de forty Tsmes mere Harm than Gmd.
I ihall therefore only obfenre to my Reader, the Infnf-
ficiency o£ Leftrange*^ own Performance as to the Pnr-
pofe for which he profefles to have principally intended
it; with fome other Circustiibuices, which will help to
cxcufe, if not jaftify^ what I have enterprized upon the
fame Subjed*
Now the Parpofe for which he principally intended
his Book, as in his Preface he expends a great many
Words to inform as, was for the Ufe and Inftradion
of Children ; who being, as it were, mere blank Paper,
art readjf indifferently fir any Opinion, geeder had, taking
all upon Credit ; and that it is in the Power of the firft
Comer to write Saint or Devil upon them, which he pleafes.
This being traly and certainly the Cafe, what poof
Devils would Lejlrange make of thofe Children, who
ihoold be fo unfertanate as to read hu Book, and inn
bibe his pernicious Prin^ples ! Principles coined and
fuited to promote the Growth, and ferve the Ends of
Popery and Arbitrary Power. Tho' we had never beea
told he was a Penfioner to a Popifh Prince, and that he
himfelf profeffed the fame Religion, yet his Refle6tions
upon JEfip would difcoverit to us: In every political
Touch, he ihews himfelf to be the Tool and Hireling of
t Pref. u Part I.
the
PR E F A C E;:
the Po{nAi Faiftied ; fince ctcb a SUre^ witiibut ibihe
iDcroenary View, woul^ not bring Arguments to juftify
Sl4mEt7,«or mdeaTbttf tp eilabUfh Arbitrary Power upon
the Bafis of Right ReaA:(a. W^4c/brt of Children there-
fore am the Bhmk Pmfer, upofi> wkkh fdch Morality as
thiaettghc to be written I Not jibe Ghftidreil of Britain,
I liape> for they arc bora with free Blood io their Veins,
and Hick la Liberty with their very Milk* This they
ihcNild be taugJit to love and cheri/h above ell Things^
and^ iipooOecfifioiii to defend and' vindicate it; as iti^
thjft Glory of their Cooa try, the greateft Hleffijng of their
Lites^ and the peculiar happy Privilfeige in which they
excel all the World befides. Let therefore the Chil-
dren of Italy y Framce, Sfain^ and the reft of the Popifli
Conntries fgrniih him with Blank Paper for Principles,
of which free* born Mritams^ are not capable. The ear-
lier fuch Notions are infilled in fuch Minds as theira .
indeed, the better it will be for theiti, as it will keep
them from thioking of any other than the abje^ fervile
Condition to which they arc bora» Bat let the Minds
of oar Sritijh Youth be for ever educated and improved
in that Sf^irit of Truth and Libert/, for the Support of .
which their Anceilors Have often. bniv«ly epKhaufted fb.
much Blood and Treafure.
Had any Thing tending to debs^fe and inflave the .
Minds of Men beea iqiplied, either in the Fables or
Morals of ^fif, upon which Liftrangt was to make juft
and fair Refl^dlions, he might have pleaded that for an
Ex^ufe« Bat jB/of^ though it iKas his own accidental .
Misfortune to be a Slave^ yet pa£ed the Time of hf s Ser-
vitude among the free States of Greece, where he favr
the high £fteem in which Liberty was held, and pofli-
bly learned to value it accordingly. He has not one .
Fablejt or lb much as a Hint, to favour LeJlrMige^% In-
• I fin nations
PR' E F AC E;^
ihtiutioBt ; bat» on tte tahifatj, taiots all Oecdfioos to :
rtfioiMitod » Low fbf Liberty^ and an- ^Wotrclice of
tymaiy^ awl. i41 aiiAtrarf Prooecdi&gs. Yot Lt^ftmngr
(tHbi^gh in fhc ?teiktt co liisSecoma Part» he a As tJlefir
Wdt^ Ibd^H €lhfiilt4JtJ^ htfi AutkwUits Ifuldmmi
toj^hd^ in ibe GMce c/ the CplUai^^ 'withmt Jirmmhi^:
aj0 fhiit^y M ikU ^kih^ hiymd tk^Jhria^f E^hy ^« .
fi^^nitthhmctni MekAfitg) ii^totiolifly penwrU both
tiui 8bn(b* a^a Medniag of ft V«rtii PiM4» ; partkalaf If
wiieh'^fi^Iltkal rnftraditlii u ^oaihiftii m th^ Apjfki^
Gfttidii. For Sxamf»te, in the la«MM« Pabk of fiitf ^cg^
«n/ ^iv liTt^. Afcer a long tedious amuiiflg Refie^toa,
without tofio WorA'td the Purpofiv, he tellt im at iaH^
Tb$it tii F^eed^m^hieh JSJb^hfo it^dit of hire, i$ h he
•nderftood tf iln Pntfdom^ ^^the. Mhd. No iodf ener r
underflood it Co, I dare fay, that knew what the other
Freedom was. As for wh^t lift Inbntions^ it iis not in the
Power of the greateft Tyrant that lives, to deprive as of
it. If the fTo/f was only feniible how fweet the Free-
dom of Mind was, and had no Concern for the Liberty
of his Perfon, he might have ventured to have gone with .
the Dog well enough ; but then he woald have faved
Lejrange the fpoiling of one of the befl Fables in the
whole CoUedion. Ho\yever, this may ferve as a Pat-
tern of that Gentleman's Candor and Ingenuity in the
Manner of drawing his Refledions. jE/op breathed
Liberty in a political Senfe, whenever he thought fit to
hint any Thing about that happy Stat^. And Pbadrus,
whofe hard Lot it was once to have been a domefiic
Slave, had yet fo great a Veneration for the Liberty I
am fpeaking of» that he made no Scruple to write in
Favour of it, even under the Ufurpation of a Tyrant,
and at a Time when the once glorious frte People of
Rome had nothing but the Form and Shadow of their
ancient
i - i
PREFACE.
andeat Conftitudon left. This ke did particalarly 14,
die Fable of Th^ Fr^gs defiring a * King ; as I have db^
ferved in the Application to it. After which I leave it
to the Dedfion of any indifferent Perfon, whether i>.
^raitge, in the Tenor of Jiis Refledipns, has proceeded
noiibQutJiraimng moft Things ^ in Point of Politics, ^^-
ytnithiftriBift Eqwty 9/ a fair and an innoceut Meani^»
Whether I have mended the Fanlts I find with him*
in this or any other Refped^, I mnft leave tathe Jndg*
snent of the Reader; profeffing (according to the Pria*
dpie on which the following Applications are built) that ,
I am a Lover of Liberty and Truth; an Enemy to Ty-
ranny* either in Church or State ; and one who detefis
Party Animofities, and fadious Divifions, as mnch as I
wiih the Peace and Proiperity of my Country.
TH K
. 1 __^^
T H B
tABLE of CONTENTS.
101 yT^^SOPtf/Plav. 1^2.
170 iEfop and the Imp^tineot Fellow* 287
71 Tbf htif^tt anitbilAvdtYMlh. 126
27 The Ant and the Fly. 48
121 The Ant and the Gndhopfer. 205
123 The Ape Aiii /A^ Fox. 208
186 n^e Ape and her two Young OneSf 311
42 The Afs in th Lion's Skin. 7g^
72 The Afs tf»i /A< Lion Hunting, 127
73 7)&/ Senfible Afs. .128
a 122 7^f
The CONTENTS.
Pa^e
TAB.
122 The Afs, the Lion, andthesQock. 207
124 ^e Af$ and the Little Dog* 210
rt3 7*^ AXi Mating TJiiftks. 176
B,
126 The Bear and the Bee-hives« at-
6^ Ti&^.Hunted Beaver. ii{
165 75&^ Bees, the Drones, 4md the. Wafp. 279
37 7%/ ttelly 4md the Members^ ^g
125 The Birds, //?/ Beads, «»^/ the Bat. 212
10 7i# Two Bitches. jg
173; 7%^ Blackamoor. 2Q2
14 7v^^ Boar^»i/ /i^/ Afs. 25
3Rrg: iTA^ Boy tf«rf iiV Mother. . 201
755: The Broehci- and SifteH I ji
JS4 7}/BuaM0;/^^t&oftt« r^6
C.
16^ Caefar irni/ the Sb^e. x^
§8^ r^if Wantoh CalF. j^oj
69^ 7ift« Cat >7ifi/ /^^ Fox. f 07
The C Ofr T EN.T S.
TAB. Pas«
%S The Czt and the Mice* I $2
1 28 ne Cat and the Cock. 217
X The Cock and the Jewel. l
1^7 The Cock and the Fox. 215
182 Sn^^ Fighting Cock$. 305
1^3 TX^ Cock and the Fox. ' 32 J
76 7%^ Collier tfff^ the YixWtu 133
79 TX« Covetous Man* . t^j
25 The Countryman a^d the Snake* - ^45
35 The Country iAQ\ik.aMdib€ City Mioufe. ^
tog The Two Crabs., 185
53 The Crow i?ffi /i(# Pitchec^ 94^
R
. . • ►
132 Death and CupiS'. i|g^
1*91 The Deer ^yirf /*/ Lion* 3j2;p
99 77r/ One-ey'd Doe, 169
5 The Dog 4;i4 the Shadow.. -9
19 TX^ Dog and the Wolf. . 3jjt
44 T'i&^ Mifchievous Dog. . . (8»
129 TI&^ Dog /»^/i&# Manger.. . ,. 1 '^saj
430 TJtf Dog ^W /)&tf Sheep, ' ,^%q
a 2 iBo Tif
The C <j N T*E M T S.
FAB. Page
f 8d 516/ Dog inviui to Supper* 302
-^33 ^iT)^^^ and ihi Knu xA
E.
13 72^ £agk ^^ i&# f OK* 2%
8a Tib^ Eagk, i^# Cat, ^nd iU Sevr^ 13^
^34 ihi £agle aiii/ //^ Crow. %ri
F.
148 Ti^r Falconer 4w^ fi(/ Partridge^ ^50
83 T^e Firi>tree and the Bramble* 144
100 Thi Riirer Fifli and the Sea. Fiffr* 170
175 Hh Fiihennaii. ^ 295
54 The Forefter and the Liom 9^
^i Fortune aif^/ /i&^ Boy. 156
^85 The Fowkr and the Blackbird* 147
97 The Fovflcr and the Lark. 166
tp, The Fqwlev and the Rm^doY^. 3158
^ 7i^ Fox and the Cromr* 16
12 The Fox and the Stork. 2z
22 7^# Fox tf«rf^*^ Grapes, 41
24 7>#
The GO NT E-N T S.
FAB. p^je
24 The Fox and thi Goat. ^^
51 The¥oxandtheT\%tT. gi
65 The Fox. without a Tail, 115
77 The Fox ^;i// /A^ Vizor Mafk. Ijjl
87 y*^ Fox ^/«i /A^ Bramble. 1^1
89 7%eFox and the Countnymzn*. 153
93 77>^ Fox and the Ape. jrQ
95 The Fox and the Bozr^. l6z.
136 T^^ Fox and the Lion^ 230
J42 The Fox and the Sick Liom^ 240
166 TX^ Fox in the Well.. 28 J'
167 The Fox tfW //t^. Wolf.. 282
l^P The Fox and the Afs. 259')
195 TX^ Fox W /A^ Hedgehogv. 326
3. The Frogs dejiring a King. 5
ij Tie Proud Frog. . 20
1.5 The Frogs <7W /A^ Fighting, B uUs^. 2 7
43 TA^ Frog and the Fox. 79*.
78 7/^^ Two Frogs. J36
168 2^ Frog ar^ihi Moikft, . 284,
a 3 X92 7%#
-« {■
The e O N T E N T S.
G.
FAB. V Page
X9I The Gzrd^ntr and his Dogit 3^'
137 Tbe Gccfe and the Cranes, 232
81 Tbe Go^Li and tbe Lion^ 141
H.
♦ *
*S^ 7i^ Hare and the Tortoife. ^ 269^
30 The Hares attdthe Frogs* 54,
10& The Harper. i8j
171 Tbe Hzvt and ibe Vim. 288
6^ TA^ Hawk onrf/i&f Nightingale. xij
13J Tbe Hawk tfwrf /A^ Farmer^ 222
J 76 7)^^ Hen 0^4/ the Swallow* 300
liq The Htn and tbe Fox. JI7
56 Hercules and tbe Carter* , }0p
34 TJ^.Horfetfwi/iJf Stag. i&2
338 TJ^ Horfc «»/ ^A* Afs. 233
140 71^ Horfe and tbe Lion* 2^37
164 Tbe Horfe ^wrf /i^ loaded Afe. 277
172 7*^ Drunken Hufband. 29a
139 Tbe Huftandman and bis Sons, ^35
* 154 7i&/ Huibandoian and tbe Stork. 261
! *3 4 The
Tbc CONTENTS.
L
FAB* Fagfr
4. The vain Jack-daw. 7
loa TA^ Jack-daw ^W t&^ Prgcon»* 173
184 7%^ Jack-daw and the Sht^ep^ 308
45 Jupiter and the CameL 82
86 Jupiter and Pallas. ~ 14^
118 Jupiter and the A6. 200
181 Jupiter tf/i^ /i&^ Herdiman. 304
t.
114 The Kid and the Wolf. 19J
i6l The Kite and the Pigeons^ 29
29 The Sick Kite. 53
47 The Bald Knights »5
L.
20 The Lamb iroughf up by a Goat» 37
38 The Lark ^iw/ i^r Young Ones* 70
59 Ti^ Leopard and the Fox. 1 05
6 The Lion tfni^ ^/i&^r Beads.. 10
31 The Lion and the Moufe, 56
52 7i&^ Lion and the Four BuHs^ 93
67 7^ Lion //I Love» 118
i . 82 Ti#
■f
^'S^
The C a N T E N" T S.-.
FAB*. Pjgg
82 ^he Lion and' the Frog. 1*42
M5 75^^ Judicious Lion. 10^
141 ThelAon^the'RcTiT^ andtheToTU > 238
144 TT/E^^ Lion, the Afs, ^«^/ ^A^ Fox. 244
68 The. Lionefs and the Fox- l2o.
m;
17- The Mzn and his Two Wivcs^. ^T
57 71^^ Man fl^»<5^ A/j Goofe 102.
»I3 7J^ Man /7«rf^irV Wooden »Go<E- j^j:
i6g The Mzn and the We^kU ' 2^5-
»9P The Man ^W /A^ Gnat^ . 2i 8
32 T**^ Fatal Marriage.. 58.
1196 7"/?^ Miaftcr. <7»<!/ A/V Scbolari. 327
w I Mercury aW /A^ Woodman* 188
X76 Mercury. <7/irf the CarveiV- ^ 296
143 Ti)e Mice i» CouncH« ^ 242^
94 72?^ Mole tfW A^r Dams ^ ifii*
26 716^ Mountain in Laboun An
36 Titf Moufer^^ /Atf WeafeU. . . 6^
96 Ti&frMule,. * . K58
39 7»/
The CONTENTS.
N*
fjgtt
39 The Nurfe a»/ rA^ Wolfe ' 7 j
50 Tbi Oak i7»^ /£^ Reed^T g^
28 Ti# Old Hound. 5r
245 7%# Old Lion. 246
~66 T*tf OH Man iww/ Death, 117
J46 7%^ Old Man atfd Us Sons* 247
96 The Old Woman a«^|y(# Empty Caft*v 164
147 The Old Woman and her Maids% 241^
98 The Owl and the Grafliapper» l6f
P.
151 TiJf Parrot tf»^/J/V Cage. 256
61 Ti^ Partridge <?«<a^ /^^ Cocks* I05
21 The Peacock'^ Complaint. jg.
49 The Peacock and the Crane. gg
15a The Peacock and the Magpye.. ' 254
185 The Plowman and Fortune. 309^
149 The Porcupine and the Snakes* 25*
48 The Two Pots. 86
194 The
The CONTENTS.
FAB. ^ ^^
I2f J^^ Raven ur«i ^^ Serpent* 335
S.
j5 72^ Satyr <afm/ /i5^ Traveller. c&
56 7J^ Serpent and the Man* 564
06 The Sheep-Biter^ iSq^
55 72ri? Shepheri^s Boy.. * ^63:
87 The Shepherd turned Merchdm* 175.
02 The Zo^ and thi Bitchy 31a
53 71^ Sow iffuL tU WoUl. a6o-
IC4 ?%^ Sparrow. ^ff^li&/Hafe> ijdt
8 7X^ Stag looking into the Water* 13
18 7*^ Stag in the Ox-Stall. 33
69 The Stag and the Fawn^ . t7,%^
157 7%^ Swallow «»</ tfi^irr Birxb.. S^^%
107 75>tf Thfef <i«</yA^ Dog* lig^
1 1 o The T\i\d and the Boy. 1 86
177 The TYAtvts and the Cock; a^S
. 27 Tfe Thu|iny ^ »i^ ^^^^ Dolphin* ^ 1 1 a«
40 TJr
The CONTENTS.
Ptft
FAB.
40 Thi Tortoifc and the Eagle. 75
46 The TTavellers md tbi Bear* 83
74 The Boafting Traveller. 129
174 Tif Travellers. - ^t
lj8 7i^# Trumpeter /«!#» Prifoner* a68
^3 The Viper tf»i/ /A^ File. 4a
W,
142 TJJ^ Creaking Wheel, l^^
41 316^ Wind and the Sum 75
a 7i^ Wolf tf«rf/i&^ Lamb, 3
7 Ti/ Wolf i7«^/ the Crane. 12
Ij6 7%^ Wolf^n^/^^Kid. 196
1 17 5T>tf Wolf, the Fox, «»</ /A^ Ape. 198
160 Ti^ Wolf /« Sheep's Clothing. 27 1
J 20 7i^ Wolves and the Sick Afs. 203
161 TiJtf Wolves tf«rf /A/ Sheep. 27a
33 The Wood i^n^/i^^ Clown. 63
70 r/i#
/-.. -. -H-A J
} t
.T*
t «
The CONTENTS.
, Y.
FAB, Pilge
70 Tihe Young Man ^nd tin Swallow* 124
162 Young Man and his Cat. 274
183 T^wo Young Men and the Cook. 307
188 72r Young. Man and thi Lion^ 3 15
V MSO^'%
• -
. ^■- My
.-»-,, rr .^
^SOP's FABLES.
FAB. I. Tht Cock and tbe Jeveh
AB RI SK voung Cocic, in Company with two
or three Pullets, his MifireOes, raking upon
a Dunghill for romcthing to entertain them-
with, bappcnad to fcratch up x Jewel i he knew
vhat it was well enough^ foir it rparJtled with an
«Kceeding bright X^uftrc t but, not knowing what-to
^lo with It, endeavonred to cover his Ignorance un-
<ier a gay Contempt. So, {bringing up hit Wings^
Aakrnj' bit tie»d, and patting on a Grimace, he
B ■ expreffed ■
a yESOP*& FABLES.
exptefS^ himfelf to this- Purpofe : Indeed, you are
a very fine Thing; but I know not any Bufinefs
you have here. I make no Scruple of \leclftring
th^ n^y Ta^e lies quite ^nothe^ W^Yi ^M I «bad
rutljer h^v^ pne Qrajn pf ([ear, cl^licicHis B^i^ey, thM
all the Jewels under the Sun/
n^APBLIGATION.
There arc feveral People in the World, tbatpafs, with
r>me, for weH-accomp]i(hod G^ntl^^en, and Tery pietty
Fellow's, thp' they are as great Strangers to the true Ufes
of Virtue and-Knowi^dge, as the Cock upon the Dnng.
hilHs to the real Value^f the Jewel. He palliates hit
Ignorance by pretending that his Talle lies another Way :
But whatever gallant Airs. People may give themfelves
upon thefe Occafions, without Difpate, the folid Advan-
tages of Virtue, and the durable rleafures of Learning*
are as much to be preferred before other Objedts of the
Senfes, as the fijoeft brilliant Diamond is above a Barley*
Corn. The greated Blockheads would appear to und^r-
lland, what at the fame Time they affed to defpife: and
nobody yet was ever fo vicious, as to have the Impudence
t^ declare in public, that Virtue was not a. fine Thing.
But Hill, among the idle, (aun^ering, young Fellows of
the Age, whq have Leifure, as well to cultivate and im-
prove the Faculties of the Mind, as to drefs and embel-
|ifh tbe Body ; how many are there, who fpend their Days
in raking after new. Scenes of Debauci^ry, in Compari-
fon of thofe few* who know how to relilh more reafon-
able Entertainments 1 Honeft, andefi^ning good Senie
is. fp^ unfaihi^il^^l^i (h^ he ];nufl: be ^ b^d Marx^ wh(^at
this Time of Day atten\pts to bring it into Elieem.
How cfifappointeii is the Youth, who, in the Midfto^
his amorous rurfuits^, endeavouringto plunder a^ Ont*
fide of BFoora and Beauty, finds aTreafiire of impene-
trable Virtue concealed within t And why may it not be
faid, how delighted are the Fair Sex, when, hosfi ambng
a Crowd of empty, frMt, Conceited Admirers, the/
£pd out aQ4 diiUnguiih with tbdr good Opoulbi^, a^ Mao.
of Senfe, ^yit^ k plain, un^iftft?d:]PerfcAi Wl|iQh> at fir$
6igJ&t»' they did not like ! F ^ B.
jBSOP^i FABLES,' s
FAB. IL 7»r Wolf M<//^« Lamb.
I^NEhoti, faltry Day, » Wolf and a Lamb hap-
their Third in the Stream of a clear Silver Brooby
that ran tumbling down the Side of a ncky Moun>
tain. The Wolf flood upon the higher Groundj
and the Lamt at Tome Diltince from him dawn the
Current. However, the Wolf^ having a Miud t»
pick a Quarrel with him, afked hhn, Vfhat he tncanc
hy difturbing the Water, atid making it fo muddf
that he could not driiik ; and' at the fame Time, de-
manded Satisfa£lion. The Lamb, frightened at this
threatening Charge, told hlin, in a Tone as mild as
pnflitle. That, with hamble SisfamiffiiMi, he could not
conceive how that copld be; fince the Water which
he drank, fan down from the Wolf to him, stvi
therefore it could not be diltnrbed to far up the-
Stream. Be that as it will, replies the Wolf, yo(a
«re a R>Ucat> and I have'beca told that you treated
Bs me
-4 u« 5 OP'S FABLES.'
•
me wUh ill Language behjnd my Back, about half
a Year ago. Upon my Word, fays* the Lamb, the
'Time you mention was before 1 was born. The
Wolf, finding it to no Purpbfe to argue any longer
againft Truth, fell into a great PaiBon, fnarling and
foiaining at the Moi^tb, as if he had been mad ; and
drawing hearer to the Lamb, Sirrah, fays he, if it
w^s not you, it was your Father, and that's all one.
—So he feiz'd the poor, innocent, helplefs Tbing,
tore it to Pieces, and made a Meal of it.
The A P P L I C A T I O N.
The Thing which is pointed ^t ift this Fable is fo ob«
- viouSjr that it vvill.be impertinent to multiply Words
about it. When a cruel^ ill natured Man has a Mind-
to abufe one inferior to himfelf, either in Power or Cou-
rage,' though he has not given the lead Occafion for it^
how does he referobje the Wolf! vvhofc envious, rapa-
cious Temper could not hear to fee Innocence live quiet-
ly in its Neighbourhood. Jn fhort, wherever ill People
aJe in Power, Innocence and Integrity are fare to be
perfecuted ; the more vicious the Community is, the
. better Countenance they have for their own villainous
Meafures: To pra£bife Honcfty in bad Times, is being
liable to Sufpicion enough ; but if' any one (hould dare
to prefcribe it, it is ten to one but he would be im*
peached of high Crimes and Mifdemeanors : For to ftand
up for Jultice in a u generate and corrupt State, is ta-
citly to upbraid the Government ; and leldom fails of
- pulling down Vengeance upon the Head of him that oJf-
fers to ilir in its Defence. Where Cruelty and Malice
are in Combination with Power, .nothing is fo eafy as
ibr them to £nd a Pre^cence to tyrannize oyer lonoceiKe^
and exercife all Manner of Injuftice*
FAB,
^SOP's FABLES. J
FAB, III. S'be Frogs defittng a King.
'TpHE Frogs, living aw e»fy free Life every where'
-^ amongthe Lakes and' Ponds, alTein&led together,
one I^r, inr a very tumulmous Manner, and peti-
tioned Jupitir to let them have a King, who might'
infpe^l their Morals, and make them live a little
honefer. Japiter, being at that Time in pretty
good Humour, was pleated to laugh heartily attheit
ridiculous Requelli and throwing a little Log down
into the Pool, cried. There is a King for you. The
fudden SplaOi which this made by its Fail into the
Water, at firft terrified them fo exceedingly, that
t)iey were afraid to come near it. But in a little
Time, feeing it !ay (till without moving, they ven-
tured, by Degrees, (o approach it ; and at laft, find-
ing there was no Danger, they leaped upon it; and,
in fliort, treated it as familiarly as they pleafed. Blic
sot contented with fo infipid a King as this w.)s,
they fcni their Deputies to petition againfbr another
B 3 Soct
Sort of one; for This they neither did norcould lltft.
Upon that^ be fent them a Stork; who, without
any Ceremony, f^X a devouring and eating them up>
one after afiother, a» IMl as ke^ c<mW . Timt tbvy ap*
plired theoifelves pxivatcty XsiMircury^ and got hin^
to fpeak to JapiHr in their ffchalf, That be weuld
be fo good as to blefs them again v^ith another Kingv
onreffore them to their former State:— -No^ (aysbe^
fin«:e it was their owa Choice^ kt tbe obftintte
Wfetehes fuffertbc Pumlbment due to tlicir F^llf.
m A F P L I e A T I ON,
Ht Is pretty ^xtraordUiOary xq find a Sable <gf ' tkas £ii|K)'»
flniOi^d with fo bold and y«c poiiie^a^ Turn by ^kto^us t
Ojoe^ who afitained his Freedom by the Fa^ur of ^«
gttjUa^ and wrote it in tbe Time oif Tiberuu ; who weiie^
iuc^ejEvc^, tyr^flical (Jfurpers of the Rcmtm Oovem-
meat. 1£ we miiy take hu Word^ it, JEfof feoi^ ir
iipoa tbii ♦Qccafioft* Wb«ti tW Commonwealth- or v^^h^j^
floariihed under good wholefome Laws of its own ena6l-
mg# tbey rdie4 % much upon tbe Secarity of their Li-i^
ber.tyt.that tbey negligently fufiered it to run out inn>
JLicemiouroe&. ^nd FadiooiS happening to he foment*
cd among them by defigning People, mu^h about tbo^
fame Tinve> Fijifiratui took that Opportunity to make
himfelf Mafter of theirXitadel and Liberties both toge«
tKer» The Athenians finding themfelves in a State of
Slavery, tho* their Tyrant happened to be a very mer«
ciful one, yet could not bear the Thoughts of it ; fo that
]MJopy. where there was no Remedy, prefcribeS them to.-
J^atience, by the Example of the foregoipg Fable ; an<t
add&, at laft, Whtrtfofey my dear C^ountrymen, be eori^
HKttd wth yfiur fre/tnt Conikkn, bai as ii is, fir fear m
Cb^uige fiauld be ^mrft»
f AB,
ASOP'i FAfiLES.
FAB. IV,. The vain Jack-Daw.
A Certiin Jick-Daw was fo proud and ambitious^
■^^ ihat not contented to live within bis own Sphere,-
he picked up the Feathers which fell from the Pea-
cocks, ftuck them in among his own, and very con-
iSdently imroducrd BimlcIF into an Aflembly of
thofc beautiful Birds. They loon found Him outy
Aripp'd faim of his borrow'd Plumes, and falling
upon him with their fharp Bills, punifb'd him as his
Prefumption defcrv'J. Upon this, full of Grief and
Affli£tion, he return'd to his old Companions, ajitt
would have flock'd with them again i but they, know-
ing his late Life and Ceflvcrfation, induftrioufly
avoidedhim, and refus'dtff admit him into their Com-
pany : And one of them, at the fame Time, eave hint
this ferious Reproof, If, Fticn'3, you coiiM haVe been'
contented with 6Ur 'Station, and had hotdifdain'a
the Rank in which Natnrc had plactd yott, you hai'
not been tis'd fo fcurvily by thcfe upon whom you
intruded yourfelf, , nor fufferM the notorious Slight
Wtuchnow wctbiflkourfelvcsobKged to ^ut upon you.
I ^SOf'i FABtES;..
V>* A p P L I q AT I o K.
What we may leam from thit E/ble, is, in the mupt
loli-vecotireniedly in our own Condiiion, whatever. ii fee,
withoat affefting to look bigger than we &ie, by a.falfe
or borrowed Light. To be Barely pleafed wiih app'esr-
utg above what a Man really ii, is bad enough ; and
wliai nay j'uftiy ixnder him tonteroptiWe ia the Eyes of
bis Equals : But if, t« enable bim lo do this with fame-
thing o£ a better Grace, he has cUndcQini^ly feathered '
hit Neft with hi» Neighbour's Goodfl, when found out.
Its has nothing to expert but to be Itripped of his rinQ«
rier, and ufed Ulu a fclonitiui Rogue iwo ttif^-Bargaint
FAB. V. Oe Dog flfftf /if Shadow.
'- Flefli in his Mouth, faw his own ShfuJoi
prefented in the clear Mirrour of the limpid Stream ;,
and believing it to be another Dog, who was carry-
ing another Piece of Flffh, he could not forbear
catchine at it; buc w» fi) far from getting any.
Thin^
jESOP^s fables* 9
Thing by his greedy I>eflgn, that he drq>t the Piece
he kad in his Mouth, which immediately funk t»
the Bottom, and was irrecoverably loft.
The APPLICATION.
He that catches at more than belongs to him* juftly^
dleferves to lofe what he has. Yet nothing is more com-
mon, and» at the fame Tim~e« more pernicious, than this
fel^lh Principle. It prevails, from the King to the Pea*
iant ; and all Orders and Degrees of Men are, more or
]efs, infeded with it. Great Monarchs have been drawn
in, by this greedy Humoar, to grafp at the Dominions
of their Neighbours ; not that they wanted any Thing
more to feed thieir Luxury, but to gratify their infatia-
ble Appetite for Vain-Glory. If the Kings of Per^m
could have been contented with their own vaft Territo-
nes> they had not loll all Jfia for the Sake of a little
petty State of Greece. And France, with all its Glory ».
has, ere how, been reduced to the laft Extremity by the
feme unjuH Encroachments. . .
He that thinks he fees another's Eftate in a Pack of
Cards, or a Box and Dice, and ventures his own in the
Purfuit of it, (hould not repine^, if he finds himfeif a.
Beggar in the End.
B 5 P A B.
Lo JESOP'i FABLES-
FAB. VI, ^e Uori and other Bealls,
'TpHE Lion and feyeral other Beafts, entered into
*• an Alliance ofFfnlive and defenfive, and were to
lire very fociably together in the Forefl ; one Day,
having made a fore of .an ExcucfioA by way of
Hunting, they took a very fine, large, fat Deer^
Tvbich was divided into four Parts; th^re happening
to be then preftnt, his Majefty the Lion, and only
three others. After the Divifion was made, and the
Parts were fet our, his Maje{iy advancing forward
feme Slept, and pointing to one of the Shares, was
pleafed lo declare hinsrelf after the followmg Man-'
ner : This 1 feizc and take Poffeifion of as mj
Right, which devolves to me, as 1 am defcended
by a true, lineal, hereditary Succeilioti from the
Royal Family of Lion: That (pointing to the fe-
cond) I claim by, I think, no unreafonable De-
mand; confidering that all the Engagements you
)uve with the £nemy tuii^ clliefly upon my Cou-
rage
S
^s or i if AS -L- ET s; 1 1
rrge and Conduct : And you very y^W know^ that
Wars are too expen/ive t6 b^ c^rtiM oh without
proper Supplies. Then (nodding his Head towards ^
the Tlrit*> TIM HMT ffaSCt l^ Viffoe of my Pre-
rogiftive ; to whicb^ I HaUtk nb Qtt^ftiori) 6ut (odti-
tifal ^nd loyel a People will pay all th^ Deference >
and': Regaitf thstt I can defire. Now^ as fof the re-
ma^infl^ Part, the N'eceffity of our prefent Affairs
is fib' very urgent, our St6ck fo low, an^ our Credit
(o iai^aired and wetkened, that I muft indft upon
your granting That without any Hefitsition or Do-
mut; and hereof fail not at your Peril.
, The, APP LIGATION.
l4b Alliailos is fafe whieli is made with thofe that are
fup^rior to os in Power.v The' ihey lay themfelves oa-
der the moil ilrid and folemn Ties at the Opening of •
the Congrefsy yet the trft advantageous Opportunity
will cempt th^«i to break the Treaty ; and they will ne«
vtT want ipecioirs Pretences to forniih out thcfir Decla-
rations of War. . It is not eafy to determine, whether
it is more ftnpid and ridicoloas' for a Commttfiity, to
troft^itfelf firft in^ the Hands of thofe that, are more
powerful than themfelves, or to wonder afterwards that
their Confidence and Credulity. are abuied> and their
Properties invadedr
B 6 fab;
» ^SOF'i FABLES-.
FAB. Vir. n* Wolf W/** Crane.
A WOLF^ after devourii^ his Prey, happened
^^ » bavB a JBone ftick in his Throat, which
gave him ,fo much Pain, that he went howling up
and down, and importuning every Creature he met,
to lend him a kind Hand in order to his Relierj
nay, he promired a reasonable Reward to an}ionB
that Oiould undertake the Operation with Succefs. ,
At hft the Crane, tempted with the Lucre of the
Reward, and having firfl procured him lo conlitinjtts
Promifeveith an Oath, undertook the Bufinefs, and
ventured his long Neck into the rapacious Felon's
Throat. In Qi^rt,. he plucked out the Bone, and
expeSed the promifed Gratuity. When the Wolf,
turning his Eyes difdainfully towards him, faid, I did
not think you had been (o iinconicionablei I had
your Head in my Mouth, and could have bit it oS^
whenever 1 pleafed, but fuflered you' te take- it away
without any Daouge, and jet you are not cootented.
2i«
^*0-/"a FABLESw >3
rbt APPLICATION.
There is & fort of People in the World, to whom s Man
jnaj; be in the wrong- for doing Services, upon a duuble:
Score ; firft, becaufe they never deferved to have a good'
Office done ibem ; and fecondly, becaafe, when once-
engaged, 'til fo hard- ft matter tt>get welf rid of their'
■ This Fable is not an Example i>riii|raut(ide, at atGrft
Sight ii feems to be, aod as fone of the Myihologitti-
tu*e underltood ii ; to make it a Parallel in that Cafe,
the Crane ought lo have been under Ibme Difiicultie* iiti
Us Turn, and the Wolf have refufed to affift him when.
it was in his Power. The whole Strcfs of ii lies in this,.
That we oug^c to confider what Kind of People they arc
to whom we are defired to do K'X>d Offices, before we
do thein ; for he that grants a l^v^our, or even confide)
in a Perfbn of no Hononr, inltead of iindtng his AccoonC
in it, comei off well if he is no Sufferei^ -
FAB. VUK the St^g looking into ihe'^i.tCT.
A STAG that had been driitking at a clear
■^*' Spring, faw himfclf in the Water j and,pJea("ci .
nith tlw JPipfpci*, flood aft«wards fer'fome Time
eon-
t4 JESOT'% FWIBLES; ^
contemplating and fiirveying htt Shape and Fea«
tures, from Head to Foot. Ah ! fays he, what a gk)--
rious Pair of branching Horns are there ! how grace--
fully do thofe Antlers hang over my Forehead^ sfnd ^
give an agreeable Turn to my whole Face 1 If fome -
other Parts of my Body were but proportionable to '-■
them, I would turn my Back to nobody % but I have
ar Set of fuch Legs, as really makes me aihamed to 9
fee them. People may talk what they pleafe of their
Conveniencies, and what great Need we ftand in-
ctf them^ upon feveral Occafions ; but for my Part,
I find them fo very flender and unfightly, that I had
as lief have none at all. While he was giving him*-
felf thefe Airs^ he was alarmed with the Noife of
Tome Huntfmen and a Pack of Hounds,, that had
been juft laid on upon the Scent, and were making :
towards higi. Away he flies in fome Confternation^ .
and, bounding nimbly over the Plain, threw Dogs
and Men at a vaft Diftance behind him. A&er;
which, taking a very thick Copfe, he had the ill-
fortune ta be entoOTjcd by his Horns in a'ThxcTrelt ; .
where he was held »ft, till the Hounds came in and
pplied him down. Finding now how it was like
to go with him, in the Pangs of Death, he is faid to
have uttered thefe Words : UnhappJ' Creatufe that
I>am ! I am too late convinced, that, what I prided
myfelf in, has.been theCaufe of nfiy Undoing; and
what I fo much di^iked, was the only Thing that
could have faved me.
7v&«. A B PL I C AT I O Np
Perhaps we cannot apply thi» better, than by fappdf.
ing the Fable to be a Parable ; which' may be thus ex-
plained, " The Decjr, viewing itfelf in the Water, is a
beautiful young Lady at her Lookiiig-glafs. She cannot
help being fenfible of the Charms which lie blooming
in every Feature oT her Face* 6he Moiilens her Lips^'
laBgaiflids^
jESOP'i FABLES. f^
Iangiii(be< with her Eyes, aljufts every Lock of her Hair
with the niceft Exs^iiefs, gives ah agreeable Attitude to
her whole Body: And theoj with a Toft Sigh^ fays to
herie%fy Ah I how happy might I be> io a daily Crowd
of Admirers, if it were not for the Cenforioufnefs of the
Age ! When I view that Face, where Nature, to give her
her Pue, has been liberal enough ef Charms, how eafy
Ihottid I be,, if it were not for that {lender Particular,
my Honor. The odious Idea of that comes acrofs alt.
my happy Moments, and brings a Mortification with
It that damps my moft flattering' tender Hopes. Oh!
that there- were no fuch Thing m the WorUl ! In the
Midft of thefe Soliloquies, (he is interrupted by the Voice
of her Lovo*, who enters her Chamber finging a Riga*
dooB Air ; and, introducing his Diicourfe in a familiar
eafy Manner, takes Occaiion to launch out in Pratfe of
her Beauty, fees fhe is pleafed with it, fnatchesher Hand, '
kifTes it in a Tranfport ; and in (hort, purfues his Point
fo clofe, that (he is not able to dlfengage herfelf from
him. But, when the coafequence of air this approaches^
in an Agony of Grief and Shame, fhe fetches a deep
Sigh, and fays. Ah! how miilaken have I been! the
Virtue I flighted might have faved me ; but ihe Beauty
1 prized fo much has been my Uudoing.
i ■ •
F A B»
iS- MSOP*% FABLES.
FAB. IX. rbeVoxandtbeCTQW^
■ A CROW having taken a Piece of Cheefe out of
**■ a Cottage Window, flew up into a high Tree
with it, in order to cat it. Which a Fox obferving^.
came and fat underneath, and began to compliment
the Crow upon the Subjeift of her Beauty. I pro^-
tcft, fays he, I never observed it before, but your
Featheis are of z more delicate White than any that
ever I faw in my Life \ Ah J what a fine Sliape and
graceful Turn of Body is there t And i make no
Queftioii but you have a tolerable Voice. If it i^
but as iine as your Cumplexiott, I do not know a Bird
that can pretend to ftand in Competition with you.
The Crow, tickled with this very civil Language,.
neftted and riggled about, and hasdly luiew where
(he was ; bitt thinking the Fox a little dubious as to-
the Particular of her Voice, and having a Mind to
tet hitn right in that Matter, began to fing, and, ia
the fan:ie (nftant, let the Cheefe drop out of her
Mouth. Thisbeing what the Fox wanted, he chop-
ped, it up in a Momest ; and trotted away, laughing
u> himfclf at the eafy Credulity of the Crow.
JE SOP'S PABLES, 1^
Th APPLICATION.
They that love Flattery (as, it is to be feared, too
mafky do) are itt a fair Way to repent of their Foible at
the long Rtia. And yet how few are there among the
whoie Race of Mankind,, who may be faid to be full
Proofs againft its Attacks !. The groft Way by which it
is managed by fome filly Pra^tioners^ b enoagh to
alarm the dnlleft Apprehenfidn, and make it to valae
itielf apon the Qaicknefs of its Iniight into the little
Plots of this Nature. But^ let the AmlMifcade be dif--
pofed with due Judgment* and it wiU fcarce fail of
leizii^ the moft guarded Heart. How many are tickled
to the lail Degree with the Pleafere of Flattery, even
while they are applauded for their honeft Detefiiation of
it I There is no Way to baiBe the Force of this Engine.^
bat by every one's examiaing^ impartially for .himfe!f»
the tiue Eftimate of his 9wn Qualities t If be dealt ^n-
cerely in the Matter, nobody can tell fo well as himfelf^
what Degree of EftMm ought to> attend any Of his Acr
tipns ; and therefore he fhould be entirely eafy, as to the
Opinion Men ace like to have of them iir the World.
If they attribute more to him than is his Due, they arc
cither designing or miftaken ; if they allow him lefs*
they are envious, or, poifibly, flill miflaken; and, in
either Cafe, are to be defpifed, or difregarded. For he
that flatters without deiigmng to make Advantage of
it, is a Fool : And whoever encourages thtit Flattery-
which he ha& Senfe enough, ta fee. through, is a V4iiii
F A b:
jJB JESOP's. FABLES.
■FAB. X. The Twe &tchis.
A BITCH, who was yaR ready to whelp, intreat-
*^ cd aaothcr Bitch to lend her her Kennel, onljr
flit her Month was up, *nd afTufed her that then- *
fee (hoijd hare it ^gain. The other verjr readily
confented, and, with a grtat deal of Civility, re-
Cgned it to her immed lately. Kctr;wr, when lh«
Time was elapfed, the caine and made her a Vilit,
and very modeftly intimated, that now fbe was up>
and well, flie hoped fhe fhould fee her abroad again ^
for that, really, it would be inconvenient fbr her to
be without her iCennel any longer, and therefore fhe
told her (he muft be fo free at to defire her to pro-
vide herfelf with other Lodgings asfoonasfhecould.-
The lying-in Bitch replied. That truly flie was
afhamcd for having kept her fo long out of her own
Houfe ; but it was not upon her own Account, (for
indeed fhe waswellenough togoany where] fomuch
as that of her Fuppiesj who were yet fo weak, thai
^
5(7P'^ FABLE S;
^9
ifae was afraid they would not be able to follow her;
and, if ttkt would but ht fo good as to kt her ftay a
Fortnight longer, Ihe (hould take it for the greateft
Obligation in the World. The other Bitch was fo
good-natured and compaffionate as to comply with
this Requefl too^ but at the Expiration of the Term^
came and told her pofi lively that file muft turn out^
for fhe could not poffibly let her be there ^ Day
longer* Muft turn out — fay^ the other; we will
iee that; for I promife you, unlefs you can beat me*^
anc^ my whole Litter of Whelps, you are ilCvef Uk»
ao'have any Thing more tp do here*
The APPLICATI ON/
^ foffeffioo 15 ekvea Points of the J^aw ; and thoughn
where £qujty flofirifhes^ and Property i»'d»1y fecttjwd^
the twelfth Point, I mean that of Right, is better thai>
the other eleveft^f yet ^kk^ Fable may k:rve.as a very good
hflthn of C au tio n nor t», iit. i a ' to let any Thtng we -va-
lue to out of our PofTeiSon, without very good Security*
Wiie and good«4>atured Men will give liberally and jiu
dieipoily what they can fpare<^ but to lend, Where there
h a Probability or our behi? defVaoded by the Borrower^
1^ the Paj^i vi « ^ 99fy ana bl^eaUc Cced«iity,
'f/^->
r AB;
ao ^50P'i FABLES.
FAB. XI. The.Preud Frog.
A N Ox, grazing in a Meadow, chanced to fet his
*^ Foot among a Parcel of young Frogs, and ttod-
one of them to Death. The reft informed their
Mother,' when Ihe came Home, what had hsppened f
telling her, that the Beaft which did it was the
hugeft Creature that they ever faw in their Lives.
What, was it lb big? fays the old Frog, fwelling
and blowing up her fpeckled Belly to a great De-
gree. Oh r bigger by a vaft deal, fay ihey. An*
fcibig? fays flie, flraining herfelf.yet more. Indeed,
Mamma, fay they, if you were to burft yourfelf,
you would never be fo bi^ She lirove jet again^
uid burll herfelf indeed.
Tht APPLICATION.
Whenever a Man endeavour) to live equal with one
rreater Foicune than himfelf, he is (nre to fhare »
ate with the Frog in the Fable. Hovf many vai*
People,
of a PI
lite Fa
MSOP's FABLES. ii
People^ of moderftte eafy Circuiaftanees, tsarft aad come
to nothing, by vying with thofe whofe Eflales are more
ample than their own I ^r Chamgeiing Plumft^ck wai
tojefied of a y^xy coniiderable Eftate, devolved to htm
y the Death of an old Uncle, who had adopted him his
Heir. He had a f^lfe Tafte of Happinefs ; and, with*
one the lead O^.conomy, ^rufting to the Sufficiency of
his va(^ Ri^enue, was r^£)Ived to be out- done by no-
body, in ihewilh'Grandear and expeniive Livifis;. He
^.ave £ve thoufand Pounds for a Piece of Ground in the
Country, to fet a Houfe upon ; the Building and Par-
fiithre of which coil fifty thoufand more; and his Gar-
dens were proportionab]y magnificent. B elides which*
he thought himfelf under a Necelfity of buying out two
or three Tenements which ftoodin his Neighbourhood,
that he might have Elbow-room enough. All this he
could Tery well bear; and,ilill might have been happy,
jiad it not been for an unfortunate View which he one
Day happened to take of my Lord CaftUbuiUer^s Gar*
dens, which confiil of twenty Acres, whereas his own
were not above twelve. Prom that Time he grew pen-
iive; and before the enfuing Winter gave five and thirqr
Years Purchafe for a dozen Acres more to enlarge hit
Gardens., built a Couple of exorbitant Green -Houies, 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 mort-
j^aged pretty deep, and pays nobody: But being a pri*
i:ileged Perfon, reiides altogether at a private cheap
Lodging in the City of Weftminft$r*
FAB.
I ^SOP'i FABLES.
F A B.- XII. ne Fox and the Stork.'
•T^ H E Fox invited the Stork to Dinner j and, being
* difpofed to divert himfclf at the Expence of hi*
Gueft, provided nothing for the Entertainment, but
a Soup, in a wide fhallow Difh. This himfdf could
lap up with a great deal of Eafe; but the Stork, who
coujd but iuft dip in the Point of his Bill, was not
a.Bit the better all the while: However, in a few
Days after, he returned the Compliment, and invited
the Foxj but fufFered nothing to be>brought to Ta-
fele but fome minced Meat in a Glafs Jar ; the Neck
of which was fo deep, and fo narrow^ that, though
the Stork with his long BUI made a Shift to fill his
Bdly, all that the Fox, who was very hungry, could
do, was to lick the Brims, as the Stork llabberrd
them with his eating. Reynard was heartily vexed
at iirll ; but when he came to take his Leave, owned
inuenuouRy, that he had been uled as he deferved {
and that he had no Reafon to take any Treatment
UK of which himfelf had fet the Example.
The
jr?<3i?'s FABLES; aj
rs* APPLICATION.*
Ir Is mighty imprudent, as well at inhnmaa and uncivil.i
10 affront any body ; and whoever ukes the Liberty to
exercife his witty Talctit that Way > mull not think mach
of it, if he meets with Rcpt'if^h. Indeed, if allthorewha
an thus paid in their owii Coin, would take it with the
fame Ftanknef* the Fox did, the Matter would not be
nach; bat we itie too apt, when tbo Jcit comei to b«
turned home upon ourfeiica, to think tbiat niufferabl*'
io another, wbiFh >«e looked upon as pretty and hc»-
tioiu, when the Humour wai our own. The Rule of
doing at we would be done by, fo proper to be our M»-
del in every Tranfaftioq of Life, may more particularly
be of Ufe in this Rcfpeft : Bccaufa Peoj U feldom or ne-
ver receive any Advantage by thefe little ludicroui Im-
pofiiions ; and yet. if they were to afk themlelvei tha
Queftion, would find, that another's ufing thcin in thg .
fame Manner, would be very difpleafing.
FAB. XIII. The Eagle d»</ th Fox.
AN Eagle th^J h*d vouiigones, looking out for-
fcciwtlMjigto f«d tff^m with, happpncd t? fpy »
Fo»'s Ctjfi, that lay bafking itfelf abroad in the Sun.
24 ^^dP's FABLES.
She made a Stoop, and tnifled it imiDcdiately ; but
Wore fhe had carried it quite ofF, the old Fox com-
ing Home, implored her, with Tears in her Eyes, to
(^are her Cub, and pitjr the Dlftrefs of a poor fond
Mother, who (hould tnijik no Afflidion fo great as
that of lofing her Child. The Eagle, whc^e Neft was
up in a very high Tree^ thought herfelffecure enough*
from all ProjeSs of Revenge, and fo bore away the
Cub to her young ones, without (hewing any Regard
to the SuppKcations of the Fox. But that fubtle
Creatare, highly incenfed at this outrageous Barba*
rity, ran to an Akar, where fome Country People
had been facrificing a Kid in the open Fields, and
cTatching up a' Firebrand in her Mouth, made to-
wards the Tree where the Eagle's Neft was, with a
K.efolution of Revenge^ She had fcarce afcended
the firft Branches, when the Eagle, terrified with the
approaching Ruin of herfelf and Family, begged of
the Fox.td de&ft, and, witkmttch Submiiiosi, re«
turned her the Cub ag^ill ^k 9n4 Ibund.
The A P P LI CATION.
Til is Fable b a Warning to us no$ to deal hardly or
injorioufly by any body. The CQiilideration of our be-
ing in a high Condition of I^fe, and thofe we hurt, hr
belbw us, will plead little or no Excofe for us in this
Cafe. For there is fcarce a Creature of fo defpicable a
Rank» but is capable of avenging itfelf fome Way and
at feme Time or other. When great Men happen to be
wi(^ked, how little Scruple do they make of oppreffing
their poOr Keigkbours i They are perched upon a lofty
Station, and have built their Neft on high ; and, having
outgrown all Feelings of Humanity, are infen£ble of any
Pangs of Remorfe. The Widow's Tears, the Orphan's
Cries, and the. Curfes of the Miferable, like Javelins
thrown by the Hand of a feeble old Man» fall by the
Way, and never reach their Heart. But let fach aone^ in
the Midft of his flagrant lajoftice, remember, how eafy
a'Matter it is, notwuhftandi»g his fuperior Diftance, for
^SOP's FABLES. ^ af
t\t mnnell Vaflal to be revenged or him. The Bitter -
oTi of an Afflidion, tven where Cnnniilg: is wanting,
majr animate tlie pooreft Spirit with Refolotioniof Ven-
giince; and when oDce that Fury ii thoroughly awak-
enMl, we know not what flie will require Mfore fhe ii
lulled to Reft again. The moll powerful Tyrant) can'.
Dot prevent a refolved AITaffinaiion ; there are a thou-
fand different Ways fef aay private Man to do the Buli-
neft. wlia is heartily difpofed ts it, and willing to faiisff
hi- Appetite for Re\-enge, at the Ii«pence of hii Life.
An old Woman may clap a Firebrand in tkv Palace of a
}^BCe, and it is in the Power of a poor weaL F90) to
dclboy the Children of the Mighty,
FAB. XIV. The Boar and the Afs.
A Little Scoundrel of an Afs, happening to niitr
wiih a Boar, had a Mind Tobe arcli iip'<n him ;
And fo. Brother, fays hf, your humble Serwaiit!
The Roar, romewhat neitled at his Kanrtiliaritv,
hfiflled up to him and trild him, he was furprili'd to .
inarhun duer fo impu.itnt an Untt«th, and wa=
C ju:i
Z6 JESVP'% F ABhES.
i'uft going to (hew his noble Rcfentment, by giving ^
lim a Rip in the Flank ; but mk]y ftifling his PaU '
fion, he contented himfelf with oply faying, Go^,
you forrjr beaft ! J could be amply and ealily re-
venged or you, but I don't care to foul my Tuiks
with the blood of fo bafe a Creature.
r*^ A P P L I C A T I O N.
Fools are fometimes fo ambitious of beitig thought
WitSy that they run great Hazards in attempting to fhew
themfelves fuch. This is not the firfl Afs, who, after a
handfome Rebuke from one fuperior to himfelf, both ia
Courage and Merit, has continued hrs aUkivard Rail-
lery even to the laft Degree of Offence. But fuch %
dull Creature is fo far from ratling himfelf the If aft
EHeem by his ludicrous Vein, that h« has very good
Luck if he^fcapes with a whole Skin. Bufibons« like
Dwarfs, (hould be matched with thofe of their own Lc^
vel ; a Man, in Senfe or Stature, would be. afiiamed ip
encounter either of them. Bat, notwithftandinA all thi$j
and cho' the Boar in the Fable is a v^y good £xamp^
to Men of generous b^^ve Spirits, not to give themielves
up to Pa^on, nor to be diilempered with Thoughts of
Revenge upon the infolent Behaviour of every Afs that
offends them* becaufe their Hand« would he difhq-
noured by the Tindure of a bafe Man's Blood ; yet*
among human Creatures, the Corredlion of an Afs that
would be unfeafonably witty, may be performed witl^
Juflnefs and Propriety enough, provided it be done ia
good Humour. The Bipod of a Coward, literally (peak-
ing, would (lain the Charader of a Man of Honour ;
when we chaflife fuch Wretches, it fhould be done^ if
poilible, in the. utmoft Calmnek of Temper* It takes oiT .
lomething from the Reputation of a great Soul, when wc
ice it is in the Power ot a Fool to ruffle and unfettle it.
FAB;
j^ SOP'S FABLES. 27
, FAB. XV. T'itf. Frogs «nrf/i*/^fe/i«5 Bulls.
A FROG, one Day, peeping out ofthc Lake, and
'^ looking about him, faw two Bulls fighting at
fome Diflance off in the Meadow, and calling to one
of his Acquainunce, Look, fays he, whatdieadful
"Work is yonder ! Dear Sirs, what will become of
us I Why, pray thee, fays the other, do not frighten
yourfelf ib about nothing; how can thcirQuarr'<f)s
tiStA us ? They are of a dif&rent Kind and Way of '
living, and are at prefent only contending which Ihall
be Mailer of the Herd. That is true, replies the firft,
theirQualityand Station In Li fe, is, toallAppeatance,
different enough from ours : But, as one of them wilt
certainly get the better, he that is worftcd, being beat
out of the Meadow, will take Refuge here in the
Marlhes, and may pofltbly tread out the Guts of fome
of us : So, you fee, we are more nearly concerned in
this Difpute gf theirs, than at £ir(l you were aware of.
C 1 7W
at jBSOP'i FABLES,
n^ A P P L I C A T I Q N,
*
This poor timorotts Fjroe had juA Reafon for its Fears
and Sufpicions ; it being hardly poiEble for great Peo-
ple to fall ottt« without involving many below them in
the /ame Fate : Nay« whatever becomes of the former,
the latter are iure to fuifer ; tfaofe may be only playing
the Fool, while thefe really fmart for it.
It is of no fmall Importance to the honeft, quiet Part
^f Mankind, who defire nothing fo much as to fee Peace
and Virtue fiourifh^. to enter ferioufly and impartially
into the Confideration of this Point : For, as iignificant
as the Quarrels of the Great may fometimes be, yet
they are nothing without their efpouiing and fupporting
them, one Way or other. What is it that occaiio^s
Parties, but the ambitious or avaritious Spirit of Men
in eminent Stations, who want to engrofs all Power in
their own Hands f Upon this they foment Divifions,
and form Factions , ana excite AnimoAcies between well-
meaning, but undiicerning People, who little-think that
thjs great Aim of their Leaders is no more than the Ad-^
vanccment-of their own private Self-intereft. The Good ..
<£ the Public is always pretended upon fuch Occafions, ,
and may fomcthnes happen to be tacked to their own f
but then it is purely accidental, and never was origi- !
naUy intended. One knows not what Remedy to pre*
fcribe againfl fo epidemical and frequent a Malady, but
only, tnat every Man who has' Senfe enough to difcera '
ehe pitiful private Viewa that attend moft of the Dif- .
ferences between the great Ones, inftead of aiding or .
abetting either Party, would, with an honed -Courage,
JKVtily and openly oppofe both.
FAB.
iB^OP'i FABLES. 19
FAB. XVI. TkeViiK andtbi Pigeons.
A KITE, who had kept Tailing in the Air for.
-'*' many Days near a Dove-Houiey and maiic s
Stoop at feveral Pigeoi^s, but all to no Purpofe, [for
they-^vece too nimble for him) at lift had Recourle.
to Stratagem, and took hli Opportunity gneDay, to
. make a Declaration to them, io which he fet forth
bicf>wn jull and good Intentions, who had nothine
more at Heart than the Defence and Proteflion oft
the Pigeons in their ancient Rights and LibertifJf
and how concerned he was at tneir Fears and Je>>
toufies of a foreign Invafion, efpecially their unjuff
and unreafonable Sufpicions .of himfelf, as if he in-
tended, by Force of Arms, to break in upon their
Confticution, and tTtSt a tyrannical Governmeot
oVer them. To prevent all which, and thoroughly
t» quiet their Minds, he thought proper to propole
to them fuch Terms of Alliance and Articles of
Peace, as might for ever cement a £Qod Uoderftand*
I- C 3 ing;
30 dS SOP'S CABLES.
infl; betwixt them : The principal of which was.
Thai: they (hould accept of him Tor their King, and
iiiveft htm with all kingly Privilege and Preroga«»
live over them. The poor fimple Pigeons confent*
ed •: The Kite took the Coronation Oath after a very
folemn Manner, 'On his Part, and the Dovesj the
Oaths of Allegiance and Fidelity, on theirs. But
much Time had not pafied oyer their Heads, before
the good Kite pretended that it was Part of his Pre*
rogative to devour a Pigeon whenever he pleafed.
And this, he was not contented to do himfelf only^
but inftruSed the reft of the Royal Family in the
fame kingly Arts of Government* The Pigeon«»
reduced to this miferable Condition, faid one to tho
other, Ah I we deferve no better I WJhy did we let
Kim come in ? '
ni APPLI C A T I ON.
What can this Fable be applied to> but the exceeding^
Blindnefs and Stupidity of that Part of Mankund^ who
wantonly and fooliflily tru^ their native Jflights ofLi-
l)erty without good Seciirity? Who often chuie for
Guardians of their Lives and Fortunes, P^fbns aban-
doned to the iBoft unsociable Vices ; and feldom liav^e
any better Excufe for fuch an Error in Politic«,' than.
That they were deceived iii their Expedation : or ne-
ver thoroughly knew the Manners of their King, till he
had got them intirely in his Power. Which however ia
notorioufly falfe ; for viaiiy, with the Doves in the F^-
ble, are fo filiy, that they would admit of a Kite» ra-
ther than be without a King. The Truth is, we ou^kt
not to incur the Poflibllity of being deceived in fo im«*
portant a Matter as this ; an unlimited Power (houM
not be trailed in the Hands of any one« who is not en«
dued with a Perftftion more than humvi*
F A Bi
J?5 OP'S FABLES. ji
F A B. XVU. the Man and his two Wives.
AM A N, m Times when Polygamy was allowed,
bid two Wives : One of which, like himrdl,
bad feen her bed Days, and was jnft as it were eit-
tering upon the Declivity of Life ; b«t this, being
»n artful Womah, flic entirely concealed by hrfr
Ditis ; by whith, and fome other elegant Qtnlitics,
flit made a fhift fometimes to engagclier Hulband's
Heart. The other was a beautiful youtig Creature
' o( Seventeen, whofe Charms, as yet in the Height
of Bloom, suid fecure of their own Power, had no
QccafuHi to call in any Aitifice to their AHiftance.
She made the good Man as happy as he was callable
of hcin^, but was not* it feems, completely fo her-
Jelf : The grey Hairs, mixed amoag the black, upon
her Hulband's Head, gave her fome Uneafinefs, by
proclaiming the great Difparlty of iheir Years j
wherefore, under Colour of adjufling and combing
bu Head, fiie woald every now and then be twitch^-
.' ' . C + »ns
32 ^^SOP's FABLES.
ing the filver Hairs with her Nippers; that how-
ever Matters were, he might ftill have as few vifi-.
ble Signs of an advanced Age as poiTible : The Dao^r,
whofe Years were nearer to an Equality with his
<vwn, efteemed thofc grey Locics a$ the Honours of
his Head, and could have wifhed they had^all t^en
fuiK; fhe thought it gave him a venerable LoQk ;
at ieaii, that it made her appear fomething younger
than him : So that every Time the honeft Man's
Head fell into her Hands, (tie took as much Pains to
extirpate the black Hairs, as the other had done to
dtmolifli the grey. They neither of them knew of
^tbc other's Defign ; but each continuing her Projeft
with repeated Induftry, the poor Man, who thought
their Dcftre to oblige put them upon thisextraOrdi-
rarv Officipufncfs h\ dreHiiig hi^ Head, found hjra*
ielf, in a fhof t Time^ withuuc any,Hairat all.
r*^ A P P L I C A T i O N.
, Phadruss whc(c Senfe I have generally followed in
c^ery Fable of which he has made a Verfion, in his Ap-
plication of tbU, 18 a little fevere upon^ th^ Ladies ; aifti
trlls us, that 'by this. Example we may fee, the. Meo aae
fare to be Lofers by the Women ; as well, when they are
the Obje^s of their Love, as while they lie under their
Sifpleafure. All that I (bail add to what he hasfaid^
is to obierve, that many Women may unfortunatelyj out
of a pure Effed of Complaifance, do a thoufand difa*
greeable Things to their Huibands. They, whofe Love
IS tempered with a tolerable Share of good Senfe, will be
fore to have no ieparate V^iews of their own, nor do any
Thing more immediately relating to their Hulband,
without con faking him nrll. In a married State, one
Party (honld inform ^kemfelves certainly, and net be
gneiing and prefuttiing what will pleafe the other ; and
if a Wife nfes her Hulband like ^ Friend only, the leaft '
Ae caii do, is £rft to communicate to him aH the important
Enterprifes- ihe undertakes; and efpecially thofe whick
ihe intends ihould be for his Honour and Ad vanta^,
F A BL
^SOP'a FABLES. jj
F A.B. XVIII. ^e Stag /» the Ox-Stall;
ASTAG» roulecl out of hie thick Cover hi the
Midlt of the Foreft, and driven hard by the
Houndi, made towards a Farai-Houfe, and feeing
the Door of an Ox-SuU open, entered tbcreui, and ,
hid himfclf under a Heap of Straw. One of th«
Oxen, turning nis Head about» tfkti him what h«
mnuit by venturing himlclf in fuch a Place as that
Wx6, where he was lure to meet with his Doom t Ah I
lays the Stag, if you will but be fo good as to favouc
BK whh your Concealment, I hope I fhall do ikU
enough i I intend to make off aeain thcfirft Oppor>'
tunity. Wei), be ftaid there till towards Night ; ia
carae the Ox-Man with a bundle oC Fodder^, and
BCTCr faw him. In fhort, all the Servants of the
Faim came and went> and not a Soul of them fiiwlt
any Thing of ihe MaUci. Nay, the Bailiff himfclf
camCt according to Form, iuid: looked in, but walked:
awaf > oo wi&s than the reft. Upoa this, Uie Stae^
V
34 JESOP*s FABLES,
ready to jump out of his Skin for Joy, began to re«
turn Tfaanicfi to the good-natored Oxen, protefting
that they were the moft obliging People he had ever
met witn in his Life* After he had done his Com«
plymentSy one of them anfwered him gravely ; In*
deed we deiire nothing more, than to have it in our
Power to contribute to your Efcape; but, there is
a certain Perfon, you little think of, who has a hitn«
dred Eyes; if he fhould happen to come, I would
not give this Straw for your i^ifc. In tte Interihiy
Home comes the Mailer him(e]^ from a Neigh-
bour's where he had been invited to Dinner; and
becaufe he had obferved the Cattle to look but fctir-
vily of late, he went up to the Rack, and afked, why
they did not give them more Fodder ? then, caftiiig
his Eyes downward, Hey-dcy! fays he, why ifo
fparipg of your Litter? pray fcatter a little more
here. And thefe Cobwebs — feut I have fpokefo of-
ten, that unlets I doitmyfelf — Thus, as he went
cn,.j>rying into every Thing, he chanced to look
livhene the Stag's Horns lay fiiclcrng biit of the Straw' ^
«pon which he raifed a Hue-and-Cry, called all his
People about him, killed the poor Stag, and tnade
1^ Prize of him.
ST&r A P P L I C A T I O N.
The Moral gf this Fable is. That nobody looks aft^
a Man's Affairs fo well as he himfelf. Servants being
but Hirelings, feldom kave the true Intereft of their Maf-
fer at Hearr, bat let Things run on in a negligent coDr
flant Diforder; and this, generally, not fo much for
want of Capacity as Honefty. Their Heads are taken
op with the Cultivation of their own private Intereft ;
for rhc Service and Promotidn of which, that of their
Mafter is ppftpoaed, and often entirely neglected.
Few Families are reduced to Poverty and DiftreA
9icreJy by their own Extravi^aiice and Indulgence iv
Luxury ; The Iftatteotion of wvaou fivdli evtry Ar«
txcle
^SOF's FABLES.
3S
SfSe of Expence in domefUc Oeconomy ; an<! the Rect>
Bne of great Men, inftead of exerting Aeir Indgftry tO'
condnee ai hr as poffihle to the Increafe of their Maf>
•er** Weahh, commonly exercilii no odwr Oftoe, ihah
■lutof LoGitf t Mid CnwpUlan, wcoofmiK and dcwmciL.
FAB. XIX. Th Dog and ibe WolC
A Lean, h»tigry, hBlf-ftar^wd Wolf^ happened,.
■^*- one Moon-fliifiy Night, to meet with ajoHy^
pltimp, wetl-fed MaftifF; and, after the firft Com-
pliments were paflcd, (liyi the Wolf, you look ew-
tremely well ; I proteft, 1 think- 1 never faw a more
fraceful^-cewdyPerfon; but ^ow ppmes k abuut^
befeech you, that you fliould liv« lb much better
t)»n I i I jnay fty^ without Vanity^ that I. v«nttire
£fiy TimesniOfa tjian.yau do; and yet 1 am alnrafr
ready to peri& with Hunger. The Dog anfwered;
very bluntly,. Why, you may live as welly if yoU"
will do the fame for it that I do. Indeed ! What t^
that ?■ fays. he : 'WJrt-, fays the -Dog, only to guaifl.
' ■ ' ■ C t» ihK
3^ jE^O^Prs FABLES.
the Houft a-Nights^ and keep it from Thieve*,
With all my Heart, replies the Wolf; for at prefeat
I have but a forry Time of it j and I think to change
my bard Lod^rng in the Woods, where I enduoe
Kain, Froft, and Snow ; for a waitm Ro^f over nqr
Head, and* a Belly-fuU of good ViAtialSt will be no
bad Bargain* True, (ays the Dog;.tfiercloreyott
Jiave fioming more to do but to follow me. Now^ a$
they were jogging on together, the Wolf fpied a
Creafe in the Dog's N^ck, and, having a ftrangeCu*
riofity, could not forbear alking hnn what it me^nt !
Pugh ! nothing, fays the Dog. Nay, but pray, fays
Che Wolf. Why, fays die Dog, if you muft know,
I am tied up in the Day«-time, becaufe I am a little
fierce, for fe^ I Ihould bite People, and am only let
loofe a-Ntghts. But this is done with Defign to
make me fleep a*Days, more than any Thing elfe, and
that I may watch the better in the Night-ttme ; for,
as foon as ever the Twilight appears, out I am turn-
ed, and may go where I pleafe. Then, my Mafter
brings me Plates of Bones from the Table with. his
own Hands ^ and whatever Scraps are left by any
of the Family, all fall to my Share ; for you muft
know I am a Favourite with every Body. So yoi| fee
bow you are to ]ive.«r^Come, come along; what is
the Matter Mritby^tt^ No», replied the Wolf, I beg
vour Pardoii y ktpp your Happinefs all to yourielf.
Liberty is t}^ \Vord with me ; and I would net be
a King upof| tij^e Terms you mentioa.
Tit APPLICATION.
The lovveft Condition of Lifi?, with Pieedom attend-
iftg it, is better than tbe^moft exalted Scation under a
Rcilraint. j£fif and P^«r/nr/, who had both lelt the
bittci: ESe6ts of Skvery^ though the latter of them ha4
tie good Fortune to have the mildeft Prince that ever
was» for his Ma&er^ cannoi fmkmt taking all Opppr-.
* • tanicies
£SOP't FABLES. gj
tanitiu to exncA tlidr gmt Abkorrrace of SomtadCf
'xnd their Patton for t.ibertv, opon any Tenni whatfo.
ever. iBdced, a State of Slavery, with w1)ite*er rcem-
ing Gnudenr and Happiaefi it may be attended, it yCt
fa pKcariow a Thing, that he maft want Senfe, Ho-
aonr, Coan^, ind alt Hanneror Virtae, whocan ea.
dnir (O preftr it in kit Choice. A Man who hai fc lit<
tk Honoar u to bear to be « Slare, wkea it it io kia
Power to prCTcnt or redreft it, wonld make no Scrnpls
to cut the Throau of hii FeUow- Great am, or to db
any Wickednefi that the wanton unbridled Will of hi>
tyrannical Mafier could fnggelt.
FAB. XX. The Lamb hreugbt upiya Goat.
A WOLF meeting a Lamb, one Day, in Com-
*^ pany with a GoM, Child, (avi he, you are miC.
taken, this is none of your Mother, ftie i; yonder,
(pointing to a Flock of Sheep at a DiSance.) It
may be fo, fays the Lamb { the Pcrfon that happened
to conceive me, and afterwards bore mc a few Monihji
■a hff Bcll;^ becaufe Ihe could ngt help itj and then
dnpt
38 JESOP't FABLE 5.
dropt me, Ihe did not care where, and left me to the
vride World, is, I fuppofe, what you call my Mo-^
ther % but I look upoii this charitable Goat as fuch,.
that took Companion oa me in my poor, helplefv
deftitute Condition^ and gave me Suck ^- fparing ie
fHit of the Mouths of her own Kids, rather than I
fliottld want it. Bat fure, fays he^ you have a greater
£.egard for her that gave you Li fe^ than for anyfr
body elfe. She gave me Life ! I deny that. She*
^at could not fo much as tell whether lihould be
•black or white, had a great Handin giving mel Life^
tabe Cure ! But, fuppofing it were u>, I am migh-
tily ohllged to her truly for contriving to let me be-
ef the Male-kind, fo that I go every Day in Dan-
ger of the Butcher^ WlM&Baftntahcn have I to>
have a greater Regard fotxnm to .whom I am fo li^*
tie indebted ' tor any Part of my Being, than for
thofe frflun whom i have teCeived all the Benevo^
lence and Kiiidndi wJiicb have hitherto (ii^poiStec^
me in ' " '
Tb$ AP P I/l C A T ion;
ft is they whtffe Goodnefs makes them our Pareat9».
that: properly claim our fiUal' Reiped. from us,, and nott
thofe v/ho are fuch ofthy out oFNece^y. The Duties
betwieen Paients and Utetr Children are relative and re*
ciprocal. By all Laws# tratttf ai m well as civile it is ex^
pe^ed chat the. Parents fliooid cherini and proride .for
the Chrid, till ic is'ahte to itfSA fot it^^f and thatxhe-
Child^ with a mutual Ten derne/s, (hou Id depend upooL
Jike ^vehcfotitft 6uHeftadce, and yidd it a'jieaieRaihle-
Ohfdien^^ Yet, thioagh the PeprajMty of hum^m.
NatttJ-e, we very often fee thefe Lawi»^iolated^ and thr-
Kclaiions hefbre-meiuioned treating one another with:
as much Virulence m Enemies of diSerent Coantcies are
capable of. Through the natural Iiivpatience and Pro-
tcrvity of Youth, we ohferve the firft Occafioa fbr^any
•Anhnoftty tooft frequently aiifinrg from thek Side';* btnf,
• . • • 8 kowcver^
^SOP*s FABLES. 35
bowever, Acre are sot wanting Examptei of tmdottfql
PucDts : And, when a Father, by nfing a Sob tS, and
denrtDg him fach an Edacatioa and fadi an AUowaneB
as lui Circumllaiicei can well afford, gives lum Occih
£011 to withdraw hii RerpeA from hiia, to nrge hit B^
getting of him at the tola Obligation to Daty, is talk-
ing like a filly, unthinlting Dotard. Mutoal BenevOK
lence iniift be kept up between Relations, as well aa
Friends ; for, without this Cement, whatever yon pleale
to call the Building, it is only a Caftle in the AiTi •
Thing to be talked of, without the leaft Reality.
FAB. XXI. Tbe Peacock'/ CmfUhL
'T'HE Peacock prefented a Memorial to Juno, im-
-^ porting, how hardly be thought he was ufed ia
not having fo good a Voice as the Nightingale;
how that pretty Animal was agreeable to every Eat
that heard it, while he was laughed at for his ugly
(creaming Noife, if he did but open his Mouth.
7be Goddefs, concerned at the Uneafinefs of her
favouiite Bird, uifwcred him very kindly to this
' - Furpolc :
4o jesop'% fables.
Purpofe: If the Nigbttngale is bleft with a fine
Voice, you have the Advantage in Point of Beauty
and Largcnefs of Perfon* Ah ! fays he, but what
avails mv filent unmeaning Beauty, when I am fo
far excelled in Voice ! The Goddefs difinifled him,
iiiddiBg him confider, that the Properties of every
Creature were appointed by the Decree of Fate ^ to
him Beauty; Strength to the Eagle; to the Night-
ingale a Voice of Melody; the Faculty of Speeck
to the Parrot ; and to the Dove Innocence. That
each of thefe was contented with his own peculiar
Quality I and unlefs he had a Mind to be iiuiiM«>-
bl^ he muft leam to be fo too. .
7X^ APPLICATION* •
Since all Things (as Jun0 iays) are fixed by the eteib-
nal and aaalterable Decree of Fate» how abfnrd it is to
hear People complaining and tormenting themfelve^ for
that which it is impo&ble ever to obtain ! They ivho
are ambitichu of having more good Qanlities, iince ^hat
is impradicable» ihoaldipare for no Pains to cultiaate
and recommend tho(e thej have ; which, a Soaripels
and Peeviifaneis of:^eihper> inftead oiP improving* Will
certainly leffen and impair, whether they are of the
Mind or Body. If we had all the defirable Properties
in the World, we coold be no more than eafy.and eonw
tented with them; and, if a Man, by a right Way of
thiafcingy can reconciJe himfelf to his own Condition,
whatever it be, he will fall little ihort of the moftcoow
plete SUUe that Mortals ever enjoyed.
T AM.
jSSOP'i FAfiLES. 41
FAB. XXir. The Fox anJ the Grapes.
A FOX, very hungry, chanced to come in;to A
^^ Vineyard, where-therehungBranchesof charm-
ing ripe Grapes ; but nailed up to aTrellJs fohigh,
that he leaped till he quite tired himfelf without
being able to reach one of then?. At laft, Let who
Mrill take them ! fays he t they arc but green and
fouf; fo I'll even let them alone.
n? APPLICATION.
Tbb Fable 19 a good Reprimand to a Parcel of vain
Coxcombs in the Wurld, who becaufe they would ne-
ver be. thought to be diTappoiDted in any-of their Pur-
f«in, preiend a Dillike to evtryThing which they can-
not oblaio. There is a ftrange Propenfity in Manfciiid
»o this Temper, and there are Numbers of grunibliag
l^alccontents in every, different Faculty and SeA in
Life. The difcarded Sialefman, confidering the Coi-
ruption of the Timei, would not have any Hand in the
Admihi^aQOD of Affairs for all t^ World. The Conq-
4* j^SOP*s FABLES.
try 'Squire damiu a Cosrt Life, and would not go criog«
ing and creeping to a Drawing-Room for tbe tell Placs
the King hu in bis Difpofal. A voang Fellow, beinz
aOccd kow he liked a celebrated Beanty, by whom M
the World knew be wu defpired, anrwered. She had a
ftinkittg Brtath. How infufferable ii the Pride of ihia
poor Creatare Man ! who would ftoop tfl the bafeft,
vileft AAionr, rather than be thoaght not abletodoanjr
Thing. For what ii more bale and Vile than Lying F
And when do we lye more notorionfly, than when we
difparage .and tind Faolt with a Thing for no other
KcafuQ but becanfe it is. cot of our Power?
FAB. XXIII. ThtYiper and tbe FiW.
A VIPER entering a Smith's Shop, looked up
**• and down for fomething to pat; and feeing »
File, fell to gnawing it su greedily as could be.
Tbe File told him, very gruffly, that he had beft be
^uict and let him alone ; for he would get very lit-
tle by nibbling atone, who, upon Occalion, could
bite Irao and Steel. >
JSSOP't FABLES.
43
Tit APPLICATION.
"By this VMt we are; cautioned to confider whit anj
PerfoB ift, bef4N« we make an Attack upon him after
any ManMA* whatfoever : Particularly how we kt our
Tonguee flip w cenfuring the AMons of thofe who are.
in the Opmion of the World, not only of an unqueC-
tioned Reputation, fo that nobody will believe what we
tnnnaate againft them t but of fuch an Influence, upon
acxolint of their own Veracity, that the leaft Word f>om
them would ruin our Credit to all Intents and Pur*
pofes. If Wit be the Cafe, and we have a fatirical Vein,
which at certain Periods muft have a Flow, let us be
CAutiOtts at wh«m we level it ; for if the Peribn^s Un*
derftanding be of better Proof than our own, all our in*
g«nio«i SaUieii like Liquor fquirted againft the Wind^
will recoil back upoii our own Facet, and make us tho
Kidkute of even^ Speftator. This Fable, befidei, ia
nWt m improper cmolem of Envy i which, rather thim
aot bite i» m, will fiU fool when k eta hun MtUag
but itftl£ .
FAB,
M jESOP's FABLES.
FAB. ^XIV. neVoxaaJ the GoAU
^A FOXhavingtumUed, byChance, iotoa Wd1»
"■ had bcea camng about a long while, to no Pot-
polc, how he fboviU get out agkin ; when, at 1k((, a
Goat came to the Place, and wanting to drink, alked
Rtynardy whether the Water was go«l t Good ! (ays
be ; ay, fo fweet, that I am afraid I hare furreitcd 1117-
felf, I have draulc fo abundantly. The Goal, upon
tbisj without any more ado, leapt in ; and the Fox*
taking the Advantage of his Horns, by the Afiillance
of them, as nimbly leapt out, leaving the poor GoaC
at the Bottom of the Well, to fliift for htmfelf;
Tht APPLICATION.
The DoArine taught ui by this Pable ii no more tlian
thii, That we ought to confider who it ii that advifei
m, before we follow the Advice. Por, kowever plau-
fible the Couofel may ftem, if the PctIod that gives it
it a crafty Knave, we ■>; k alured that he intends to
ferve himfetf in it, more Am tii, if not to erc^ fume-
tiling to hii own AdruHtc out of oiu Ruia.
The
:/ESOP'i FABLES.
45
- The tittle, poor, Coontry Attorney, ready toperifh,
and funk to the lawell Depth of Poverty, for V/mt of
Employincnt, by fuch Arti as ihefe, draw) the 'Siju ire
liu Neighbour into the Gatph of the Law ; till, layine
hold on (he BraDchcs of hi* Revenue, he liftshimreff
ODt of Obfcurity, and leaves the other immnred in Ui«
Bottom of & Mortgage.
FAB. XXV. The Countryman and /if Snake.
A Village, in a frofty, fnowy Wutter* fosn^ a
*^ Snake under a Hedge, aimoft dead with Cel^
He could net help having a Compalfion for the poal^
Creature, fo brought it Home, and laid it upon ffae
Hearth neaz the Fire ; but it had not Iain there ton^
before (beiiw revived with the Heat) itbegan toerMk
kftlf, and Sj at his Wife and Children, fitlina ttw
yiAoU Cotta^ vith dreadful Hilfings. Titt Cowi>
liyinan hewing an Outcry, and pw^civing what
tfic Matter waa, catched up a Mattock, add iooB 4ir-
laariwd IwB i upbraiding htm at tlic ftsA-VlMe in
46 ^SOP*« FABLES.
thefe Words : Is this, vile Wretch, the Reward you
make to him that faved your Life i Die9 as you de*^
forve i but a Ixngle Death is too good for you*
Tbi A?? Lie AT 1 OU.
•Tis the Nature of logrates to return Evil for Good :
And the Moralifls in all Ages have incelTantly declaimed
againft the Enormity of this Crime^ concluding that
they who are capaUei of hurting' their-Benefafiorsy asa
not fit to live in a Community ; being fuch, as the na-?
tural Ties of Parent^ Friend^ or Coi^ntry, are too We^
to retrain within the Bounds of Society, Indeed* the
Sin of lugsatitude is fo de^ilable, . that, as none but the
mod-inhuman Temper can be guilty of it^ io» ia writ-
ing to Men* there is no Occafion to ufe many Words»
eiuier in exf^)iing the Vice itfelf, or dilTuading People
fron^ the CommiSon of it. Therefore it i^ not likely
' that a Perf6n of jE/of^s Sagacity would have compiled
this Fable, without havii^ fomeching elfe in view, be-
fides this tiite and obvious Subj,e^. He certainly in«
tended to put us in mindj That, as none but a poor filly
Clown would go to take i^p a Snake and cherifh it, fo^
we ihall be very negligent ai^ ill-ad v^fed^ if, in doii^g
good Offices, we do not take Cace.to beftpw our Bene*
volence upon proper Qbje^s. It was not at ali unn^pr
tural. in the Snake to hiis, and brandi-fli his Tongue,
and fly at the firft that came near him ; as fbon at the
Peribn that faved his Life as any other ; indeed more
likely, becaufe nobody elie had fo mtich to do withf
hi)iu Nor is it ftrange at a^y Time to fee' a reprobate
Fool throwing his poifonous Language ab<>jut, and com*
mitting his Extravagancies againit thofe, i^aore efpeci- *•
ally, who a];e ib inadvertent as tp conc^r,n them^ves
with him. The Snake and the Reprobate w;ll not ap« .
pear extraordinary in their Malevolence : But the fen-
fible Part of Mankind cannot help thinking thofe guilty ^
of great Indifcretion^ who receive either of them into
their Proledlion.
F A 6. ■
ySSQP't FABLES. 47
FAB. XXVI. ?:&* Mountvn* w Labour.
'yHE Mov^ins were faid to be in Labour, and;
^ utterc^ moH tktadful Groans. People cams
together, far and neaiT to fee what Birth woilU boj
prod^e^ • and after they had waited a conjUderabla'
Timf ia ^xpeflation, out crept % Moufe. ,
72>f APPLICATION.
Great Qry and little Wool is the £i(;/^ Proverb; A$
Senls of wVch beari an exaft Proportion to this Fabld. -
By which are effolicd, all tbofe who promife Ibmething
exceeding great, ^t come oiF with a Produftioo ridicui.
lonlly little, ProjeAors of bH- Kinds, who endeavour bjr
artificial Romourt to raid the Expedations of Man*
kind, and then br their mean Performances defeat and
difappoint then, kave. Time out of Mind, been lalha^^'
with the Recital of ihti Fable. How a^eeably fur- '
prilin^ is it to &e an uopromifing Favourite, whom the
Capnee of Fo^itoq ]»t pla^d a)k the Hdm of State,
ferviog
4t jfiSOP's FABLES.
ferwng t|>« pommovwealth with Juftife «nd Interatj',
infcM of fmot^eiK.g and embezzJing the pubIic|TreA-
fure to hii own private and wicked Enda ! And, on the
contt'ar]', how melancholy, how dreadful, or rathcsTt
how cjcaTperating and provoking a Sigbl ii it, to behold
one, whofe conflanc Declarations for Liberty and the
Public Good, have raifed People'* ExpeOations of him
to the higheft Fitch, as fbou as he is got into Pgwer,
exerting his whole Art and Cunning to ruin arid enflave
his Country 1 The fangnine Hopes of all thpfe that
wilhed well to Virtue, and flattered themfelm wiih «
Reformation of every Thing that oppofed the Well-
being of the Commonity, vanilh away in Smoke, aad
SIC loft in i dark, gloomy, uncomlbiuble ProTprAi
FAB. XXVII. The Ant ai$d the Fly,
I^NE D»y there happened fome Wordt between
V the Ant and the Fly about Precedency, and the
Faint was argued widi great Warmth uid Eagernefs
mkMhKdes. Say* the Fly, It is wcU known what
my
ttiy Pretenfions are^ and how judly thejraresrouiKl-
cd : There is never a Sac'rititw- that it ofFeredy but t
always tallp of the Entrails, even before the Godt, *
thenf^ (elves* I have one of the uppermoft Seats ac
Churchy and freqUctnt the Altar as otceit as any Body c
I have a free Adiniffion at Court } and cart never
W<int the King's Ear, for I fomecimes fit upon bia
Shoylder. Tli^re is not a Maid of Honour^ or
bandfooie young Creature conies in my Waf , bur^
if I like her^ 1 fettle betwixt her balmvLips. And
then Ijeatand drink the bed of every Thing) with*
out having any Occaiion to work for myXtving.
What is tncre that fuch Country Puflcs asyou en-
joy, to be compared with a Life like this ? The Ant,
vi^ho by this Tiqfie had compofed herfelf^ replied
with k great deal of Te^iper^ and no lefs Severity t.
Indeed, to be a Gueft at a/i Entertainment of the
Gods, is a very great Honour, if one is invited } but
I fliould not care to be a difagreeable Intruder any>
where. You ta)k of the King and the Courts and-
the fine Ladres there, with great Familiarity; but*
as 1 have been getting in my Harveft in Sumrpcr, I
have fecn a certain Pcrfon, under the Town-Walls^
making ii 'hearty Mqal upon fometbing that is not
fo proper to be mentlo/xcdk As to your frequent-
ing the Altars, you are In the right to take Sanctu-
ary where you are like to meet with the lead Dif-*
turbance: But I have known People before now,'
run to Altars^ and call it Devotion, when they have
been fhut out of all good Company,' and had no
where elfe to go. You don't work K>r your Living,
you fay ; true ; therefore when you have played
away, the Summer, and Winter comes, you have no<«
thing to live upon : and, while you are ftarving with
Cold and Hunger, I have a good warm Houfe over
my Head^ and Plenty of Provifions about me.
JO MSOP*& FABLES.. '^
TZr/ A P P L I C A T I O N.
This Fable points out to us the diiFerent Chara^ers
of thofe that recommend themfelves in a vain-glorious
Way by falfe and borrowed Lights ; and of thofe whofe
real Merit procures them a good Elleem wherever they
go. Poverty and Folly having, at. the fame-Time, Poi^
It&oxi of any one Man, cannot fail of making him aa
Object of Pity, if not of Contempt; but, when an-
-i;mpty, conceited Piide happens to be joined ^th thf»n»
they render the . Creature in whom they meet, at.thei
fame Time deipicable and ridiculous. One who oCten;
attends at Court, not oecaufe he has a Place, but be-
caufe he has not, (hould not value liimfelf upon his Con--
dition. They who go to Church out of Vanity and-
Curiofity, and not for pure Devotion, fhould not value
themfelves upon their Religion, for it is not worth a
Straw* They who eat at. a Three-penny^ Ordinary, and
^metimes not fo well, fhould not boaft either of- their
Dinner or Company. In fhort, nobody is a better Gen-
tleman than he whofe own honefllnduilry fupplies him
with a Plenty of all NecefTaries ; who is fo well ac-
quainted with Honour, as never to fay or do a ipeaa
and unjuH Thing; and who dtfpik an idle Scoundrel,
but knows how to elleem Me« of his own Principles.
Such a one is a Perfon of the firft Quality, though he
Kas never a Title, and ought to take Place of evesy
Man who is not fo good as himfelf. ^ '
• ■ >
FAB.
j£SO P'i f A B L E S, s§
FAB. XXVill. sr^^ Old Hound.
AN old Hound, who had been an excellent good
^- one in his i"ime, and given his Mafter great
Sport and Satisfaiaiiin i« many a'Ch rCf, at laft, bv
iheEfFcft,of Yi-a's b-cime tVfbIc an^f imfervice'-
able. Howevtr, being in the Field one Day, vvhco
the StaT was almoft run Jown, he happened to be
ihe firft ih„t came in'with him, and feizcd him by
one of his Haunches; hu", his dec a ve J and broken
Tecih not bcin^ able to keep their ktild, the Deer
efcaped, and t'lfew hitn quite nut. Upon which,
his M after, being in a great P.iflion, aiiJ going t«
fl'ike.him, the honeft old Creature is Caiii to have
barked out his Apology; Ah ! do ooi rtrike your
poor old Servant; it i^ not my Heart and Inclina-
tion, but my Strength and Speed that fail yi^'U. If
whit I now am difpleafcs, pray don't forget wha: I
hive been.
D2 TS/
S2 JE^pP's FABLES,
fffc APPLICATION.
Tkis Fable may ferve to give us a general' View oif
rthe Ingratitude of the greateft Part of Mankind. Not-
«ivith(landing all the Civility and Complaifance that is
'iifed among People where there is a common Intercourfe
of Bufinefs, yet, let the main Springs the Probability of
rtheir being ferviceable to each other, either in Point of
Pleafure or Profit, be but once broken, and farewell Ctir-
wtefy : So far from continuing any Regard in Behalf of
pafl: Favours, it is very well if they K>rbear doing any
Thing that is injurious. If the Mailer had only ceafed
uCo carefs and mal^ much of the old Hound when he was
pa,ft doing any Service, it had not beeo very flrange ;
3)ut to treat a poor Creature ill, not for k Failure of In-
xlination, but merely a Defe6l of Nature, mud, notwith-
/landing the Crowd of Examples there are to counte-
diance it, be pronounced inhuman and unreafonable.
. There are two Accounts upon which People that have
been ixfcf til are frequently negleded. One, when thef
are fb decayed, either through Age or fome Accident^
;chat they are no longer able to do the Services they
have formerly done ; the other, when the Occafion or
Emergency, which required fuch . Talents/ no longer
(Cxifts. ^b^fdrut^ wJio more than once complains of the
^ad Confequeaces of Age, makes no other Application
ito this Fable, than by telling his Friend Phiietus, with
/ome Regset, that he wrote it with fuch a View ; hav-
ing, it feems, been repaid with Neglect, or worfe Ufage»
/or Services done in his Youth, to thofe who were then
Able io afiord him a better R^compence.
t A'B.
i^ SOP'S FABLES. SS
FAB. XXIX. ri* Sick Kite--
A KITE had bwB fick a long Timej andfind-
^^ ing thcK were no Hopci hf Recovery, begged'
of hjsMpEtiu- to go U) all the Chu relief and relU
■gitun Hcnitei'lri the Counfrv, to try what Prayeii-
aiKj Promifirfi would vffctl in his Behalf. The olth
Kitereplic^y Indeed, dear Snn, I would wi!!ing!y
uiKlertafce any Thing to fuve your Life, but 1 have
great Reafon to defpair of doing you any Service irt
the Way you propofe ; For, with wKat Face cai^.
I aJk any T hing of the Gods in favour of one, whofe
whole Life has been a continual Scene of Rapine
and injuftice, and who has not fcrupled, upon (Jc-
cafion, to rob [he very Aliats tbemfelves i
7:6^ A P P L I C A T I O N.
The Rehearful of this Fible almoll unavoidnbly draw)
oar Attention to that very ferioua and important Point,
the Coaiideruion of a Death-bed Repeiua»ce. Aitd,
O 3 W
J4 JESOP's FABLES. ,
to expofe the Abfurdity of relying upon fach a weak
Foundauon, we need onJy a& the fame Queftion with
the Kile in" the Fsble :"HoV can he ifiat has offended
the Gods »H -his Life-lime by iloing Afts of Dilhooour
and Injullice, expefl thai they fiiould-be pleafed wiih
him at hSi, for no other Keafon but bemure'hc feaTt he
fliall not be ible to ofibnd them any longer? when, in
Truih, fuch a Repentance can fignify nothing but a Con-
fitaulioti of his former Impudence and Folly: For fure
no StuptJiiy can eicceii that of the Man who sypcfls 3
future Judgment, and yet caii bear to commitany PiecC
of Injuflice, with a Senfe and Dehbsiation of the Fi&.
FAB. XXX. TJj£ Hares and the Frogs.
T TPON a great Storm of Wind that blew amenv
^ the Ttccs and Bufhes, and made a Ruftling
wiih the Leaves, the Hares (in a certain Park where
theie happened to be a Plcoiy of them) were foter-
ribly frighted that ihey run like mad all over the
?Ute, rtfolving to fctk out fomc Retreat of more
Security,
.'JESOP'^ FABLES. 55
Security, or ta end their unhappy Days by doing
Violence to themfelves. With this Refolution, they
found an Outlet where a P;ile had been' broken
down; and, bohina; forth upon an adjoining Com^-
mon, had not run far before their Courfe was ftopt
by that of a gentle Brook which glided acrofs the
Way they intended to take. This was fj grievous
a DifaDpointment, that they were not able to bear
\t'y and they determined rather to throw themfelves
headlong into the Water, let what would become of
it, than lead aXife fo full of Dangers and Croffcs.
But upon their coming to the Brink of the River^ a
Parcel of Frogs, which were fitting there, frighted
at .their Approach, leapt into the Stream in great
Confufion, and dived to the very Bottom for Fear.
Which a cunning old Pufs obferving, called to the
reif and faid, Hold^ have a Care what ye do : Here
are other Creatures, I perceive, which have their
Fears as well as us : Don't then let us fancy our-
felves the moft miferable of any upon £anh ; but
rather, by their Example, learn^ to bear patiently
thofe Inconveniencies which our Nature has throyvii
upon us,
5r& A P P L I C A T I ON.
This Fable is defigned to (hew us how unreafbnable
many People are^ for living in fuch continual Fears and
Difqaiets ^aboat the Miferablenefs of their Condition.
There is hardly any State of Life great enpugh to fa*
tisfy the Wiflies of. an ambitioas Man ; and fcarce any
fo mean^ bat may fupply all the Neceilities of him that
i» moderate. Bat if People will be fo unwife as to work
them^lves up to imaginary Misfortunes^ why do they
grumble at Nature and their StarB, when their own per-*
ver(e Minds are only to blame? If we are to conclude
ourfelves unhappy by as many Degrees as there are others
greater than we, why then the greateft Part of Mankind
mail be miferable, in ibme Degree at lead. But, if
D:4 tkey
(( -eJO/'-s FABLES,
•fcy »ko „pi„, ., ihei, „„, ,|„ia.J Conditio., wrald
out rfckon up tiow inaqy more ihere are with wliom ihe*
would 001 ch.,go C.ft,, ,h„ »l,„ii P|„f„„, iiiej
who k.vo » Way or „„„„g ,h™fel e. Panic, frooi ihe
Koflimg of ,te W,„d, ,ho f„aKhioB of a RatorMoof.
JchinJ n, H,„ji„j,, thoFJumriagofaMoih, or (ho
Mouoo of , be,, own Shadow b. Moooligbif Their
whole L.fe ,, a, foil „f A|.r„, as'ihai of ."Ware, and
thry oe,er think ihemfelve, fo happy „ when, lilte the.,
(■n,oro»i Folk. ,n the Fable, the, meet with a Set of
Lreamrei at featfu! ag themfeives.
Fab. XXXI. nc Uoa mJ Ih Mouk.
A L I o N, f,.Int with Heat, and wearr vvith Hunt.
ing, was l^id down to take itis Repofe uniJer
the fpieading Bouchs of a tiiick ITiady Oik. It
happened that, whi'e he (lept, a Company of fctimb-
liiiji Mice ran over iiis jiack, and wali'dhini. Upon
whitih, Itaiting tip, hp gigpped htf i'ltw up<*t dhu
jE SOP'S FABLES. 57
of them, and was juft going to put it to Deaths
when the little Suppliant implored his Mercy in a
very moving Manner, begging him not to ftain his
noble Character with the Blood of fo defpicable and
fmall a Beaft. The Lion, confiderine the Matter^
thought proper to do as He was defireo^ and imme*
dtately releafed his little trembling Prifoner. Not
long after, traverfing the Foreft in Purfuit of hi»
Prey, he <:hanced to run into the Toils of the Hun-
ters; from whence, not stble to difengage himfejf^
he let up a mod hideous and loud Roar. The Moufe,
hearing the Voice, and knowing it to be the Lioh's>
immediately repaired to.the Place, and bid him fear
nothing, for that he was his Friend. Then ftraight
he fell to work, and, with his little (harp Teetb>
gnawing afundcr the Knots and Faftenings of tho^
Toih, let the Royal Brute at Liberty.
n^ APPLICATION.
This Fable gives us to anderftand, that there if fta
Perfoa ia the World fb little, but even the greateft may^
9t ibme Time or other, (land in Need of hia Affiflance;
and confequently that it is good to ufe Ctemency, wheie
there is any Room for it, towards thofe who fall within
onr' Power. A Generofity of (liis Kind is a handfome
Virtue, and looks very graceful whenever it ii exerted,
if thei« were nothing elle in it : Bat|, as the lowed Peo-
ple in Life, may, upon Occafion, have it in their Powef
either to fcrve or hurt ai, tliai makes itoorO«ty» in
Point of common Intereft, to behave ofi»rfelve$ with
Good* nature and Lenity tpwards all with whon^ we
have to do. Then the Gratitude of the Moufe, and his
Readioeft, not only to repay, bat. even to exceed the
Obligation due to his BeriefaAor, notwithflanding his
little Body, gives us the Specimen of a great Soul, which
is never fo mach delighted as with an Opportunity ot
ftewing how feni^le it is of Favours receited*
D s fab;
j8 ^5 OP'S FABLES,
FAQ. XXXII. ?7-rFatal Marriage.
'yHE Lion aforefaid, touched with the grateful
'■*■ Procedure of the Moufe, and, refoWing not to
be outdone in Gcnerofity by any wild Beaft what-
foever, defircd his little Deliverer to name his own
Terms, far that he miglit depend upon his complv-
iiig with any Propofal he fhnutd> malce. The
Moufe, fired with Ambition at this gracious Offer,
did not fo much conftder what was proper for him
ta afk, as what was in the Power of his Prince to
Sant i and fo, prefumptuoufly demanded his princely
aughter, (he young Lionefs, in Marriage. The
Lion confented : But, when he would have given
the Royal Virgin into his Poffeflion, (he, lilce a
giddy Thing as file was, not minding how ftie
walked, by Chance fet her Paw upon her Spoufe,
who was coming to in«t her, and cruQied her lit-
tle Dear to Pieces. .,,..:
jESOP's fables. 59
755^ APPLICATION.
This Fable feetns intended to fhevtr us, how miferaUe
ibifle People malce themfelyes by a wrong Choice, wheft
they have all the goo4 Things in the World fpread be*
fore them to choo^ out of. In fliort, if that one Par-
ticiilai' of Judgment bewanting, it is not in the Power
of 'the grcateft Monarch upon Earth, nor -of the re-
peated Smiles of Fortune to make us happy. It is the
Want or Pofleflion of a good Judgment, which often*
times makes the Prince a' poor Wretch, and the poor
Philosopher completely eafy. Now, the firll and chief
Degree of Judgment is to know one*s felf ; to be able
to make a tolerable Ellimate of one's own Capacity, fo
as not to fpeak or undertake any Thing which lAzy
either injure or make us ridiculous : And yet (as won-
derful as it is) there have been Men of allowed Good-^
(enfe in particular, and poflened of all defirable Qaali-
locations in general, to make Life delightful and agree-
able, who have unhappily contrived to match themielvet
with Women of a Genius and Temper neceHarily tend-
ing to blaft their Peace. This proceeds from fome lin^
accountable Blindnef's: Bat when wealthy Plebeians of
njean Extraflion, and unrefined Education, as an E({ui-
valent for their Money, demanJ Brides out of the Ndr-
feries of our Peerage, their being defpifed, or ^t leaft
overlooked, is fo unavoidable, unlefs in extraordinary^
Cafes, that npthiag but a falfe Tafte of Glory could,
make them eater «pon a Scheme fo inconfiftent aod oa*
promifing* . •
»' ?
D 4. FAB.
6o MSOF'3 F A'Bl.ES.
FAB XXXIIl. ri>€ \Yooh and t/js Clown.
A Country Fellow came on? Day into the WooJ,
■'^^ and looked aboiit him with fome Concern i
wpon which the Trees, with a Curiofity natural to
fome other Creaftiree,- afked him what he wanted.
He replied. That he wanted only a Piece of Wood
tn make a H^n^le to his Hatchet. Since that was
all, it ^as voted iinanimoudy that he fliould have n
Pkce^of good, fourd, tough AQi. But he had no
fooner received and fitted it for his Purpofe, than-
he began to lay about him unmercifully, and to
hack and hew without DiflIn£l)on, felling the no-
hltil Trees in all the Foreft. Then the Oak is
i.hid to have fpoke thus to the Beech, in a tow
Wbifper, Brother, wemuH take it f«r our Pains.
Tie APPLICATION.
~No People are more -jnllly liable to fuSer, than they
vb« faraifh their Eaciniej witli any Kind of ASHancc.
.^^OP*s FABLES. 6t
It IS generous to forgive i it is enjoined us by Religion
%a k)ve Ottr Enemies ; bot he that truils an Enemy, mof h
more contributes to. the ilrengthening and arming of
him^ may almoft depend upon repenting htm for his in«
advertent Benevolence: And has, moreover, this to add
to his Didrei^, I'hat, when he might have prevented
it, he bi ought his Misfortune upon himielf. by his own
Credulity.
Any Perfon ill a Community, by what Name or Ti-
tle ht^^T diftinguifiied, who affe^s a Poller which may
poifibly hurt the People^ is an E?>emy to that People,
and iherefofe ihey ought not.to Trufk him : For though
he were ever fo fully determined not to ahufe fuch a-
Power, yet he. is fo far a bad Man, as he diiturbs the
People's Qoiet, and naiees them jealous and uneafy,
by de/iriiie to have it, or even retaining it, when it may
prove roifcWvous. ^ If we confult Hiftory, we Ihall find
that the Thing called Prero^ati'uty has been claimed and
contended for chiefly by thofe who never intended to
makTe a good Ufe o5P Tr;-"atrd as readily reli^ned and
thrown up by juft and wife Princes, who had the true
Intereft of their People it Heart. How like fcnfeiefs
Stocks do they a^, wh<», by complimenting iome capfi-
cious Mortal, from Time to Time, wi:h Parcels of Pre-
:«QQgative, iat lad put It out of their Power to defend and
jnaietain themfelve« intheix juft.ai>d nataial Liberty \
• 1
F A B.
6e jESOP*& FABLEU
FAB. XXXIV. rifHorfedw<//-&ffSag.
•X«HE Siag, with his ftarp Horns, got the better
-■■ of ihc Horfc, and drove him -clear out of the
Puflure where tbey ufed to feed together. So tttc
latter craved the AlBftance of Man ; and, in order
to receive the Benefit of it, fuSered him to put a
Bridle into his Mouth and a Saddle upon his Back.
By this Way of proceeding, he entirely defeated hil
Enemy ; but was mighttly difappointedt when upon
returning Thanks, and defiring to be difiailTcd, he
received this Anfwer : No, 1 never knew before
how ufeful a Drudge you were; new I have found
what you are good for, you may depend upoa it I
will keep you to it.
The APPLICATION.
As the fore^ing Fable wai intended to caution us
againft confenting to any Thing that night prejudice
public l4ibert^; ihit may fervc to keep us upon our
Guard
M^OP'S FABLES. 6j
Gaud in the Prefervaiion of that which it of « privaiv
Nature. This It the VCe and Interpretatioo given of it
hyHorqit, the bed and moil polite Philofopber that ever
wrote. Afccr reciting the Fable, he applita it thai:
This, faya he, ig the Cafe of him, who, dreading Po-
verty, pam with that invaluable Jewel, Liberty; like
a Wretch a> he a, be will be always fubjea to a Tyrant
of fame Sort or other, and be a Slave for ever ; becaafe
his avaricious Spirit Itnew no( how to be conteated
with that moderate Competency, which he might have -
poiTefied ^odepcndent of all the World.
FAB. XXXV.
Tbe Country-Moufe and the City-Moufe.
AN honeft, plain, fenfible Cognffy-Moufe, is faid
to have entertained at bis Hole one Day, a fine
Moufe of the Town. Having formerly been Play-
fellows together, they wereoid Acquiintance, which
ftrved as an Apology, fpr the Vifit. ; However, «
Mafter of the HoiWT, he thought himfclf obliged to
«4 ^SOP^s F^ABLEU V
do the Honours of i-f, in all Refpefts, and to maKfe
as great a Stranger of his Gutft as he poflibly could.
In order to this, he fet before him a Referve of de-
lleate Grey- Peas rfnd Bacon, a DiA of fine Oat-
meal, fome Parings of new Cheefe; and, to crown
all with a Dcfert, a Remnant of a charming mel-
low Apple* In good Manners, he forbore to eat
any himfelf, left, the Stranger (hould not have
«fiaiii^h ; but) that he might feem to bear the other
Company, fat and nibbled a Piece of a W h eaten -
Straw, very bufily. At latt, fays the Spark of the
Town, old Crony, give me Leave to be a little free
with you ; How can you bear to live in this nafty,
dirty, 4Tielancholy Hole here, with nothing but
Woodfi, and Meadows, and Mouritains, and Rivu-
kts about you ? Do not you prefer the Converfa-
tion of the World to the Chirping of fiirds^ and
fhe Splendor of a Court to the rtide AfpeiS; c^ an
ttncultivdted Defert? Come, take my Word forltv
J on will find it a Change for the betttfw Never
!dn4 confidcring, but away this Moment. Re-
liiqmber> we ^re not immortal, and therefore ^have
llo Time.to lofe. Make fure of To-day, and fpend
k v^ ageee^ly M you can, you know not what
^V happen To-morrow. In flidrt, thefe and fuch
flk6 Arguments prevailed, and his Country-Ac*
Caibtance was refolved to go to Town that Night.
th^.both fet out upon their Journey together^
^ro|»afing to fneak in after the Clofe of the Even-
ing. They did fo : and about Midnight made their
Entry into a certain great Houfe, where there had
Wen an extraordinary Entertainment the Day be-
ifovCf aiid feveral Tit-bitSi which fome pf the Ser«
jvants iMd purloined, were bid under the 'Seat of
« Window: The Countty-Gueft was immediately
iflhKcd in the Midft of a rich- F^r^n Qarpet ; and
«ow k was the Ceurtiei['« Titrn to entertain, who
indeed
jgSQlP'i FABLES* $5
indeed atsquitted Mmfelf in that Capacity with the
titmoft Readinefs and Addrefs, changing the Courfes
as elegant^, and tailing every Thing iirfl as judi«-
cioufly as any Clerk of a Kitchen. The other fat
and enjoyed himfelf like a delighted Epicure^
tickled to the hft Degree with this new 'Turn of
his Affairs; when, on a fudden, a Noife of fonjp-
body opening ihe Door, made them ftart from their
Seats, and Kuttk in Confufion about the Dining-
Room. Our Country. Friend, in particular, . was
ready to die with Fear at the Barking of a huge
Maftiff or two, which opened their Throats juii
about the fame Time, and nnade the whole, Hotife
echo. At taft^ recovering himfelf^ Well, fays he,
if this be-yt>w Town-Life, much Good may do yon*
with it; Give me mj poor quiet Hole again, wilk
my homdy, but cotntoflrtablc Grey Pcafc.
n^/APVLlC ATI ON.
A mode»ate Fie^t^ne^ with a qmet Retirement In the
Country, i» pr^ertjble to the greateft Af&uence wUc^
is attea««U wiih Care an4 .the Perplexity^ of ftufuief^
and infeparabie ^ro^i the No'iit and Hurry of the Towjs
The'pradicfi of th« Generality of Fcople of theWA
Ta^e, 4t is.to be owned, is dire^ly againft as in th^
Point; hut> when it is cohiidered that this Pradice o^
theirs proC;e£ds rather from a Compliance with the Fa-
llen of the Times, than their own private Thou^hti^
the Objfdiatt 'u of no Force. Amoag the great Num.-
b^rs Qt Men- who have received a learn^ ^ducailota^
hew few are there but either have their Fortunes ea.-
tirrly to make ; or, at hkStg think they deferve tohave,
«nd ottght not*to lofe the Qpportiuiiry of getting fomo-
what more than their Fathers have left them! The
Town is tha Field of Aftion for Volunteers .oC this
Kind ; and whatever Fondnefs they njay^ave for ^he
Country, yet they muft ftay till iheii-CTircumftances will
adtnit of a Retreat thither. Btftiure there never was
a Maa
€€ ^50P's TABLES/
a Man /et, who lived In 'a conftant Ketorn of l^rodbie
and Fatigue in Towd« as ail Menof fiafinefs do in fome
Degree or other, out has formed to himfelf fome End
t)f getting fome fafficient Competency, which may ena-
ble him to purchaie a quiet Pofleflion in the Country,
where he may indulge his Genius, and give up his old
Age to that eafy fmooth Life, which, in the Tempeftof
Buiinefs, he had fo often longed for. Can any Thing
argue more ftrongly for a Country Life, than to ob-
Terve what a long Courfe of Labour People go through,
and what Difficulties they encounter to come at it ?
'They look upon it, at a Diftance, like a Kind of Hea^-
ven, a Place of Reft and Happinefs ; and are pufiiing^.
forward through the ragged thorny Cares of the World,
€0 make their Way towards it^ If thete are ma»y»
who, though born to plentiful Fojrtunes, yet live rood
Part of their Time in the Noiie, the Smoke, and Hurry
of the Town ; we ihall find, upon Enquiry, tha't necef*
fary indifpenfible Buiinefs is the real or pretended Plea
which moil of them have to make for it. The Court and
the Senate require the Attendance of fome; Law-Suits,
and the proper Direction of Trade, engage others; they
who have a fprightly Wit and an elegant Tafte for
Converfation, will re fort to the Place which is fn*
guented by People of the fkme Turn, whatever Aver*
on they may otherwife have for it ; and others, who
have no fuch Pretence, have yet this to fay, that they
follow the Faihion. They who appear to have beea
Men of the bed Senfe.amongft the Ancients, always re-
commended the Country as the moft proper Scene for
Innocence, Eafe, and virtuous Pleafure; and, accord-
ingly, loft no Opportunities of enjoying it : And Men
of the greateft Ihftin^tion among the Moderns, have
ever thought themfelves moft happy, when they could
be decently fpared from the Employments which the
Excellency of their Talents neceflarily threw them
into, to embrace the ^harming Leifure of a Country
Life.
FAB.
MS.OP'% FABLES. 67
FAB. XXXVI. TheMouicandtbeW^c^M.
\ Little, ftarvling, thin-gutted Rogue of a Moufe,
■**- had, with much Puihing and Application, made
hii Way thfoueh a fmall Hole in a Corn-BaOteti
whew he ftufled and crammed fo plentifully, (hat
when he would have retired the Way he came, he
found himfelf too plump, with all his Endeavours,
_ to 3Ccompli(h it. A Wcafej, who ftood at fome
DIftance, and had been diverting htmfelf with be- *
liolding the vain Efforts of the little fat Thing,
called to him, and faid : Harkee ' honeft Friend, if
you have a Mind to malce your Efcape, there is but
oiie Way for it; contrive to grow as poor and as
lean as you were wtien you enteied, and then per-
haps, you may get off*.
7^ A P P L I C A T i O N,
They, who from « poor mean Condition, inJinaatA
themfelvei into a good Efiate, are not always the moft
happy. There is, many Timet, a Quiet and Content
attending
6(( JESOP-s FABLES.
attending a low Life, to which the rich Man ia an utter
Stranger. Richei and Careg 'are almoft infeparable $.
and whoever woujd get rid of the one, mult conienc
bimfelf to be divefted of the other. He that haih been
acquainted with ihe Sweets of a Life free front the In-
cuQibrance of Wealth, and longB to enjoy them again,
tnuftftrip himfelf of that Incumbrance, if tie ever meaDS
to attain his Wiihes. .
Some, from creeping into the loweft Stations of Li&t
have, in Procefa of Time, filled the greaiett Places io
i( ; and grown fo bulky by purfuing their infatiate Ap-
petite ."ifier Money, that, wiKn they nould have retir-
ed, ihey found tlumfelvei too opuFent and full to get
oft. There hag been no Expedient for them to creep out*,
till they were fqaeezti end reduced in Tome Meafure to.
their prirailive Littlenefi. They that Bll themfelvea
with that which ii the Property of others, fhould alwiy*-
be fo Ctmd before they are A»ff«red to efcape.
FAB. XXXVII. fr&tf Belly jW;i.i Members.
'tN foimi;r Days, when the BA]y and the other
* Parts of the Body enjoyed the^Faculty of Speech,
and Wd feparatc Views and, Deftgns of their own ;
eachi
^^OP»i FABLES. 4^
€ach Pare^ it feemsy in particular for himfclf, md
in the Name of the Whole, took Excepttoh at the
Conduct of the Belly , and were refolved to grant
him Supplies ^o longer. They faid they thought
it very hard, that he Ihould lew' an idle good-for«
nothing Life, fpending and fquandertag away, upon
his own ungodly Gut^, all the Fruits of their La*
bour; and that, rn fliort, they were refolved for the
future, to ftrike pfFhis AUowa^ce^ and let him fhift
for himfelf as well as he could. The Hands pro*
tefted they would not lift up a Finger to keep him
from ftarving ; and the Mouth wifhed he might ue*
ver fpealc again, if he took in the ieaft ttit of Noa«
rifhment for him as long as he lived -, and, fay the
Teeth, may we be rotten if ever we chew a Morfel
for him for the futiij^. This iblemn League and
Covenant was kspt' as king a$ SLay Thing of that
Kind ca;;i be kept, which was, i^itil each of the re«*
bel Members pined away t^ the Skin and Bone,
and could boUl oujt no longer. Then they found
there was no doing without the Belly, and that, as
idle and iofignificant as he feemed, he cohtributed
as muck to ihc Maimenahce and Welfare of all
the other Parts, as they did to bis.
Thi APPLICATION.
This Fable was fpoken by Me fie ni us Agrippa^ a fa*
mous RomcM Confol and General^ when he was de-
puted by the Senate to appeafe a dangerous Tumult
and Infurre£Uon of the People, I'h^e many Wars that
Nation was engaged in, and the frequent Supplies they
were obliged to raife, had fo Toured and infiamed the
Minds of the Populace, that they were refolved to en-
dure it no longer, and obAinatcly refufed to pay the
Taxes which were levied upon them. It is eafy to dif-
cern how the great Man applied this Fable. For, if
the Branches and Members of a Community refitfir the
Government that Aid which Us Nece^tics xcquirr, the,
i
Whole"
70 ^50^*.s FABLES.
Whole mud perilli together. The Rulers of a State,
at idle and inAgaificant as they may fomeiimes feem, are
yet 3! neceflary to be kcft up and maintained io a pro-
fsr and decent Grandeur, as the Family of esch private
erfon ii, in a Condition fuiiable to itfrlf. Every Man's
Enjoyneni of that Little which he gain* by his daily
Labour, depend* upon the Goverameoc's being main*
taiacd in a Canditioa to defend aod lecure him in it.
FAB. XXXVUI.
TAf Lark an J her Young Ones.
■ A LARK, who had young Ones in a Field of
^*- Corn which was almoft ripe, was under fooie-
Fcar left the Reapers ftould come to'reap it before
her young Drood were fledged, and able to remove
frcm.lhe Place. Wherefore, upon flying Abroad
to look for Food, ftie left this Charge with them :■
That ihey fliould take Notice what they heard
talked of in her Abfence, and tell her of it when
flie came-back Bgainj When (ke was gone, they
fa«ard the Owner of the Coin call to his Sen : We)!,
MSOP*% FABLES.. n
fays be, I think this Corn is ripe enough j I would
liave you fK> early To-morrow, aad defire our Friends
and Neighbours to come and help us to reap it*' When
the old Lark came Home, the young Ones fell a qui-
vering and chirping roiind her, and told her what
had happened^ l>cggin| her to remove them as Taft
as ihe could. The Mother bid them be eafy ;. for,
ikys file, if the Owner depends upon Friends and
Neighbours, I am pretty Aire the Corn will not be
resq>ed To-morrow. Next Day de went out again^
upon the £une Occafion, and left the fame Orders
with them as before; The Owner came, and ftayed^
CTipeiEling thoJfe he had fent to: But the Sun grew
hot, and nothing was done, for not a Soul came Ui
help hini« Then, fays he to his Son, I perceive'
thefe Friends of ours are not to be depended upon^
fo that you muft even go to your "Uncles and Oou-
fins, and tell them I defire they would be here be-
times To-morrow Morning to help us to reap*
Well, this the young Ones in a great Fright re-
ported alfo to their Mother, if that be all, fays
(he, do not be frightened, Children, for Kindred
and Relations do not ufe , to be fo very forward to
fervc one another: But take particular Notice what
you hear faid the next Time, and be fure yon let oie '
know it. She went Abroad the next Day, as ufual)
and the Owner finding his Relations as flaci^ as the
reft of his Neighbours, faid to his Son, Harkee, ^
George^ do you get a Couple of goqd Sickles ready
againft To-morrow Morning, and we will even reap
the Corn ourfcives. When the young Ones told
their Mother this^ Then, fays flie, we muft be gone
indeed; for, when a Man undertakes to do his Bu-
finefs himfeif, it is not (o likely that he will be dif-
appointed. So, fhe removed her young Ones im-
medii-tely, arid the Corn was reaped the next Day
by the good Man and his Son.
o The
71 -fi^a-P's ^A&L£;S.
The APP tt C ATI OK.
' 'Ne\rer dtpetid tioon the Ai&dance of Friends and
Relations in any Thing which you are able to do your*
(elf; for nothing is more fickle and imcertua. Tht
Man who relies upon another for the Execn^on of any
Affair of Importance, b not only kept in a wrecched
gnd ilaviih Safpencei while he exped^t the Ifloe of the
]!idattfr> but generally meets with a DifiippoIntiDeiit*
>i^hiie*he who lays the chief ^trefs of his Buineft iipoa
l^oifelf* ai|d depjpads appi has owi| Induftry and At^
tfotion for tb^ Succefs^ c^ his Affaifs,, is in the fairj^
"^^y to attain his End: And, if at lait he fhould mlf*
<arry, has this to comfort him. That it was not througk
his own Nfgllgence^ and a vain E'xpedlation of the Af^.
Mance of Friends. To (land by ourfelves, as mach as
poffible, to exert our own Strength and Vigilance in
the Prosecution of our Affairs, is Godlike, being the
ReAilt of a moft noble and highly exalted reafon ;'* but
they who procralUnate and defer the BufineKs of Lifii
by an idle Depend a nee upon others, in Thinga which
it is in their own Power to effeA, fink down into a
Kind of ftupid abje£i Slavery, and fhew themfelves vuat^
worthy of the Talents with which human Nature is
digniiied. \
*•
« t « C tr . >
F A B.
•V
j£SOP'i V ABLES. 73
FAB. XXXIX. The Nurfe and the Wolf.
A Nurfe who was encleavouring to quiet a froward
* *- bawling Child, among; other attempts, threat- .
ened to throw it ont of Doors to the wolf, if it
did not leave off Crying. A Wolf, who chanced to
be prowling near the Duor juft at that Time, heard
the Expreflion, and believing the Woman to be in
•arnefl, wiiited a long while about the Houfe, in
Expedlation of feeing her words made good. But
at laA the Child, wearied with its own Impartuni-
ties, fell afleep, and the poor Wolf was forced to
retarn back to the Woods empty and fupperlefs.
The Fox meeting him,' and- furprifed to fee him
going Home fo thin and difconfolate, afked hi.m
what the Matter was, and how he came to fpeed
no better that Night? Ah! do not a(k me, iays he j
I was To lilly as to believe what the Nurfe faid,. and^
have been difappointcd. ' ^
E Tb,
74 ^ SOP'S FABLES.
7^ APPLICATION.
AH the Moralifts have agreed to interpret this Pablt m
% Caution lo us never to truft a Woman, What Reafons
they could have for giving lb rough and uncourdy a Pre-
cept, 19 not eafy to be imagined : For however fickle and
unliable fome Womeo may be, it is well Icnown thei-e arc
feversl who hava a greater Regard for Truth in what
they afTert or promife, than mofi Men. There it not
Koom in fa fhorc a Compafs, to exprefs a due Concern
for the Honour of the Ladies upon this Occafion, nor to
fhew how much one ii difpofed to vindicate thcDi : And
tho' there is nothing bad which can be faid of them, but:
may, witb equal Jullice, be averred of the other £iex; yet
ene would not venture to give them quite lb abfolute a
Precaution as the old MythologiAs h».ve affixed to this
Fable, but only to advife them to confider well and tho-
roughly of the Matter, before they truft any Man living.
FAB. XL. The Tortoife and the Eagle,
fT* HE Tortoife, weary of his Condition, by.wliich
' he was confined to creep upon the Ground, and
^ing ambitious to have a Piofpe^t, and look about
JS^OP'% FABLES. 75
him, gave out^ that tf any Bird would take him up
into the Air, and fiiew him the World, he would
reward him with a Difcovery of many precious
Stones, which he knew were hidden in a certain
Place of the Earth : The Eagle undertook to do as
he deflred i and when he had performed his Com*
miffion, demanded the Reward. But finding the
Torteife could not make good his words, he ftuck
his Talons into the fofter Parts of his Body, and
made him a Sacrifice to his Revenge.
Tbg APPLICATIOl^r.
As Men of Honour ought" to confider calmly how far
the Things which they promife may be in their Power,
before they venture to m^ke Promifes upon this Ac-
count, becaofe the Non -performance of them will be~
apt to excite an Uneaiinefs within themfelves, and tar-
nifli their Reputation in the Eyes of other People i fo
Fools and Cowards ihould be as little rafh in this Re-
£pc6i as poflible, left their impudent Fo/geries draw
npon them the Refentment of thofe whom they difap*
point, and that llefentment makes them undergo fmarr,
out deferved Chaftifement. The Man who rs fo ftupid
a Kpave as to make a lying Promife where he is fure to
be dete^d, receives the Punilhment of his Folly un^
pitied by all that know him.
E 2 FAB.
T*"" ^ sop's FAB.LES.
■ FAB. XLI. The Vf ind and t/jf Sun.
A Hifpute once arofe betwixt the North-Wind
and ihe Sun, about the Superiority of their
Power ; and they agreed to try their Strength upon
ft'l'iaveller, which "ftouJd be abie to get his Cloak'
ofi" firft. 'I"he North-Wind began; and blew a,,
very cold Blal^, accompanied wicli a fharp driving
Shower, l^ut this, and whatever elfe he couldidci
inflead of making the Man quit his CloaV, obliged
h'ln to gird it about his Body as clofe as poiTible.
Next came (tie Sun j who, breaking out from a
t!;;ck watery Cloud, drove away the cold Vapours
tri,ni the Sky, and darted his warm fultry Beams
upon ihe Head of the poor Weather- be a ten Travel-
ler. The Man growing faint with the Heat, and
unable to enduie it any longer, firft throws otF his
heavy Cloak, and then flies for Proteflion to the
thatc of a neighbouring Grove.
^.yOP's FABLES. 77
^.' APPLICATION,. I
There h fomething ift the Temper of Men fo averfc
to fevere and boiftcrous Treatment, that he who endea-
vours to carry his Point that Way, inftead of prevail-
ing* generally leaves the Mind of hipi, whom he has
thas attempted, in a. more confirmed and obilinate Si-
tuation, than he found it at firfl. Bitter Words and
hard Ufage freeze the Heart into a Kind of Obduracy,
which mild Perfuadon and gentle Language only can
diffolve and foften. Perfecution has always fixed and
riveted thofe Opinions which it was intended to difpel ;
and fome difqerning Men have attributed the quick
Growth of Chrillianity, in a great Meafure; to the
r(iugh and barbarous Reception which its firil Teachers
met with in tlie World. The fame may have been ob-
ferved of oiir Reformation: The Blood of ihe Martyrs
was the Manure whkk produced that great Protdflan^
-Crop, on which the Church of England has fubfifled
.ever fince. Providence, which always nwikep Ufe of the
moll natural Means to attain its Purpofe, has thou^t
£t to eftablifh the pureft Religion by this Metht)d : 1 he
Conlideration of which may give a proper Check to
thofe wifb are continoally endeavouring to root oa% ^-
"i-crs by that very Maaagi^ntent, which ib infaHibJy fi^s
and implants all Opinioiiiy as well vrrooeoui as ortho-
-4o>» When an Opiaion* is ib violently afitacke/i, it
jaiies an Attention ia tke perfecuted Party, 4iad gives
an Alarm to their Vanity, by making them think that
worth defending and keeping, at the hazard of their
Lives, which, perhaps, otherwife, tliey wou]d only have
admired a while for the Sake of its Novelty, and after-
'wards reiigned of their own Accdrdl In (horc, a fierce
tnrbulent Oppofition, like the North -Wind, only fcrves
to make a Man Wrap np his Notions more clofely aboat
him ;- but we know not what a kind, warm, fun-fhin/
Behaviour, rightly applied, would not be able XoeStii*
E 3 FAB,
y9 jESOP's fables.
FAB. XLII. ne Afs in the Uon's Skin.
A ^ Aft, finding, the Skin of a Lion, put it on j
, *^ and going into the Woods and Paflures, threw
ill the flocks and Herds into a terrible Confterna-
tion. At ]all, meeting his Owner, he would have
frightened him alfo; but (he good Man, feeing his
long Ears fticlc out, prefently knew him, and with
» good Cudgel made him fenlible, that, notwitlk-
ftanding his being drefl in a Lion's Skin, he was
really no more than an Afs.
Thi APPLICATION.
As all AffeAstion 19 wrong, abd lends' to expofe and
niihe a Man ridiculous, fo the more diftant he is/ron
the Thing which he aftefls Co appear, the ftronger will
the Ridicule be wbkh be excites and the greater the In-
. conrenienciesiuto which he runs himfelf thereby. How
ftrangely abftird it is for a timorous Perfon to procure a
military Poll, in order to keep himfelf out of Danger !
And to fancy a red Coat the fareft fi/oteftion for Coh'-
^SOP'i FABLES, 79
ardice! Yet there have been thore who have parchafeif
a Commifiion to avoid being itirulted; and )iave bees
lb Gny.as to cblnk: Courage »'as imerwoven with a Salh,
or tied up in a Cockade. But it would not be amiit
for fuch Gentleman to cgnfider, that it is Dot ia th«
Poner of Scarlet Cloih to alter Nature ; and that, ai it
b expeaed a Soldier Biould Ihetv hiirifflf a Mnn of
Courage and Intrepidity upon all proper Occafions, they
may b;^ this Means meet the Difgrace ihey 'inlcnded to
avtiid, and appear greater AITes than they need to have
done. However, it is not in Point of Fortitude only,
that People are liable to cxpofe themfelves, by aHiuning
a Charafter to ^vhich they are not equal ; but he who
puts on a Shew of Learning, of Religion, of a fuprriof
Capacity in any Refpeft ; or, in Ihort, of any Virtue or
Knowledge to which he has no proper Claim, is, and
wii! always be found to be, Ja Afi in a Lion's Siin.
FAB. XLIII. neYio^ and the Foy:.
A Frog, leaping out of the Lake, and taking the
^^ Advantageofariflng Ground, made Proclama'r
tiom to all Uie Beafls of the Forefl, that he was an
£ 4 iible
«o .CHOP'S FABLES.
able Phyfician, and, for curing all Manner of Dif-
fempers, would turn his Back to no Perfon Tiving.
This Difcourfe, uttered in a Parcel of hard, cramp
Words, which nobody undcrftood, made the Beads
admire his Learning, and give Credit to every Thing
he faid. At laft, the Fox, who was prefent, with
Indignation afked him, how he could have the Im-
pudence, with thofe thin Lantern- Jaws, that' mea-
gre pale Phyz, and blotched fpotted Body, to fet
up for one who was able to cure the Infirmities of
others.
The APPLICATION.
• A fickly, infirm Look, is as difadvantageous in a Pky-
fician^, as. that of a- Rake in a Qiergyman, or a fheepidi
one in a Soldier. If this Moral contains arty Thing
further, if is, (hat we fhould not fet up for redifying
Enormities in others^ while we labour tinder the fame
ourfelves. Good Advice oaght always to be followed
without. our being prejudiced upon Account of the Per-
foa from whom it comes; But it is feldom that Men
can be brought to think jus worth -minding, when we
prefcribe Curei for Maladies with which ourfelves are
ixih€i.td, Pbyjician, heal thj/elfyii to« Scriptural not
to be applied upon.fuch an Occafion ; and, if we would
avoid being the jeft of an Audience, we mull be found,
and free from thofe Difeafes, of which we would en-^
deavour to cure others. How fhocked tn'uft People
have beeii: to he^LT a Preacher for a whole Hour declaim
^gainfl Drunkennefs, when his own Infirmity has been
fuch, that he could neither bear nor forbear Drinking ;
and perhaps was the only Perfon in the Congregation,
who made the D.o£lj:iae at that Time neceifary ! Others
too have been very zealous in exploding Crimes, for
which none wercmore fnfpeflcd than therofelves : But,
let fuch filly Hypocrites remember, that they who fe
Eyes want Couching, are the moft improper People i]>
the World to fet up for Oculills,
FAB.
^SOP*i FABLfiS. fl
FAB. XLIV. ritf Mifchievous Dog.
A Certain Man had a Dog, which was fo curffi
■^^ and mifchievous, that he was forced to fallen '
a heavy Clog about"~his Neck, to keep him front
niBning at, and worrying People. This the vain
Cur took for a Badge of honourable Difliniliot} ;
and grew To infolent upon it, that he looked down
with an Air of Scorn upoh the neighbouring Dogs*
and refufed to keep them Company. But a fly old
Poacher, who was one of the Gang, aiTured hini»
that he had no Reafon to value hiimelf ug^on the
Favour he wore, fince it was fixed upon him rather
as a Mark of Difgrace than of Honour.
The APPLICATION.
Some People are fo exceeding vain, sod at the fame
Time, fo dull of Apprehenfion, that they interpret every
Thing by which they are diftinguiflied from others, in
their own Favonr. If they betray any Weakneffes itt
Converfation, which are apt tu excite i^e Laiighcer of
their Company, they make no Scruple of afcribing it tc».
, their Superiority, in Point of Wit. If Want of Senfe or
Bleeding (one of which is always the Cafe) dHoofes them
E s »
82 ■ ^5 OP'S FABLES.
to give, or miilalce Affroots. upon which Account all
dilciMt fenfible People are oBligea' to fhfln iheir Com*,
pany, they impute it Co their own Valour and Magnani-
mity, to which they fancy the World pays an awful &ad
refpeftfu! Peference.- Ttfre are feveral decent Ways
of preventing fuch turbulent Men from d,oift£ Mifchief,
which nii{;ht be appUed with Secrecy, and many Times
pits unregarded, it their own Arrogance did not reqaire
ihe Reft of Mankind to take Notice of it.
FAB. XLV. Jupiter and the Camel.
THE Qamel prtfeotetl a-Petition toyafher, com-
plaining of the H^rdftip of his Cafe, in not
haviii?, like Bulls and other Creatures, Horns, or
any Wcapbns of Defence to prot-'fl himfelf from the
Attacks of his Enemies ; and praying that Relief
might'be given him in fuch Manner as might be
'Thought mofl expedient. Jupiter could not Kelp
fmiling at the imperilnent Addrefs of the great filly
Beaft ; but however, rejeftcd the Pctiiion ; and told
htm, that, £6 far from granting his umeafonaWe .
Reqiieft, henceforward he would take Care his Ears
fbould be fliortened, as a Puniflinient for his pre-
fumptuous Impoit unity. .' He
MSOP'% FABLES. ■ ftj
TX/ A P P L I C A T I O N.
The Natjre of Thingi is To fixed in every Particular,
tbst they are very weak fuperflicioaj People, who dream
it la to be altered. But, belides the Impodibilliy of pro-
ducing a Change by Addreflci of thii Nature, they who
employ moch of th«ir Time upon fuch Accounts, inftead
of getting, are fure to lofe in the End. When any Man ii
fo trivolous and vexatious as to make nnreafonahle Com-
plaints, and to harbour undue Repinings in his Heart, hit
Peeviftiners will leiTcn the real Goods which he poffefles,
and the Sitbrncfs of his Temper Ihorten that Allowance
of Q>nifort which he already thinks too fcaniy. Thus, in
Trucb, itisnot Piovideoce, butourfelve), who punifh our
own Importunity in fulicicing for ImpolfiFiilities, with a
(harp corroding Care, which abridges us of fome Part of _
that little Plea/ure which Providence has catt into our Lot^
FAB. XLVI. r&ff Travellers fl»<^ (&f Bear.
'T' W O Men being to travel through a Forcft ioVe_
thcr, miitually promifed to (land by each other,
ill ai;y Danger they ftvouJd meet upon the Way.
E 6 They
«4 • ^50P's FABLES.
They had not gone far, before a Bear came rufhing
towai^s them out of a thicket ; upon which, one
being a light nimble Fellow, got up into a Tree;
the other falling flat upon his Face, and holding
his Breath, lay ftill, while the Bear came up. and
fmelled at him ; but that Creature, fuppofing him
to be a dead Carcafe, went back again into the Wood,
without doing him the leaft Harm. When all was
over, the Spark who had climbed the Tree, came
down to his Companion, and, with a pleafant Smile,
aflced him what the Bear faid to him ; for, fays he,
I took Notice that he clapt his Mouth Very clofe to
your Ear. Why, replies the other, he charged me
to take Care for the future, not to put any Coniir
dence in fuch cowardly Rafcals as you are.
The APPLICATION.
- TliOBgh nothing is more common than to hear People
profei^ Services of Friend (hip, where there is no Oc-
cafion for them ; yet fcarce any Thing is fo hard to be
found as a true Friend, who will aifiil us in Time of
panger knd DifHcalty. All the Declarations of Kind-
nefs vvhich are snade to an experienced Man, though ac-
companied by a Squeeze of the Hand, and a foleqin AC-
feveration, fhould leave no greater Impreflion upon his
Mind, tlian the Whittling of tlie hollow Breeze which
brufhes one's Ear with an unmeaning Salute, and is pre-
fenily gone. He that fviccours our Neceffity by a wcll-^
timed AlTiftance, though it were not ufhered in by pre-'
vious Compliments, will ever after be looked upon as oc^r
Friend and Prote^or; and, in fo much a greater De-
gree, as the Favour was. unafked and unpromifed ; as it
was not extorted by Importunities on the one Side, nor
led in by a numerous Attendance of Promifes on Che .
other. Words are nothing, till they are fulfilled by
Aftionsj and therefore we Ihould not fufFer ourfclves to
be deluded by u vain Hope, and Reliance upon them.
FAB.
. MSOP'i FABLES. 85
FAB. XLVII. rV B;Ud Knight. ■
A Certain Knight growing old, his Hairs fell oWy
^^ and he became bald j to hide which Imperfeflion,
he wore 3 Periwig. But as he was riding out with
Tome others a Hunting, a fudden Gull of wind blew
off ihe Periwig, and expofed his bald Pate. The Com-
gany could not forber laughing at the Accident ; and
e hionfelf laughed as loud as any Body, faying. How
was it to be expected that I :fliould keep ftrange HaJr
upon piy Hoad, when my own wQuld not Hay there i
Thr APPLICATION.
Tohe captious, is not more uneafy to ourfel?es, than
it is diragrceable to others. As no Mao is entirelj^ wich-
oot Fault, I few Defefls, furrounded with a Guard of
gcod Qualities, may pafs Muflcr well enough ; but he,
whofe Attention is always upon the Catch for fomething
to take Exception at, if he hud no oiher bad Q^lity, can
never be acceptable. A captions Temper, like a liule
Leaven, fours a whole Lump of Virtaes ; and makes as
■difielilh that, which might otherwife be the molt grateful
Converfation. If we woiiid live eafy *o otirfetves, and
sgreesble to others^ we fliould be fo far from feeking
Occaiioni-
86 ^SOP's FABLES.
OccaGons of being angry, that romecimes we fhoujd le(
then) pal) unregaroed wtiien tbey comein our Way% or, if
they are fo palpable that, we cannot help taking Notice of
them, we lliould do well to ral!y them off with a Jeft. or
diflblve them io good Humour, Some People take a fe-
cret Pleafure in nettling and fretting others; and the more
praAicable thi-y 6nd it to exercife this Quality upon any
one, the more does it whel and prompt their Inclination
to do it. Bat, ai this Talent favours f^meihing of ]H-
oatiire, it delerves (o be baffled and defeated : Which one
cannot do belter/ than by receiving alt that is uttered at
fuch a Time with a dieerful Afpfft, and an ingennous,
pleafa..t, unaffiaed Reply. Nor is the Expedient of the
bald Knight unworthy of onr Imitation ; For if by any
Word or Ailion, we happen to raife the Laughter of
thofe about us, we cannot ItiHe it fooner, pr better, than
by a briik Prefence of Mind lo join in Mirth with the
Company; and, ifpoffible, lo anticipate the Jell which
ano.her is ready to throw out upan th; Occafion.
FAB. XLVIII, Til Two Pots,
A NI
■'^ th.
thcr up^'n the River's Brink, wcte bwli carried
away by clic Flowing in of llw Tide. Tljc Earthen
yCSOP's FABLES. 87
^pt ihewe4 fome Uiieafineft, as fearing he ftoaU
be broken ; but his Companion of Brafs bid Him be
under no Apprehenfions, for that he would take
CarQ of him. O9 replies the other, keep as far
off as ever you can, I entreat you ^ it is you I am
moil afraid of: For, whether the Stream dafhes you
againft me, or me againft you, 1 am fure to be the
Sufferer ; and theref re, I btg of you, do not let us
come neaf one another.
The APPLICATION.
A Man of a moderate Fortane^ who is contented with
what he ha.s and finds be ciin live ham)ily upon it»
ihould take Care not co hazard and expofe his Felicity
by confer ting 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 fome
Difficulty to (leer one's Conrfe in ,thc Company of the
Great, fo as lo efcape without a Sulge. One would
not chufe to hav« one's little Country- Box £tuated ia
the Neighbourhood of a very great Man ; for whether
1 ignorantiy trefpafs open him, or he knowingly eq«
croaches upon me, I only am tike to be the Sufferer. I
can neither entertain nor play with him, upon his ownr
Terms ; for that which is Moderation and Diverfibn ta
him, in me would be Exuavagance and Ruia.
FAB.
8B ^SOP's F Ah LES.
FAB. XUX. Tbff PcACock and tbf Crane.
npHE Peacoct and the Crane, by Chance met to-
■'■ gcther in the-fame Place. The Peacock, ereft-
ing his Tail, difpisyed hisgaudy Plumes, an^ looked
with Contempt upon ihe Crane, as fomc mean ordi-
nary Perfon. The Crane, refolving to mortify his
Inlolence, took Occafion to fay, that Peacocks were
Vjry fine Birds indeed, if fine Feathers could make
'them fo ; but that he thought it a much nobler Thing
to be able to rife above the Clouds, than to lliut about
upon theGround,- and be gazed at by Children.
TA* A P P L I C A T I O N.
It is very abfurd to flight or infuli another upon his
warning a Property which we poflefs ; for he may, for
any Thing we know, have as jult Reafon to triumplt
over us, by being Mailer of fomc good Quality, of which
v>e are incapable. But, in regard to the Fable before
uj, that which the Peacock values hiinfelf upon, the Qlit-
ter and Finery of Drefs, is one of the moft trifling Con-
fiderations in Nature; and what a Man of SenCe would
be afhamed to reckon even as the leaH Part of Merit.
Indeed, Children, and thofe People who think much
about
^5 OP'S FABLES. 8;
aboBi the fame Pitch with them, are apt to be taken wli
Varnilh and Tlnfel : But they who examine hy the Seal
of Common-Senfe, muft Snd fomething of Weight an
Subftance, before they call be perfDaded to fet a. Value
'The Mind, which is Itored with virtuoas and ration:
Sentiments; and the Behaviour, which fpeake Compla
cence and HataUi^y, ftamps an iilUiaate upon the Poi
feiTor, which all judiciouj Speflators are ready to admir
and acknowledge. But if there be any Merit in an cm
broidered Coat, a Brocade Waiftcoat, a Shoe, a Stocking
or a Sword-Knot, the Perfun who wears them has the lea:
Claim to it; letit bcafcribed whereitjuftlybelcings toth
feveral Arcifans who wrought and difpofed the Materia!
of which they confifl. This Moral is not intended to de
rogate any Thing from the Magnificence of fine Clothe
'fliid rich Equipages, which, as Times and Circumftance
require, may be ufed with Decency and Propriety enough
Butonecannothelpbeingc<iiicerned, left any Worth (houI<
be affijced to tliem more than their cnvn intrinfic Value.
FAB. L. The Oak and the Reed.
AN Oak, which hung over the Bank of a Rivi
■^^ was blown down by a violent Storm of Win
md as it was carried along by the Stream, fomc of
B»iig
90 MS OP'S FABLES.
Boughs, bru(hed againft a Reed, wh'ch grew near the
Shore. This firuck the Oak with a Thought of
Admiration \ and he could not forbear afking the
Reed, how he came to ftaiid fo fecure and unhurt in
a Tempeft, which had been furious enough to tear
an Oak up by the Roots ? Why, fays the Reed, I
fecure myfjjlf by putting on a Behaviour quite con-
trary to what you do ; inftead of being ftubborn and
ftlfF, and confiding in my Strength, I yield and bend
to the Blaft, and let it go over me ; knowing how
vain and fruitlefs it would be to refift.
/
TJr A P P L I C A T I O N.
Though a tame SubmiiEon to Injuries which it is im.
car Power to redrefs^ be generally efleemed a bafe and
a di (honourable T^ing ; yet, to refid where there is no
Probability^ or even Hopes of our getting the better^
may alio be looked upon as the Efie^ of a blind Teme-
rity, and perhaps o^ a weak Underflandmg* The
Strokes of Fortune are oftentimes as irrefiftibfe as they
are {evert ; and he, who with an impatient reludant
Spirit fights againft her, inftead of alleviating, does but
double her Blows upon himfelf. A Perfon of a quiet
ftiJl Temper, whether it is given him by Nature, or ac-
quired by Art, calmly compofes himfelf, in the.Midft
of a Storm, fo as to elude the Shock, or receive it with
the lead Detriment : Like a prudent experienced Sai-
lor, who is fwimming to the Shore from a wrecked- Vef-
fel in a (welling Sea ; he does not oppo(e the Fury of
the Waves, but ftoops and gives Way, that they may
roll over his Head without Obdruftion. The DoArine
of abfolute Submi(fion in all Cafes, is an abfurd, dog-
matical Precept^ with nothing but Ignorance and Super-
ilition to fupport it: But, upon particQ]|r Occafio^s,
and where it is impoliible for us to overcome, to fubmit
patieotly is one of the moft reafonable Maxims in Life.
FAB.
^SO'P'i FABLES, 91
FAB. LI. ^e Fax and ibt Tiger.
A Skilful Archer, coming into the Woods, directed
^^ his Arrows fo fuccefsfullv, thai he flew manf
wild Beads, and purfucd fcv ral others. This put
the whale Savage Kind into a fearful Confternation,
and made them fly to the moft retired Thickets for
Kefuge. At laft, the Tiger refumed a Courage,
and bidding them not to be afraid, faid, that he
alone would engage the Enemy; telling them, they
might depend upon his Valour and Strength to re-
venge thdr Wrongs- In the Midft of thefe Threat?,
while he was laflunghimfelf with his Tail, and tear-
ing up the Ground for Anger, an Arrow pierced his
Ribs, and hung by its barbed Point in his Side. He
fet up an hideous and loud Roar, oc<:arioned by the
Angui^ which he felt, and endeavoured to draw
out the painful Dart with his Teeth ; when the
Vox, approaching him, enquired with an Air of
Surprife, who it was that could have Strength and
Courage enough to vround fo mighty and valorous
a Bcaft ! Ah ! fays the Tiger, I was miftaken in my
Reckonins : It was that inviacibic Man yonder.
Tie
I
92 ^5 OP'S, FABLES. '
Tht A P P L 1 C A Tl O N.
Though Strength and Courage -are very good Ingre-
dients towards the making us fecure and formidable in
the World, yet, unlefs there be a proper Portion of
WiiHoni-or Policy tq, direA them, inftead of being fer-
viccable, they often prove detrimental to their Proprie-
tors. A ra(h fro ward Man, who depends upon the Ex-
cellence of his own Parts and Accomplifhxnents, is like-
wife apt to expofe a weak Side, which his Enemies might
not otnerwife have obferved ; and gives, an Advaatage
to others, by thofe very Means which he fancied would
have fecured it to himfelf« Counfel and Condud al-
ways did, and always will govern the World ; and the
St?rong, in Spite of all their Force, can nevefr avoid
being Tools to the Crafty. Some Men are as oduch
foperior to others in Wifdom and Policy^ as- Man, ia
general, is above a Brute. Strength ill-concerted op-
pofed to them, is like a Qu^rter-StaiF in the Hands* of
a huge, robuA, but bungling Fellow, who fights againlb
a MaAer of the Science. The latter* though without
a Weapon, would have Skill and Addrefs enough to
difarm his Adverfary, and drab him with his own Staff*
In a Word, favage Fierceneis and brutal ^tretfgth, muft
not pretend to ftand in Competition with FinenTe aod
Stratagem.
FAB.
FAB. LII. The Uon and the Four Bulls,
pOUR Bulls, which had entered iato a very ftriA-
Friendftiip, kept always near one another, and
fed together. The Lion-often Caw them, and as often
had a Mind to make one of them his Prey : But tho'
he could eafily have fuhdued any of them fingly, yet
he was afraid to attack the whole Alliance, as know-
'ng they would have been-too hard for him, and there-
fore Contented himfelf for the prefent with keeping at
a Diftance. At laft, perceiving no Attynpt was to be,
made upon them as long as this Comhinatic* held,
he took Occafion, by Whifpers and Hints, to foment
^ealoufies, and raife Divifions among them. This'
htratagem.fuccccded fo well, that the Bulls grew cold
and rcTerved towards one another, .which foon after
ripened into a downright Hatred and Averfion ; anJ^
^ ialL, ended in a total Separation. The Lion had.
Hflw, opined his Ends ; and, as impoflible a^ it was
forhim.tohurt them while, they were united, he found
«> Difficultyj, Tiovf they were parted, to feize and
<i«¥Our, owrVf 5l»ll of th^, onc,after another.
8 ■ - yj^
ff ^SOP's FABLES.
Tht APPLICATION.
The Moral of this Fable ti To well known and allowed,
that to go about to enlighten it, would be like holding a
Candle lo the Sun. jf KingJaa dl-vidid againft itfilf can-
m»tfiand\ and as undifpute^ * Maxim as ic is, was how-
ever thought aeceflitry to be urged to the Attention of
Mankind, by the beft Man that ever lived. And lince
Friendlhips and Alliances are of fo great Importance to
our Well-being and Happinefs, wc cannot be too often
cautioned not u> let them be broken by Tale-bearers and
Whifperers, or any other Con trivanK of our Enemies.
FAB. Lin. J'A^ Crow <w<//fe Pitcher.
A CR O W, ready to die with Thirft, flew with JoT
to a Pitcher, which he beheld at fome Diftance.
When he came, he found Water in it indeed, but fo
near the Bottom, that with all his Stooping and S^train-
ing, he was not able to reach it. Then he endea-
voured to overturn the Pitcher, that fo at leaft be
might be able to get a little of it.. But hi) Strength
6 wai
JSSO P'% FABLES. 95
was not fufficient for this. At laft, feeing fome Peb«
bles lies near the Place, he caft them one by one into
the Pitcher > and thus, by Degrees, raifed the Water
up to the very. Brim, and fatisfied his Third.
Tbe A P P L I C A T I O N.
ManyXhiqgSj which cannot be eifeAed by Strength,
or by the volgar Way of enterpridng, may yet be
broaght about by fome new and untried Means. A Man
of Sagacity and Penetration^ upon encoantering a Diffi*
culty or two> does not immediately^ deQ>air ; bat if he
cannot fncceed one Way, employs his Wit and Ingenaity
another: and, to avoid or get over an Impediment^ makes
no Scruple of (lepping out of the Path of his Forefatheri.
Since our Happinefs, next to the Regulation of our
Minds, depends altogether upon our having and enjoying
the Conveniencies of Life, why fliould we ftand upon
Ceremony about theMethdds of obtaining them, or pay
any Deference to Antiquity upon that Score? If almoft
cVery Age had not exerted iticlf in fome new Improve*
o^nts of its own, we fhould want a thoufand Arts, or,
*t leaft, many Degrees of Perfection in every Art, which
at prefent we are in Poffefflon of. The Invention of any
Thing which is more commodious for the Mind or Body,
than what they had before, ought to be embraced readily,
and the Projedor of it diftinguiQied with a fuitable En-
couragement. Such as the Ule of the Compafs, for £x-
^B^ple, from which Mankind reaps lb much Benefit and
Advantage, and which was not known to former Ages.
When we follow the Steps of thofe who have gone'l>efore
^s in the old beaten Track of Life, how do we differ
from Horfes in a Team, which are linked to each other
^y a Chain or Harnefs, and move on in a dull heavy
Pace, to the Tune of their Leader's Bells ^ But ttie Man
^ho enriches the prefent Fund of Knowledge with fome
^tw and ufeful Improvement, like a ha|^y Adventurer
,>t Sea, di(covers, as it were« an unknown Land, and
^"^ports an additioaal Trade into his own Country.
FAB,
96 ■ ^SO-P's FABLES.
FAB. LIV; The Forefler and ihe Uon.
'T'HE Foreftcr meeting with a Lion, one Day,
■* they difcoiirfed together for a while without
differing much in Opinion. At laft, a Difpute hap-
pening to arife about the Point of Superiority be-
tween a Man and a Lion ; the Man, wanting a belter. ,
Argutnent, Hiewed the Lion a marble Monument,
on which was placed the Statue of a Man ftriding
over avanquifhedLion. If this, fays the Lion, is all
you have to fay for it, letUs be the Carvers, and We
will make the Lion ftriding over the Man.
'The APPLICATION.,
Contending Parties are very apt to appeal for the
Truth to Retorda written by their own Side ; but no-
thing is more unfair, and at the fame Time infijrnifieant
and unconvincing. Such is the Partiality of Mankind
in Favour of themfelves and their own Anions, tliac it is
almoft impoflible to tome at any Ccftainty by reading
the Accounts which are written on one Side only. We
have
- ^.SOP'?FABLES. 97
have few or no Memoirs come down to ns of what was
tranfa^ed in the World daring the Sorereignty of an-
cient Rome, bat what were written by thoTe.whQ bad a
Dependency upon it; therefore it is ilo wonrdef thit
they apjMcar, upin moft Occafions, to have been fo great
and jfloribus a Nation. 'What their Contemporaries of
other CoantHjes thoaght of them we cannot telU ochet^
wife than from' their own Writers: It is not irapoflible
but they might have defcribed them as a barbarous, ra*-
pacioas, treacheroos, a npolite People; who» upon their
Conqueft of Greece^ for lome Time, made as great |ia*
vock and Deftradion of the Arts and Sciences, as thed*
Fellow-Planderer» the Getbs and Vandals did, after*
wardf, in ltaly» What Monfters woald bur own Partv*
sealots make of each other, if the TranfaAions of th^
Times were to be handed idown to Pofterity by a warm
hearty M(an on either Side i And, were fuch Records to
forvive two or three Centuries, with what Perplexitiet
and Difficulties muft they embarrafs a young Hiliborian,
as by Tarns he confulted them for the Charad^rs of
his great Forefathers! If it fliouhi fo happen, it were
to be vdihed this Application mi^ht be living at the
fame Time ; that young Readers, inftead Of doubting
co'^hich they fhould give their Credit, would not fail
taremember'that This was the Work of is Man» That
of a Lion*
FAB.
5^ MSOP's FABLES.
FA B. LV. tie Satyr aitd ibe Traveller; '
A Satyr, u he was raneing ihe Foreft in an ex-
^^ ceedinB eoU, fnowy SeaTbn, met- with a Tra-
veller half-narved with the Extremity of the .Wea-
ther. He took Compaffion on him, aifd kindly in-
vited him Home, to a warm comfortable Cave he
had in the Hollow of a Rock. As foon as they
had entered and Cat down, notwtthllandine there
vras a good Fire in the Pl^ce, the chilly Traveller
could not forbear blowing his Fingers Ends. Upon
the Satyr's aflcing him, why he did fo; he anfwered.
That he did it to warm his Hands. The honeft
SyWan having feeh liitle of the World, admired a
Man who was MaHer of fo valuable a Quality as
that of blowing Heat, and therefore was refolved to
entertain him in the beft Manner he could. H«
ipread ihe Table before him with dried Fruits of fe-
veral Sortsi and produced a Remnant of cold cor-
dijit Wine, which, as tba Rigour of the Seafon
made
^SaP's FAftLES; gf
made very proper^ he 'mulled with fome warm
Spices^ ififttfed over tl^ Fii^r and^ pr^Tenlid'to his
Ibtvering Giieft, But this the Traveller thought fit
to blowlikewife; and upon the Satyr's demandirfg
a Reafon why he blowed again, he replied^ Tot;oi>i
hi&Difli. This feeond Aiifwer provoked ther Sit- '
tyr's Indighatio0» ^'much as the firft had khidUd
his Surprife ;^ So, taking the Man by the Shbulddk*,
he diruft him out of Doors, faying^ He would hate
nothing to do with a Wretch who had fo vile a Qjit-»
lity as to blow Hot and Cold with the fame Mduth.
The A P P Lie A T I O N,
Thougli the poor Travellci^ in tte FabW was nbt
guilty of amy real Crime iti what he did, yet one catt->
not help appi^ovih^ the honeft ^mplicity of the Sat/r«
who could not be reconciled to fuch Double-dealings
In the mora! Senfe of the Fable, nothing can be more
.offenfive to one of a-fincere Hearty 'than he that blows
with^ a different Breath from the fame Mouth ; wJla »'
flatters a Man to his Face» and reviles him behind. hit.
Back. ^ Some again, Juft like this Man^ to ferve a pre*,
fent View, mil blow nothing but what is warm, bene-
volent and cherifhing ; and when they hare rai(hd the'
Expectations of a Dependent to a Degree which they'
think may prove troublefome^ can^» with putting on a
cold Air, eaiily chill and blaft all his blooming Hopes*
But« foch a Temper^ whether It proceeds from a de«*
figned or natural Levity, is dettftable> and has been
fhe.Caufe of much Trouble *nd Mortification ^ many
a brave deferving Man* Unlefs the Tenor of a Man's
Life be always woe and conftilcnt with itfelf, rthc W»
one has to do with him the better.
JFa ]PAB,
»
iqo Msop's Fables.
FAB. LVI. HaoilamJthtdrtjer.
A S a clownilh Fellow was driving his Cart along
^^ a deep miry Lane, the Wheels ftuck fo fall in
the Clay, iha^ the Horfi^ coulj not draw them out.
Upon ihis, he fell' a bawling and praying to Httcults
to come and help him.' Htrcula lookingdown from
a Cloud, bid him not lie there, like an idle Rjifcal ss
Iv; was, but get up and whip his Horfes lioutly, and
elap his Siiotiltier to the WtKel J addijig, '[ hat thii.
was tbeooly Way forhim toobtaiohis AlSllaDCc.
Tl« A P P L I C A T I.O N.
' This Pible Otews ui kow vain and iiNgroonded the
ExpefUtion of thofe People are, who imagine they can
obt^n whatever they want by importuning lieavcn
with their Praters ; tor it ii fo agreeable to the Nature
of the Divine Being, to be betler pleafed with virtuous
AAions and an honcR Indufiry, thsn idle Pra/eri, that
it is a Soit of Blafphemy Co fdy otherwi/e. Tbefe were
- tte
JESOP's FABLES. loi
th< Sentiaenu of kontUt ^ood Ueathent, .who were
Strangers to all revealed Religion : But it is not ilrange
that they fhoald embrace and propagate fnch a Notion^
fince it 48 Ro other than the Didtate of cosunon Rea-
ron« What is both ftrange in itfelf, and furprifing how
it could be made (b fafhionable, is, that mofl of thofe
whofe Reafon- ihould be enlightened by Revelation, are
very apt to be guilty of this Stupidity, and by pray-
ing often for the Comforts of Life, to negled thac
Bufinefs 'which is the proper Means of procuring them.
How foch a miftaken Devotion came to prevail, one
cannot imagine, unlefs from one of thefe two Motives ;.
either that People, by foch a Veil of Hypocrifv, would
pafs thiemfelves upon Mankind for better than they
really are; or are influenced by unfkilful Preachers
(which is fometimes, indeed too often, the Cafe) to
mind the World as little as poflible, even to the Nej^le^
of their neceiTary Callings. Ko QoedioA but it is 4
great Sin for a Man to fail in his Trade or Qrcupa-
tion, by rontiing often to Prayers ; it being a DemoA-
itration in itfelf, though the Scripture had never faid
it, that we pleafe God mofl, when we are doing the
snoft Good: And how can we do more Good,, than by
a f^ber honed Induftry, to pro^idi far iho/e of our own
Uoujheld^ and to endeavour to haife to gi'vs to him that
meditb. The Man who is virtuouQy and honoilly en*
gaged, is a£lually fervi ng God all the while ; and i»
more likely to have his filent Wiihes, accompanied with
ftrenuons Endeavours, complied witb by the Supreme
Being, than he who begs with a fruitlefs Vehemence,,
and (olicitt with an empty Hand: A Hand* which would
be more religious were it uiefo Uy employed, and more
devout, were it ilretched fortk tado Good to thofe that
want it.
F 3 FA B;
iM jESop'b fables.
FAB. LVII. The Man Md his GooCc,
■ A Certain Man had a Goofe, which laid him a .
■*> golden Egg every Day. But, not coEUealed
with this, which rather iacreafccl than abated his
Avario?, h«-W3$ rerolved to kill the (joafe, and CHt
up her Belly,, that lb he might come at the tn«x«
hauftible Tf«afure which he fancied (he had within
her. He did foj and to his great Sorrow and Dif*
appointment, found nothing.
Tie APPLICATION.
They who are of fucb craving impatient Tempcrf,
that iheycaoRot live conteoud when Fortune had ble&d
ihtin with a conftant and cpatinucd Sufficiency, defenC
even to be deprived of what they have. And this has
b.en the Cafe of many ambitious and covetous Men,
who by making an EJTay lo grow very rich at once, have
tnilTed what they aimed at, and loft what ihey had before^
Bui thi) comes fo near the Senfe of (he fourth Fable,
that the fame Application may very well ferve for both.
If any Thing farther can be couched in thit, it may pof*
fibly be intended toi Ihicw m the UnreafonaBlenefs and
Incoa-*
MSOPU FABLES. ,»oj
laeonTCnieDCc of being folicitoog about what mac hap-
pen hereafter, and wanting to pry Tnto the Womb of I*U-
turity. 'Which if we could do, all we (honld^efforoar
Paini would be, to fpoil bur Pleafurej by Antkipa-
ticn, and double our Misfonuaes by a previuui Senfe
and Apprchenlionpf them. There are fome Things thac
entertain and delight us vpry agreeably while we vie^
them at a proper Dillance; wKich, perhaps, would aat
Jlatid the Teft of a too near Infpedion. lieauty, being
only the external Form of a Thing which llri tea tj^e
Eye in a pleafing Manner, is a Very thin glolTy Beings
and like fome nice Paintingi of a peculiar Compofilion,
will not well bear even to be breathed on : To prererve-
• ar good Opinion of it, we mull not approach too dole ;,
for if, like the Man in the Fable, we, have a Mind lb.
fearch for a Titafure within, we may not -only fail d(
our £xpe£lations there, but even tofe the con il am R^-
lilfa we epjoyed from a remoter Canteniplatian.
FAB. LVIII. n^ Wanton Calf. .
A CALF, full of PUyapd Wantonnefs, feeingt^
■*^ Ox at Plough, could not forbear infMlting hiiH'
What afoocy gooi Drudge art Iboti, iagrs be^torfapar'
f 4 ;■ that.
104 MS OP'S FABLES.
that heavy Yoke wpon your Neck, and go all Day
.drawing a Plough at your Tail, to turn up thc^Jround
for your Mafief* ! But you are a wretched dull Slive,
and know no better, or elfe you would not do H*
See what a happy Life I lead; I go juft where I
.pleaifl; fometiimes I lie down under the cool Shades
fometimes friflc about in the open Sunfhine ^ and,
when I pleafc, flake my Thirft in the clear fweet
Brook i But you, if you were to periih, have not Co
much as a little dirty Water to refrefh you* The
Ox, not at all moved with what he faid, wentquietfy
and calmly on with his Work ; and, in the Even-
ing, was unyoked and turned loofe. Soon after which
he faw. the Calf taken out of the Field, and deli- •
.ycred into the Hands of a Prieft, who immediately ,
led him to the Altar, and prepared to facrifice him*
His Head was hung found with Fillets of Flowers,
and the fatal Knife was juft going to be applied to
his Throat, when the Ox drew near and whifpered
him -to this Purpofe: Behold the End of your In-
folence and Arrogance; it was for this only you
•were fufFered to live at all; and pray now. Friend,
whofe Condijtion is beft, yours or mine i
The AP PL I C A T I O N.
To infult People in Dlftfcfs, is the Property of a
cruel, indifcrect, and giddy Temper; for as the Pro-
ceedings of Fortune are vtry irregular and uncertain,
we may, the next Turn of the Wheel, be thrown down
to their Condition^ aad they exalted to our;8. We are
likewife given to underltand by this Fable, what the
Confequence of an idle Liie'generally is, and How well
fatisfiea iaboriqos diligent Men are, in the End, when
. they come quietly toenjoy the Fruits of their Indiiftry.
Tbev who by little Tricks and Sharpings,. or by open
•Violence and Robbery, live in a high expenfivc Way,
often in their Hearts at leaft, defpife the poor honed Man,
' who is (0&teiite4 with the virtaoas Procia^ of his daily
Labour, and patiently fajbmits to hi^ Delliny. But how
often
^SOP'» FABLES. . loy
of^n is the poor Man romferted, by Teeiag theft wanton
Vil ain! led in TriDniph>to the Altar of Jullice, while
he hai manjr a cheerful Sommer't Morning to cAJojr
>lbfDad, and many a long Winter's Evening to indulge
hiuifelf in at Homr, by t quiec Hcjrih, and under an
unenvied Roof: BltlUngs, which often attend a fobcr,
intiuftrious M.m, tho' the Idle and (he Profligate are ntier
Sir.ingers ta ihem. Luxury nnd [n(en)per,ince, beAde»
their being certain to Ihorten a Man's Days, are very apt,
not only to £n£a(;e Peojale with iheir leeming Charm*
into adebmchedLifi:, utterly prejudicial lo their Health,
but tft mukt ihcm have a Conienipt f.iT others, whole
good Sinfe and true Talie of liappinefi iofpire iheu
wjclian Aver/ioiHi>Idkn;rsand Etfeminio, ^ndput thenv
upon b-irdening their Conllicution by innoceiu Exercife
;.iid l.iuditbie Emplovmcut. Haw manv do Gluttony and
blotb tumble inlet an untimely C,nve\ while the Teffl- '
peraie and the Aitite drink fubcr Draughts of Life, and
rplii out their Thidd lu the muit deiiruble Length.
F A B. LIX. Tbe Leopard and the Fox.
'X'HE Leopard, one Day, took itinto his Head to
■*■ value himfetf upon 't!ie great Variety and IJe^uty
of iiis Spots, and irulv he jaw no Reafon.why eveji
F 5, • ' the
to6 JS SOP'S FABLES-
.the Xri'an Should take Place of him, fince he could
not fliew fo beautifal a Skin. As for the Reft of
the wHd Beafts of the-Foreft, he treated them all,
without Diftiftc^ion, in the moil haughty difdainft*!
Manner, But the Fox, being among them, went
up to him with a great deal of Spirit and Refolution,
and told him. That he was miOaken in the Value
•he was plcafed to fet upon himfelf; fince People of
Judgment were not ufed to form their OpiHion of
Merit from ^n outfide Appearance, but by conil*
liecing the good Qualities and Endowjxients with
which the Mind was Aored within.
Thi APPLICATION.
How much more heavenly and powerful would Beauty
provtf. if It were not fo frequently impaired by the Af-
fedlation and ConceitedneU of its PoiTeflbr ! ff {ome
Women were but as mod eft and unafTumiog as they are
Jbandfome, they might command the Hearts ef all tkac
behold them. But Nature feemed to forefec, and has
provided againil fuch an Tnc^nrenience, by tempering
its greateft A^aftei^-pieces with » due Proportion of Pride
sind Vanity ^ So that their Powipr, depending upon the
Daraiion of ;)ieif , Jeauty only, is like to be watt of a
fhort Continuance; which^ when they happen to prove
Tyrants, is no fmall Comfort to us; and then, ^ven
whiFe ' it lafls, will abate jftiuch of its Severity by the :
Allay of thofc two prevailing Ingredients.^ Wife M^
are chiefly captivated with the Charms d^ the Mind;
and whenever they are infatuated with a PaiHon for any
Thing elfe, it is generally obferved that they ccafe^
during that Time at toaft^ to b&\vha| they were; and
are indeed looked upon to.be only playittg- the*Fool« If
th^.Fair Ones we have been fpe^ng of have a true Af^
cendant over them, they will oblige them to diveft them*
ielies of Common Senie^-aud to talk and a€^ridicu*
^ouily, before they can think them worthy of the leaft
tiegaid. Should one of thefe fine Creatures be addref-
fcd in the Words of Jidia^ *
I *j1s
^SaP"$ FABLES. itfj
"Til HBl a Sit ef fialttni, er Cemf&xiam, ^
TbtTinaHTie/ aSiin, that ladmiri.
•Aatljf fien grevii familiar la tbf Lwtr,
Fadti in bit Eyt, an4 pmlh ufn iht Suifi.
' I'he niirtiuu! Marcia tav>trt ahtvt her Seitt
True, /be ii fair, »h, hovi jii/imly fair I
Bui ftill the lovily Maid imfrevei hir Charm*
With iniuard drealntf, unaffiaid Wifitm,
And SanSilj of Maameri. '■— — — — .
The Man that Qiould venture the SocceA of a firone,
Paffion, upon the CoDAruaion.Oie would put upon Citfh
a ComplimeBi, might have Reatbtt to repeat othu-
Condua.
FAB, -LX. The Cat md ibe ?o^
- A S the Cat and the Fox were tallcitTg Pblitie* to-
**■ gether, on a Time, in the Middle of a Forcft,
Rejnard ^3.\Ay let TUings turn out eiwr & bad, he
did not CJre, for be Ifad ^ Thoufin J Tricks for thea>
yet, before they fhould btirt hiny But pray, fay_&
lie, Mrs. Puft,' fuppole there O^uld be an. Invafion,.
what Coufle ii> y<>u. de%n to ulcc ^ ^^^>. U-y-^ the
F 6 Cat,
io8 ^ SOP'S FABLES.
Cat» I have but one Shift for it, and if that won't
do, I am undone* 1 am forry for yon, replies Re/'^
fiarjj with' all my Hearr, and Would gladly furnilb
you. wiih one or two of mine, but indeed. Neigh*
Dour, as Times go, it is not good to truft ^ we n^uft
€ven be every one for bimfelf, as the Saying is, and
fo your humble Servant. Thefe Words were fi arce
#ut 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 Angle Shift, ran up a
Tree, and fat fccuieiy among the top Branches;
from whence ihe beheld Rejnard^ who had not been
able to get out, of Sight, overtaken witii his Thxni-
fand Tricks, and torn in as many Pieces by the
Dogs which had furroundcd him.
TA^ A P P L I C A T J O N.
«
A Mari th^t fets up for more Cimning thad the reft
. of his J^eighbours, is generally a filly Fellow at the Bot».
torn. AWboevcr is Mailer of a little Judgment and. In-
fight into 1 hings^ let him keep them to hinrfelf^ and
niftlce Ufe of them as he fees Occafion ; but he (hould
not be teizing others with an idle and impertinent OC*
tentation of them. One good difcreet Expedient made
Ufe of upon an Emergency, will do a Man more real
Service, and make others think better of him, than to
have psiTed all along ior a fhrewd crafty Knave, and be
bubbled at lait. When any one has heen fuch a Coxcomb
as to jnfult his Acquaintance, by preteAding to more
Policy and Stratagem than the reft of Mankind, they are
apt to wifli for fome Difficulty: for him to fiiew his Skill
inj where, if he fhould mifcarry^ (as ten to one but he
does,) his Misfortune, inllesd of Pity, is fure to be at-
tended with Laughter. He that fets up ft.r a Biter, as the
Phrafe is, being generally intent upon his Prey, or vain
of ihewing his Art, frequently expofes himfelf to the.
Traps of one (harper than himfelf, apd incurs th^ Ridi*
cule oi thofe whom he defigned to imake ridiculous.
/ ^ FAB;
^ SOP'S FABLES. loj
F'A B. LXI. The Partridge and the Cocks.
A Certain Man, having taken a Partridge, plucked
''*■ fomeof theFeathi'Kiiutof its Wing-, aijij turned
it into a li'tle Yard, where he kfp^ Game-Cticks.-
The Cocks ^<" a while, made ihe poor Bird lead
n fad Life, coriiinually pecking and driving it away
from the Meat. This Trennnent was taken the
more unkindly, becaule offered to a Stronger j. and
the Partridge could not but conclude them th.e mptl
inhofjiitable, uncivil People, he Had ever met with.
But, at laft, obf.rving how frequently they quarrel-
led and fought with each Other, he comforted hiii)- -
fclf with this Reflection J Th^t it was no wonder
they were fo cruel lo him, tince there was fo mujch
Bickering and Animoiity unoug ttacmfelves.
n# A P P L I C A T I O N.
This Fable comes Home to ourfclves. We of thji
Jfland having always been looked upon as cruel to Stran-
fers. Whether there ii ajiy Thing in [be Manner of oijr
itnation, as an lHaiadf which confequeQtiy can be i^o
Tboroijgh-
no j£ SOP'S FABLES.-
Thoroughfare to other Countries, and to is not made
Uftf of by Strangers upon that.Accouot, which makes
us thus ihy and uncivil; or, whether it be a Jealoufy
upon Account of^our Liberdesj^ which puts us^ upeil
being fufpicious of, and « unwilling to harbour any that
are noc Members of the fame Commuoity, perhaps it
would not be eafy to determine. But that it isfo in Fadt
is too notorious to be denied ; and probably can be. ac*-
counted fcfr ho better Vfsty, than from the natural Bent
of our Temper* as it proceeds from fomething peculiar
to our Air and Climate. It has been affirmed, . 'I^hit
there is not in the whole World befides, a Br\^ed^of Clicks
^nd Pogs, (b fierce and uncapable of yielding as %htt of
ours: But that either of them, carried into- ibreign
Countries, would degenerate in a few Years. Why may
not the iame be true of our Men > ^ut if Strangers find
any Inconvenience in this, there is a con^fortable Con-
fideratierr to balance it on the other Side, which is>
That there are no People under xhc Son To much giyen
to Diviiion and Contention among thenifelves as we are^
Can a Stranger think it hard to be looked upon wi,tb
.ibme Shynefs, when he beholds how little we (pare one
another? Was ever any Foreigner, merely for being a
Foreigner, treated with half that Malice and Bitternefs»
..which difieriifg Parties expreis towards each other? One
would willingly believe that this proceeds,, in the Main»
.on both Sides, from a paffionate Concern for our Liber-
.lies and Well-being ; for there is nothing elfe which can
(6 welljexcufe it. But it cannot be denied that our Aver-
fiori, notwithftanding our being a Trading Nation^ to
have any Intcrcourfe with Strangers, is fo great, that
nrhen we ^ant other Objefls for our Churliihnefs, we
raife them up among onrfelves ; and there is, ibmetimes>
as great a Strangenefs kept up between ond County and
another here, as there it betweea two difticdl Kin^oma
abroad. One cannot fo much wonder at the conftant
Hoililio^s which are obferved between the In habitants
pf South. and North Britain, of PFaks and Ireland, among^
one another ; when a- Torkflnre Man fhall 'be looked
lipoo as a Foreigner by a Native of Norfolk i and both
be taken for outlandiih Intruders, by one that happeaa
10 be borA wiiiiiA the Bills of Mortality.
FAB.
^;5 0P/8,FAP,LE:S. i^f
F ^B. LXU. The Hunted Beaver.
T T is faid that a Beavfr (a Creature which lives.
■* chiefly in the Water) has a cerfeip Part about
him which is good in Phytic, and that, upon this
Account, he is often hunteUdournand Icilled. Once
. upon a Time, as one of thera,,Creat.ures wis haril
purfued by the Dogs, and knew not bow to efcapTt
iecolle£ling with himfelfthe Reafoi of bis being
thus perfecttted, with a'great Refolutioh and f're-
ience of Mind, he bit on the Part which his Hun-
ters wanted, and throwing it towards them, bytbeie
Means efcaped with his Life.
Tie A P P L I C A T I O N.
However k- ii among Beafts, there are few Hbsisk
. Cicaturei but what are hunted for fomething elft, heAdti
either their Livei, or the Pleaf^re of hunting then. TKc
taijuiruioi) would hardly be To keen againft the ymu, if
ihey had not fomething belonging to them which their
f erfecuton cfteem moic raluablc than their Souls ; which
whenever
ii« ^SOP'a FA B LES.
whenever that wife, bm obftiDate People <afl praf^il
wich themrelves to part tviih, there is an End Of the
Chafe, forthat Time. Indfed, when Lifcit purfucd, and
in Danger, whoever values it, fhould give up every Thing
bat his Honour to prefrrvc it. Aaa, when a difcarded
MiniAer is profecuied for having damaged the Com-
mon-wealth, let him but throw down fume of the Fruits
of his Iniquity lu the Hunters, and one may engage for
his coming off, in other Refpefb, wich a whole &km.
FAB. LXIII. The Tlnmny and the r)o]pii\n.
AFifh called a Th innv, liting purfucd by a
Dolphin, and driven, viith grear VinleiKC, cot
minding which Way he went, wns thrown hy the
' Force of the \Vaves upon n Rock, and left ihere.
His Death novif was inevitable; but, cafting his
Eyes on one Side, and feeing the Dolphin in the
fame Condition, lie g-fping by hiTi, Well, fays he,
'I muft die, it ii true ; but- f die vviib Pleafure, when
J behold him who is the Caufc of ic involved in
the f*me Fate.
^SOP'i FABLES. 113
Tbt APPLICATION.
RCTcnge, though 2 blind, mifchievom FalSon, is yet 1
*veTy fwCct Thing : So Tweet, that it can even Tooth the
.PangB and reconcile at to the Bicternc^ of Death. And
4ndced. it mpfl be a Temper highly philofophical, that
con Id be driven ont of Life, by any tyrannical nnjuft Pro-
cedure, ftnd not be touched with a Senfeof Pleafare tofee
the Author of it Iplittingaponihe fame Rock. When thit
is allowed, and it is farther coniidered how eafily the Re-
venge of the mCaneft Perfon may be executed upon ercii
'the faigheit, it Ihould, mechinks, keep People upon their
Gokrd, and prevail with them not toperfecute or be ioja-
rionstoanyone. The moral Tuipitade of doing wrong is
fuffioeni to influence every brave honell Man, and to Tc-
-core him from harboaring even the leaftThoughtof it in
Jii) Breatt. But the Knave and the Coward fhould weigh
the prefent Argument, and bafore they attempt the leaft
]DJnry> be aJTured of thii Truth, That nothing is more
fwcet, nor fcarce any Tkingibeafy tt> compafi at Revenge.
JFAB. LXIV. Th Hawk anti the Nightingale.
A Nightingale, .fitting all alone among (be SbaAf
. **• Branches of an Oafc, fung with fo mclodiou)
and Ibrill a Pipe, that fhe aoAt the Woorfsecho
again.
it4 jESOP'& fables.
again, and alarftied a hungry Hawk, who was at
fomc Diftancc off, watching for his Prey j he had
no fooner-difcovcred the littJe Mufician, but, mak-
ing a Stoop at the Place, he feized her with his
Y^ r 1?*'°''^ and bid her prepare for Death.
Ah ! fays flie, for Mercy's Sake, don't do fo barba-
rous a Thing, and fo unbecoming yourfelf j con-
r \},.1^''l',^^'^ y°" ^"y Wrong, and am but a poor
fmail Morfel for fuch a Stomach as yours ; rather
attack fome larger Fowl, which may bring you
wore Credit, and a better Meal, and let me go.
Ay ! fays the Hawk, perfuade roe to it if you can :
1 have been upon the Watch all Day leng, and bawe
not met with one Bit of any Thing, till I caught
you J and now you would have me let you go, ih
Hopes of fomething better, would you i Pray, who
would be the Fool then ? •"
t
,, Th< APP Lie A X:I ON..
They who negka the Opportunity ofjrtBfing ^^Cm4l
Advantage m tfopes t)iey fiiall obtain a SmerT ire far
Ironi aaing upon a tm^tmM^ aod wel^niid^ked Foun-
dation. The Figure of Time is dlvuays dr*Wn with a
litog e Locjcy Hair h^nginc; over lii^ Foi*head. and the
7i P^rt of his Head hzU ; to put us in Mind^ that
we jhoald |)e Aire to lay hold of an Otcafion when it
preients ufelf to us j M afterwards we repent us of our
Omiffion and Folly, and would recover it when Jt is too
c' r^J^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ Reafon to give for bur'Refufal
an Offer of Kindnefs, that we do it becaufe we dcfire
ojrdeferve a better: for it is Time enough to rdinquifh
the fmall Affair, when the greajt pne comes, if ever it
does come. But, fuppofing it ihould not, hov^rcan we
torgive ourfelves for letting any Thing flip through'our
Wands, by vainly gaping after fomething elfe,. which
we never could obtain ? He who has nx)t been guilty of •
anyof thefe Kinds of Errors, however poorly he may
come off at laft, has only the Malice of Fortune, or oC
.temebodjr elfc, to charge with his ill 6ucc€fs ; and may
- applaudt
MSOP'% FABLES. iij
ippliud himfelf with fbme Comfort, in never having
\aa an Opportunity, though ever fo fmall, of becieting
and improving his Circnmllancu. Unthinking Peo-
jfle have oftentimes the Unhappinefs to fret and leizc
xhemfclves with RetrofpeAs of this Kind j which they,
who^ttead to the Bafineft trf* Life at ihey ought, never
have Ocea£on to make.
FAB. LXV. rbe Tax. without aJixU
A FOX being, caught in a Stee].Trap, by faiS
*^ Tail, was glad to compound for his Efcape
wiih the Lofs of it ; but upon coming abroad into
tbc World, began to be fo fenfible of the Difgrace
fiwli a D«feS would bring upon him, that he almoft
wjihed he had died, hather than left it behind him.
Hovirever, to make the beft of a bad Matter, he
formed a Projeft in his Head, to call an Ailcmbly
of the reft of the Foxes, and propoff it for their Imi-
tation, as a Fafbion which would be very agreeable
ud twcomin J. He did fa j and made a long Ha-
. ' , ranguff
ii6 JSSOP'i FABLES.
ttngue upon the Unproficablenefs of T^s in gene*
ra], and endeavoured chiefly to (hew the Aukward-
nefs and Inconvenience of a Fox's Tail in particu*
lar; addingi that ft would be both more graceful,
aad more expeditious* to be altogether without
them ; and that, for his Part, what lie had only una*>
gined and conjedt.ured i>efore, he n6w found by Ex-
p^ience ; for that be never enjoyed himfelf fo well9
and found himfelf fo eafy, as he had done fince he
cut oiFhis Tail. He faid no more, but looked about
with a briflc Air, to fee what Profelytes he had
gained i when a fly old Thief in the Company, who
underftood Trap, anfwered him, with a Leer, I be-
lieve you may have found a Convenienoy in p::rting.
with your Tail, and when we are in the fame Cir-
cumftances, perhaps we may do fo too.
7A/ A P P L I C A T I O N. :
If Men were but generally as prudent as Foxes, they
w6uM not fuffer fo many filly Paihions to obtain, as
are daily brought in Vogue> for which fcmrce any Rea-
ion can be aillghed* befides the Humour of ibme con-
ceited vain Creature; unlefs, which is full' as bad> they
are intended ro palliate fome Defe^ in the Perfon that
• introduces tKem. The Petticoat of a whple Sex has
been fometimes fwelled to fuch a prodigious Extent, to
Tcreen an Enormity, of which only one of them has been
guilty. And it is no Wonder that Alexander the Great
could bring a wr^ Neck into Fftfhion in a Nation of
Slaves, when we confider what Power of this Natoi^
fome little iniigni&cant ^pper Fellows hiive had ai
arljpbe People. 7 .
FAB.
-jeSOP'.s FABLES. 1*7
FAB. t-XVI. ThtOldMihMdDwh,
A Poor fec&Ic'otd Man, who bad. crawled out into
a neighbouring Wood to gather a few Sticlci*
had made up bis Bundle, and laying itoverhisSbouI-
ders, was tru-Jging homeward with it; but, what
with Age, and the Length of the Way, and the
Weight of his Btuden, he grew fo faint and weak»
that he funk under it ; and, as he fat on the Ground, '
called upon Death to come, once for all, and cafe
him of hjs Troubles. Death no fooncr heard him,
but he came and demanded of iiim,wbat he wanted.
The "poor old Creature, who little thought Death
had been To near, aiid frighted almgft out of his Senles
with his pterriBie Afpefl, anfsveredhim trembliiw.
That having by Chance let his Bundle of Sticks
fall, a >d being too infirm to get it up himlelf, he
bad made bold to call upon him to help him ; that
indeed, this was all he wanted at prefent ; and thtt
lie hoped his Worship lyas not olFended with hi^-
for the Liberty he had taken in fo doing. 1
■ Tir
Its jeSOP*i FABLES.
7?* A P P L I C A T I O K.
Thi* Fable givei ui a lively ReprefenladoD of the
general Behaviour of MinKiod towards that gnu King
, of Terrors, Death. Such Liberties do they take with
him behind his Back, that upon eniy little crafi Ac-
cident which happeni in their Way, Death is immedi-
ately called upon j aad they even wilh it might be law-
ful lor them to finilh by their own Hands a Life fy ,
odions, fo perpetual])' tormenting and vaxatioas. When,
let but Death only ofier to mike hii Appearance, and
the very Senfe of his near Approach atmoft doei the
Baiinefs: Oh, then alt they want iaa little longer Life;
and they would be glad to come off fo well, as to have
their old Burden laid upon their Shoulders again. One
may well conclude ivhat an utter Averfion they, who
are in Youth, Health, and Vigor of Body, have to
Dying, when Age, Poverty,, and Wrctchednefi, arc aoi
fufficient to reconcile ut to the Thought. '
FAB. LXVII. ri* Lion ;« Love.
•IpHE Lion, by Chance, (avri Fair Maid, the Fo-
* refter's daughter, as (he was tripping over a
* "vni and fell in Love with her. Kay, fy violent
jESOP's fables. 119
Xtas his Paffion, that he could not }ive tmlefs he
made her his own ; fo that without any more De-
lay,, he broke his Mind to the Father, and demanded
the Damfel for his Wife. The Man, as odd as the
Propofal feemcd at firft, yet foon recollcfted, that
by complying, he might get the Lion into his
Power ; bat, by refufiug him, (hould only exafpe-
rate and provoke his Rage* Therefore he con-
fcntedj but. told him it muft be upon thefe Gondii
tions : That confidering the Girt was youhg^ and
tender, he mull agree to let- hi* Teeth be plqcked
out, arid his Claws catoflF, left he ihould hurt her,
or at leaft frighten, her with the Apprehenfion of
them* The. Lion was too much in Love to hefitatci
but was no fooner deprived of his Teeth and Claws,
than the treacherous Forcfter attacked him with a
huge Club, and knocked his Brains out.
The APPLICATION.
Of all the ill Confequences that may attend that
blind Paillon, Love, feldom any prove fo fatal as that
one, of its drawing People into a fudden and ill-con-,
certed Marriage, l-hey commit a ralh Action in the
Midft of a Fit of Madnefs, of which, as foon as they
come to themfelves, they may find Reafon to repent as
long as they live. Many an unthinking young Fellow
has been treated as much Hke a Savage, io this Refpe^t,
as the Lion in the Fahle. He hai, perhaps, had no-
thing vatu^^ble bdongiog to kim, hot bis Eilate, and
tke JVritings whicb made his Title to it; and if he is
ib far captivated, as to be perfuaded to part with thefe,
his Teeth and his Claws are g^e, and he lies entirely
at the Mercy of Madam and her Relations. All the
Favour he is to expedl after this, is, from the accidental
Goodnefs'of the Family he falls into | which, if it hap- .
and a matual Interelt> can^keep up reciprocal Love be*
twixt
120 \^ SOP'S FABLES.
twixt the conjngil Pair ; and whcD that is wantingi a>id
nothing bat Contempt and Aver&>B renain toTapply"
the Place, MatHmony becomea a downrieht State of
Enmity and HoAility : And what a mifenSrte Cafe he
mufl b« in, who hat put himfelf and his whole Power
into ihe Hands of his Enemy, let thofe cop£der, whoi
while they are ia their Tober Senles, abhor the Thoaghts
of being betrayed into their Ruin, by fallowing thclm-
pulfe of a blind naheeding PaJEoo.
FAB. LXVIII. The Lionefs and the Fox,
'T'HE Lionefs and the Fox meeting leather, Ml
^ into Difcourfe { and the Conrerfatioo turning
upon the Breedine and the FruitfulneTs of Tome
living Creatures sAove otheri, the Fox could noC
forbear talcing the Opportunity of ohlerving to the
Lionefs, that for her Part, Die thought Foxes were
as happy in that Refpe£t xs almoft any other Crea-
tures ; for that they bred conllantly oocc a Year, if
not oftener, and always hlul a good Litter of Cubs
at every Birth : and yet, fays me, there are thofe
who are never delivered of more than one at a Tiuie,
and
JESOP'sTi ABLE S. tn' .
and that perhaps not above once or twice thro' their
whole Life, who bold up their Nofes, and value
themfelves fe much upon it, that they think *l) other
Creatures beneath them, and fcarce worthy to be
ipoken to. The Lionefsi who all the while perceived
at whom this Reflexion pointed, was fired with
Refentment, and with a good deal of Vehemence
replied : What you have obferyed may be true, ahd
that not without Realbn, You produce a great
^fnany at a Litter, and often; but what are they il
Foxes. I indeed have but one at a Time, but you
Jhould remember that this one is iiLion« -
Tke A P P LI CATION,
Our ProdM^xohs, of whatfoever Kind, are not to be
tfteemed Co much hy the Quantity as the Quality of
them* It is not b^ing employed much, but well, and
to the Purpofe,' which makes us ufeful to the Age we
live in, and celebrated by thofe which are to come. As
it is a Misfortune to the Counftries which are infeiled
with them, for Fpxes, and othQr Vermin to multiply ;
iR>, one cannot help throwing out a melancholy Reflec-
tion, when one fees fome Particulars of the Human Kind
increafe fo fail as thej do. But the mofl obvious Mean-
ing of this Fafte, is the Hint it gives us in Relation
to Authors, Thefe Gentlemen fiiould never attempt
to raife themfelves a Rej^utation^ by enumerating a Ca-
talogue of their Produ6lions. Since there is more Glory
in having written one tolerable Piece, than a thoufand
indlfierent ones. And whoever has had the good For-
tune to pleafe in- one' Performance of this Kind, fhould
be very cajitious how he ventares his Reputation in •
ftcond^
G FAB..
\
111 JESOP's FABLES.
FAB. LXIX. ^he Stzg and the tiat/Tii
.A Stag, grown old and mifchievous, was, accord-
•*^ ifigtoCuflom, ftjmping with his Foot, mak-
ing Offers with his Head, and bellowing fo terri-
bly, that the whole Herd tjualced for Fear of him :
When, ofie of ihc little Fawns coming, up, addref-
fed him to this Purpofe: Pray, what is the RcaHiB
fhat you, who are fo Hout and formidable at all'
other Times, if you do but hear tlie Cry of the
Hounds, are ready to fly" out of your Skin for Fearf
What you oblerve is true, replied the Stag, Ihougb
J know not how to account for it : I am indeed vi-
gorous, and able enough, I tfiink, to make ray Party
good any where, and often refolve vCith myfelf, that
nothing ihall ever difmay my Courage for the fu-
ture: But, alasl I no fooner bear the Voice of a
Houfid, but all my Spirits fail hie, and I cannot help
iDakiiig off its faft as ever my Legs can carry me.
The A !^ PL I fc A t I O N.
This IS -tHe Ca<e of many a catvirdly Bully in the
World. He is difpcfed to be imperious and tyrannicaU
aiid to infult his Cpmpanions, and takes all Opportuni-
ties of aflittg according to his Inclination ; out yet is
caatious where he makes his Haunts, and takes Care to
hive to do only with a Herd of rafcailly People, as vile
add nv&an as himfelf. A Man of Courage qualhes him
with a Word; and he who has threatened D^aih in
cVery Senteiice, ftr a Twelvemonth together, to thofe
whom he knew it would affright, at the very Frown o€
an intrepid Man, has leapt oat of a Window. It is no
ufrpleafant Sight, to be prefent when any of thefe Gen-
tlemen happen to be difarmed of their Terror before the
Face of their humble Admirers ; There is a ilrange,
boiflerons Struggle, betwixt Fear, Shame, and Revenge,
which blinds them with Confuiion ; and tho' they would
fain exert a little Courage, and ihew themfelves Men«
yet, they know not how, there is fomeching withia
which will not fuffer them to do it. The Predominance
of Nature will fliew itfelf upon Occafion, in its trqe
Colours, throuj^h all the DifguIH^ which artful Men
endeiivo^r to throw over it. Cowardice, parttcalarly,
^ves us bat the more Sufpicion, when it Would conceal
Itfelf trnder an stffe&xd Fiercenefs ; )as they, who would
imother an ill Smell by a Cloud of Perfume, are Imst*
gined.to be but the more offenfive. When we. have done
allf Nature will remain what fhe was, and (hew herfeff
whenever fhe is called upon ; therefore whatever we dp
% vdn tradition to her Laws, is fo forced and affe^d,
ihat it muft needs' expdfe, and make us ridiculous. We
tailk 'Nbttlenfe whfen we would argue againft it; like
^i^a#. Who behig a&ed, why he fled from his Colours?
faid, his Heart was as good a^ any in the Regiment,
Imt ptoi6&6d his cowardly Legs wbiiAd tun aiway witiL
Jkiwy ^kaU^et he cdtfld do. '
G ^ FA B^
tH jSSOP'i FABLES-
FA B. ixx.
i7>e Young Man and the Swallow.
A Prodigal young. Spendthrift, who bad wafted
^^ his whole Patrimony in l"averns and Gaming-
Uoufes, among lewd, idle Company, was taking
a melancholy Walk near a Brook, It was in the
Month <i{ January ; and happened to be one of thftfe
warinrfunminy Days which rometimes fmile upon us
even in that winterly Seafon of the Year ; and to
make it the more flattering, a Swallow, which bad
made' his Appearance, by Mi ftake, too foon, flew
ikimming along upon the Surface of the Water.
The giddy Youth obferving this, without any far-
ther Con fid Oration, concluded that Summer was now
come, and that he Ihould have httle or no Occasion
for Clothes, fo went and pawned them at th& Bro-
ker's, and ventured the Money for one Stake more, '
among his fliarping Companions. When this too
was gone the fame Way with the Refl, he took
dnctticr folitary Walk ia the £une Place as before.
I ^ , But
jE SOP'S FABLES. • wt§
^t the Weather being fevere and frofty» had madff
every Thing look with an Afpe£l very different fron>
what it did before; the Brook was quite frozen ovtr^
and the poor Swallow lay dead upon the Bank of
k: The very Sight of which cooled the young
Spark's Brains; apd coming to a Kiiid-of Senfe of
his Miferv, he reproached the deceaftd Bird, as the
Author or all his Misfortunes: Ah, Wretch tha^
thoii wert ! fays he, thou had undone both thy felf and
me> who was lb credulous ^s to dj£pen4 upon tbec» >
.Th A PPL I CATION.
Tjbey who frequent Taverns and Gaming- Houfes^
and keep bad. Company ,. ikould not wonder if they are
fedaced« in a very Cnall Time, to Penury and Want..
The wretched yow)£.Fe]JQWs» who once addift them-
Jfclves to fuch a i^andalous Kind of Life, Icarce think of^
or attend to any one Thing befides. They fcem to have-
nothing elfe in their Heads, but how they m^ky f^jiander
what they have got» and where-they may get 'more whei»
that IS gone. They do not make^theiame life of their
Heafbn that- other People do ;. bed,, lilce the jaofi diced
Eye^ view every thing in that falfe Light iir whkh their
Difiemper. and Debaachery reprefdftt it.* The.. Young.
Man ia the Fabie g^ves ps a pretty Example of this ; he
iees a Swallow in t;he Midft of Winter, and inliead of
being farprifed at it, as a very irregular and extraordi<»
nary Thing, contludes from thence that it is Summer, as
if he had never thought before about the Seafon. Well,,
the Refult of this wife Cdnclufion, 4S of a piece with the*
Concluiion itfelf ; if. it is Summer, he ihall not want fo'
many Clothes, therefore he feHs them : For what? More
Money to fqnander away ; as if (had his Obrervation*
been jnft) Summer would have lafted aU the ¥ear round..
B^t the true Refult and Conclufion of ail this is? Whem
both his Money and Clothes are irrecoverably gone, he*
comes to his right Senfes ; is ready to periih with Hun-
ger, to ilarve with Cold, and to tear hia own Fleih witfak
^emorfe and Vexation at his former Stupidity »-
, G3 rAja.
.126 ^SOB*& FABLES.
FAB. LXXI.'«# Angler and the Little Fifli*
A Man Was aiijjliiig in a Hiver, and c^ug it aftnal).
■ T*- Pearch ; which, as he was taking off the Hooic,
■»fi6 going to put into bis Ballcet, opened its Mouth*
and b^n to implore his Pity, begging tnat he WDuId
tbtow It into the River again. Upon the Man's de-
manding. What Reafon he had loexptft fwch a Fa-
vour? Why, fays the Fifti, bccaufc.atprcfent, lam
feut young and little, and confequently not fo well
worth your while, as I ftiall be, if you take me fomc
Time hence, when I am grown larger. That may be,
replies the Man; but lamnotoneof thofe Fools who
(]ujt a Certainty in Expe^tion of an Uncertainty.
7?, A P P L I C A T I O N.
This Fable pointi much the fime Way v the Sintj^
fourth, fo that one Moral mayvwj well ferve for both.
Btit the LeJibn they teach is To afeful and inftrnClive, that
i Rapetition of it is by no Means foperflaous. Thff
Precept which they tvould initil into us, u, never to let
Hip the prcfent Opportanity, but to fecute to ourfelret.
Kvuy Uctlt Adrantagc, juft ^ the Nick that it olfcn,
.' - without
JSSO.P'a: FABLES. W7.
with<uit a Tain Reliance upon, ^^i fruhied Zx^&Utpn
of fometHing belter in Time to come. We may cheef
up our Spirits with tioping for chat which we cannot at
prefeot obtain; but at the fame Time, let us be fuie
we give no Occafion of condemning ourrelves for oniu
ttng any Thing whick il wat in our Power to &cure.
FAB. LXXII. TbeAfs a?uifbeh\on Hunting.
•T'HE Li.'i) took a Fancy to hunt in Company
. '*' u-itb the Afs; and to tnakehim the mare ufeMy
gave him Inft/uiftious to hide Himrtlf in a Tliickef,
and ihpn to bray in the oioft frightful Manner that
he cl'uI^ pofSbl/ contrive. By this Means, fays
he, yoa will roufe all the BeaAs withia the Hear-
ing of you J while I Hand at the Outlets, and take
tnem as they ^le makinz olF. This was done ; and
the Stratagem took ZmSt accordingly. The Afs
brayed molt hideouHy ; and the timorous Beads, not
knowing wiiat to make of it, began to fcour off as
ta.il as they could ; when the Lion, who was poftcrj
at a proper Avenue, fcized and devoured them, a3
he pleafcd. Having got his Kelly full, he called
eut to the Afs, and bid him Icav9 u^ telling him,
G 4. he
128 -€50P's FABLES.
he had doneenougb. Upon this, the lop-eared Bi^t*
cainc out of his Ambufh, and approachiqg the Lion,
a&ed him, \dtb an Air of Concciti how he liked
his Performanee? ProdigiouBy! fays he; yeu did it
ib well, that! protefl, faaJ [ not Icnowa your Natui»
and Temper, 1 might have been frighted my felf.
Tit APPLICATION.
A bragging cowardly Fellow may impofe opon Peo-
ple that do not know htn ; but ia the gieaieft Jeft ima-
ginable to thofc that- do. There are many Men, who
appear very terrible and big in their Manner ofexpref-
ti'g ihemfrtves, and, if you could be persuaded to tak»
tfcrir own Word ftn it, are perfcA Lions; who, if on«>
taitea the Pains to en<]uire » litek into ihrir ttiw N»-
titrej vt as arrant Aflcs as ever brayed.
■ FAB. LXXm. 7*i« Senfible Afs,
AN old Fellow was Feeding an Afs in a fine green
'*■ Meadow; and being alarmed with the fudden
Approach of the Enemy, was impatient wiih the Afs
to put himfelf forward, and fly with all the Speed that
he was able. The Afs afked himj Whether or no he
thought
^^0/"s F AB LES. iiy
tfiSught the Enemy would clap two Pair of Panniesr
upon his Back? The Man fartl. No, there was t\»
Fear of that. Why then, fays the Aft, I will not'
ftir an Inch ; for what is ft to me who my Mafter
is, Ance I fliall but carry my Panni«rs,.as lU'ual.
The APPLICATION^ .
This Fabis (hews os, how much in the Wrong tfic
poorer Sore of People moft conmont/ are, when they aie-
imder any ConccMi about the RevoUitioh* of a Govern-
ment. All the Alteration which chey can feel, ii, per-
hapi, in the Name of their Sovereign, orfome fuch im-
portant Trifle : Sui they cannot well bepooreTrOf madr
to work harder than ihey did befcre. And yet how atv
thef fometifflei imposed- apon, and drawn in by the Ar-
tifices of a few miftaken or defigning; Men, to fomcnE
Papons,. Bird raift Rebellions, in Ca£^i where they can-
stnathingby the Succefs ; but, if they mifcarry, areut>
langer of fuffering an ignominioiu, nattmely Death.
FA B-. LXXIV. ^he Boaftihg Traveller*
W.
/r\N£ whe had been abroad,, at hi»-R<turn Home
S-'. again, was giving an Account of hi? Travels j.
and, among othet Places, faid'hclMd b^cn at RhoJny.,
G s where
IJP JSSOP'^ FABLES.
vhere be had fo diftinguiihed hiofelf In Leaping^ aii^
i^xercife that City was famous for, that not a Rhodian
could come near him. When thofe who were preient-
cUd hot (eem to credit this Relation fo readily as hef
intended they ihould, he took fome Pains to convince
them of it \>y Oaths and Proteftations ; upon whichi
one of the Company riiing up, told him, he need not
giv^ bimfelf fo much Trouble about It, fince be would
put him in a Way to demonftrate it in Faft : which..
was^ to fiippofe the Place they were in to be Rhodes^ .
and to perform hts extraordinary Leap over again*
The Boafter not liking this Propofal, fat dowa
quietly, and had no more to fa]^ for himfelf*
7*« A P P L I C A T I O N.
It is very weak, m aH Men» as well thofe who have '
tra^velkd, as tkofe who have not> to be foiicitons with '
their Company tolielicvc them> when they are relating
a Matter of Fa^, ia which they themlelves were a Part/
concerned. For> the more urgent a Man appears at
luch a lime, in order to pain Credit, the more his^Au*
dience i^ apt to fufpe^ the Truth of what he related.
They perceive his Vanity is U)uched more th^^n his Ho^
Hour, #nd th^t it ijs his Ability, not his Veracity, which
he cannot bear to have c^ueiUoned. And, indeed, tho*
a Man was ever fo fully fatufied of Aich a Truth him*.
felf, he fhould opnfider, that he is Itill as far. from being
able to convince others, as if he were altogether igno-.
rant of it. Therefore, in all Caies, where proper
Vouchers are expeded^ we had better be contented ta
keep our Exploits to ourfelves, thaQ to appear ridictt-
Ions, by contending to have them beUeved. How much
mor^'then ihould travelled Gentlemen have a Care How
they, import Lyea and Inventions of their own, ^-om
foreign Parts, and ^^ttempt to* vend them ^t Home for
fta pie Truths. .Every Time they utter a Falihbodj they
are liable, not only to be fufpedled by the Company ia
general, bat to be dcfte^ed and expofed by ibme parti-
cular Ferfon, who may have been ajt the.' fame Plve,^
and, perhaps, lipow: hftW. to cpiwift their F^gery evenL
.to a D^monftration« F .A S*
jE SOP'S. FABL.E5.- iji
FAB. LXXy. n# Brother tf»i Sifter.
A Certain Man had two Children, a Sonant a
■**■ Daughter. The Boy beautiful and handjome
enough; the Girl not quite fo well. They were both
very young, and happened one Day to be playing
near the Looking- Glafs, which flood on their Mo-^
ther's Toilet : the Boy, pleafed with the Novelty of'
the Thing, viewed himfelf for fome Time, and, in
« wanton roguilh Manner, (ook Notice to the Gtrl,
tiow handfome he was. Shrrefented it,- and could
not bear the inlblent Manner tn which he did itj
for Die underflood it (as how could flie do other-
wife) intended for a direft Affront to her. There-
fore Qk ran immediately to her Father, and, with »
great deal of Aggravation, complained of her Bro-
ther; particularly for having a£ted fo efTemitutea
Fart as to look in a Gla^, and meddle with Things
which belonged to Women only. The Father em-
Waeine them botb> with mucb TeadeiocEs and Af- -
i3» JS SOP'S FABLES.
fedion» toli them, That he (hould like to hare them
both look in the Glafs every Day ; to the- Intent
that you, fays he to the Boy, if you think that Face
of yours handfome, may not di(grace and fpoil it
by an ugly Temper, and a. foul Behaviour. You,
fays he, fpeaking to the Girl, that yoii may make
up for the DefeSs of your Perfen, if there be any,
by the Sweetneft of your Manners,' anid the Agrec-
aUefiefs ^f your Converfation.
The AP? Lie A T I.O N.
. i • • . • ■ ■■
Theire is fc^rcc any Thing wc fee in the World, ef-
. peciaUy- wi) at belongs to> anddangs abottt ourown Per*
ibii, but is capable, of affording us Matter for fome fe-
riou^ and ufefd Coiifideration. Atid this Fable» not«
; withftandiiig the Scene of it is laid at the very Begin-
ning and Entrance of Life> yet utters a Dodtrine wor-
thy the Attention of every Stage tuid Degree thereof*
ffom the Child to the old Man. Let each of us 'take
a Glafs^ and view himfelf confiderately. He that is
-v^in, and ftlf conceited, 'will find Beauties in every Fea- '
ture, and his whole Shape will be without Fault. Let
it be fo; yet^ if he would be complete, he muft take
Care that the inward Man does not detrain from and
dSfgrace the outward ; that the Depravity of his Man-
ners does not fpoil his Face, nor the Wrongnefs of his
Behaviour diftort his Limbs; or, which is the fame
Thing, mak* his whole Perfon odious and deteHable to
the Eye of his Beholders. Is any. one modeft in this
Refpea, and deficient of himfelf .? Or has he indeed
Blemiih^s and ImpeHfe^lions, which may depreciate him
^•iu the Sight of Mankind? Let him ftrive to improve
the Faculties of the Mind, where perhaps Nature has
not cramped him; and to excel in the Beauties of a
good Temper and an agre^ble Converfation, the Charms
' of which are fo much more lafting and unalterably en*
clearing, than thofe of the other Sort, They who are
beautiful in Perfon have. this peculiar Advantage, that
HHth a moderate Repaid to Comflaifance and Good
Mannersj
^SOP's FABLES. 1J3
Manners, they belpealc tvery one'i Opinion in their Fa-
vour. But then, be the Oiitfide of a Man ever fo rough
■ad uncoitih, if hii acquired AccomplifhmenU are bat
fweec and eng^ing, how fcaGly do we overlook the.
reil, and value him, lilce an oriental Jewel, not by a,
glittering OutUde, which is common to bafer Stones.
Dut by his intrinfic Worth, hia bright Imagination, his
clear Reafon, and the tranrpareat iiiocericy of tm ho-
ne& Heart.
FAB. LXXVI. rbe Comer and /be Fuller,
'T'HE Collier and the Fuller bring old Acquaint-
-'' anccs, happened upon a Time to meet together ;
and the latter, being ill provided with a Habitation,'
was invited by the former tocooie and live in the fame
Houfe wit)) him. I thank you, mv dear Friend, re-
plies the Fuller, for your kind Offer, but it cannot
be: For if I were to dwelt with you, whatever I
fbould take Pains to IVour and make clean in the
Morning} (he Dull of you and your Coals would
blackuijUMi dcQC) u bad u ever, before Nisht.
.Tit
IJ4 jSSOP'i FABLES.
T;^*- A P P L I C A T I O N»
It is of no fmall Importance in Life to be caatioQt
what Company we keep^ and with whom we enter into
Priendftiips: For though we are ever fo well difpoicrd'
ourftlves, and happen to be ever fo free from Vice and
Debauchery, yet, if thole with whom we frequently
converfe are engagetl in a lewd wicked Com^e, it will'
be almoft impoffible for us to efcape being drawn in
with them. If we are truly wife, and wonld fhun tfaofe
Sj^rtn Rocks of Pleafare, upon which fo many have fplit
before us, we fhould forbid ourfelves all Manner of
Commerce and Correipondence with thole, who are
fteering a Courfe, which Reafon tells us is not only not
for our Advantage, hut would end in our Deilrudion. AIJ
the Virtue we can boaft of, will not be fuficient to in-
fure us^ if we enibark in bad Company : For, though
our Philofophy were fuch, as we couki preferve our-^
felves from oeing tainted and infected with their Man*
ners, yet their Character would twiH and entwine it&lf
alon^ with purs, info intricate a Fold, that the World
would not take the Trouble to unravel and feparate
them. Reputations are of a fubtle infinuating Tex-
ture, like Water ; that which is derived from the clcarell
Spring, if it chances to mix with a foul Current, rqns
on, undiftingui/hed, in one muddy Stream for the fu«
ture,, and mufl for ever partake of the C^our andCoAr
ditioa of its AiTociitc. -
F A B,
JESOP'^ FABLES. 13J
FAB. UCXVII. ,
^be Fox aad tiff Vizor-Maflc.
A FOX, being in n Shop wlieie Vizor-Maflti
■^^ were foffl, laiii.Ws Foot upon one of tbetHj and
conitderliigpie^^while attentively, at laft broke out
into this Exclamation : Blefs me j fays he, what a
hsndfome raodly Figure thismaltcsl What Pity iSt
it} that it moula want Brains I
n< A P P L I C A T I O N.
This is levelled at that numecoDs Part of Mankind,'
who out of their ample Foituoei. tajces Care to accam-
Tilifli themfelvcs With every Thing but Comition-Senre.
n fliOH, il^e whole World b a lyiafquerade j and a Man
of a tolerable Talent for Qbfervaiioo, mzy eateFUin
fcimfelf as well in the mixed Afiemblics he meets with
in Life, as at the moft magnificent and expenfivc Revels
provided and ordered for that Purpofe. Many of the-
-ticci one meets with among the gay frolicic Part of
our Sfttiis, if fearched for Brains, would appear as ax- .
nntviwrs as that in the Fable.
' F Aa
sj5 ^SOP'i FABLES.
FAB. LXXVIII. ri^ Two Frogs.
/^NE hot fultry Summer, the Lakes and Ponds
*-' being almoft every where dried-up^ a Couple of
Frogs agreed to travel together in Search of Water.
At laft, they came to a deep Well, and fitting upon
the Brink erf it, began to confiilt, whether they fliould
leap in or no. One of them was for it; urging, that
there wis Plenty of dear Spring Water, and no Dan-
ger cf being diiturbed. Well, fays the other, all this
may be true; and yet I cannot come into your Opi-
nion for my Life ; for, if the Water iboutd happen
to dry up here too, how (hould we get out again ?
ne APPLICATION.
The Moral of this Fable is intended to put us in Mibd
te !e»i befiirt tut itap. That we {hould not , undertake
aoy Adioo of Importance, without conlideriog firll.
what the Event of it is like to prove, and howweihali
Ijc able to come oJF, upon fuch and fucb Provifot. A
good Geperal does not think he diminilhes any Thing
of hit Ctuia£ler, when he lookj fbrnaid beyopd the
jBSOP's fables. 157
main Adion, and concerts Meirnres, in Cafe there
Aonld be Occafion, for a fafe Retreat. How masy mi-
fbrtopate Matchn are ftruclc np every Day for want of
thu wholelbme Confiderauon ! Profufe Livin|;, and ex-
. traviigant Gaming, both wUch (ertninate in the Ruin
of tbofe chat fol^w theni, are moftly owing t* a Ne-
{lea of thii Precaution. Wicked Connfellors advife,
and ignorant Princes execute thofe Things, whith af-
terwards they often dearly repent. War) aiv began by
this blind Stupidity, from which a State ii not able to
extricate itfelf, with either Hoaour or Safety; and
Projeds are encouraged by the rafh Acceflion of thofe^
who never confidered how they were to get out, tiU tbey
bad plunged themfelvei irrecoverably into them.
- FAB. LXXIX. r^t* Covetous Mam
A Poor covetous Wretch, who had fcraped t<^ther
■*^' a good Parcel of Money, went and dug a Hole
In one of his Fieldsj and hid it. The great Pleafure
of his Life was logo and look upon this Treafure,
once a Day, atlcallj which one of his Servants
obfcrving, and gacSit^ there was foihething more
than ordinary in the rlace, came at Night, found
ijB J<?^0 PTF A B LBS- '
it, and carried it off. Th? next Ddy, returning. al
uftial to the Scene of his Delight, ^fiA perceiving \t
hdfi been raviflied away from him, he tore bis Hair
(or Grief, and ottered the doleful Coiiiplaints of hit
pefpair to the Woods and Meadows. At laft, -z
Neighbour of his, who knew his Temper, over-
bearing him, and being informed of the Occafioa
of his Sorrow, Cheer up^ Man ! fays he, thou haft
loft nothing: There is the Hole for thee to go ^nd
peep at ftill ; and if thou canft but fancy the Mp-
tiey there, it will do juft as well/
The APPLICATION.
Of all the Appetites to which Hinnan Nature h tab*
jetl,* none is fo lafting, fa ftrong, and at thefame Time
fo unaccountable as that of Avarice. Our other Deiires
generally cool and Hacken at the Approach of 01<1 Age;
but this ilourifbes under grey Hairs, send triumphs amklfl
' impotence and Infirmity. All our other Longings have
fom^thing to be faid in Excufe for them, let them be
at wjiat Time of Life foever. B^tit is above Reafqn,
and therefore truly iocomprehea&ble,^ why a Man (honld^
be paifionateJy fond of Money, only for tjic' Sake of
gazing upon tt« His Treafare is as ufeleis to him as a
Heap of Oyfter-Shells ; for though he knows how many
fubftantial Pleafures it is able to procure, yet he xiares
not touch it ; and is as deftitute of'M<5ney, to all In-
tents and Purpofes, a^ t^e M^n who is, not worth a
Groatr This is the true State of a covetous Perfbn :
to which, one of that Fraternity ii^ay poffibiy make this
Reply, that when we have faid all, fiuce Pleafu-re is the
grand Aini of Life, if there arifes a Delight to fome
particular Perfons from the i^are PoiTeiEon of Riches^
though they do not, por, ever intend to make Ufe of
them, we may be puzzled how to account for it, and
think it very^ftrange, but ought not abfolutely to con-
demn the Men who thus dofely, but innocently, pur*
fue what they eilcem the greateft Happinefs, True;
People would be in the Wrong to paint Covetoufnefs in
fttch odious Colours^ were it but cofflpatiUc with Inno-^
9 cence.
^ ^ P ^ S F A B L E S. 13^
CjEpce. -Bat here arirei the Milchi'ef, 3 truly cpretous
Man will Kick at nothing to att^iin his Ends; and, when
once Avarice ralMs the Fifld, Honefty, Charity, Ht-
' manity, and, ta be brief, evety Virtue which oppofei
it, is lute to be put to the Rout.
F A B. LXXX.
Ti>e Eagle, the Cat, uW the Sow.
AN Eagle had built hcrNeft itpon the top Branches
of an cJd Oak: A wild Cat inhabited a Hole
in the Middle; and in the hollow Part at the Bot-
lom, was a Sow, with a whole Litter of Pigs. A
happy Neighbourhtjod j and might long have' conti-
nued fo, had it not been for the wicked Infinuations
of the defigning Cat. For, firft of all, up Ihe crept
to the Eagle;, and, goad Neighbour, fays ibe, we
fiiall be all undone: That filthy Sow yonder, does
nothing but lie routing at the Foot of the Tree, and,
as I fufpeft, intends to grub it up, that (he may the
more eafiiy come at our young Ones- For my Part,
! will take Care of tny awn Concerns ; you may do
as you plciUe, but I wU^atch her MotkHii> tho'- 1
'■^ ' ^ ' ftay
140 JESOJ^'% FABLES-
ftay at Home this Month for it. When fhe had fard
this, which could not fail of putting the Eagle lata
a great Fright, dowd (he went, and made a Viiit to^
the Sow at the Bottom ; and, putting on a forrow*
ful Face, I hope, fays ihe, you do not intend to go
abroad To-day ? Why not? fays the Sow. Nay^
replies the other, you may do as you pleafe ; but t
overheard the Eagle tel] her young Ones, that fhe
would treat them with a Pig, the firft Time ihe faw
yo^ go out ; and I am not fure but fhe may take up
with a Kitten in the mean Time; ib, Good-morrow
to you J yon will excufe me, I muft go and take
Care of the little Folks at Home. Away ihe went
accordingly I and, by contriving to fteai out foftly^
^-Ni^htsi fbr her Prey, and to ffand watching and
'peeping ail Day' at het^ole, as under great Concern^
0ie made fuch an Impr^fion upon the Eagle and
the $ow, that^either <>f4^hem dared venture abroad^
for Fear of tjie bjher. 'The Cdnfequence of whict^
was, that theniieives,. and their young Ones, in a.
little Timer, were' ill ttarved, and made Prizes of^
by the treacherous Cat anid her Kittens^. '
72/ A P P L I C ATI a N.
This Ihewa os the ill Confeq^uence whicft may attend
the ]{iving Ear to a gpffiping double-tongued Neigh-^
hour. The Mifchiefs occafioaed by fuch a Credulity
are innumerable, and too tiotorious not to ba obfervecl
every where* Many fociable, well rdifpo fed Families^
have.been blown up iato a perpetual Difcord and Aver-
flon to each other, by one of thefe wicked Go- bet weens*
So that, whoever would thoroughly acquit himfelf of
the Imputation of being a bad Neighbour, fhould guard
hiihfelf both agaioft receiving ill Jmpreffions by Hear-
fay , and uttering his Opinion of others to thofe inqai-
fitive Bufy-bodie8,Vho, in cafe of Scaiidal, can magnify
a Gnat to the Size c^ a Camel, and fwell a Molehill
up to a Mountain. ^
FAB.
^■SOP'i FABLES. 141
FAB. LXXXI. Tbf GoM and the Lion.
TpHE Lion feeing a .Goat upon a ftcep crag^
~ Kock, where he could not come at him, a£ed
him, what'Pelight he could take to Ikip from one
Precipice to another, all Day, and venture the break-
ing of his Neck every Moment : I wonder, fays he,
■70U nri1l'nt>tcamedown, and-feed on the Plain here,
when there is ftich Plenty of good Grafs, and fine
■fweet Herb*. Why replies the Goat, I cannot b4t
fay your Opinion is right ; but you look fo very
'iiungry and deigning, that to tell you the Truth, I
4o not car« to venture my Perfon where you are. '
Tie APPLICATION.
Advice, though ^ood in itfelf, i> to be fafp^Oed, when
it is given by 3 tricking felf-lnteVefled Man. Perhaps
we Ihoald take upon ourfelves, not on[y a very greats
,biit an uopecefTvy Trouble, if we were to fufpefl ever/
Man who goes to advife ui: But this, however, is ne>
ceSary, that when we have Reafoa to quelUon any one,
in Point of Honour and JufiicCi we not only coafider
weU
144 >ff SOP'S FABLES.
well before vrt fofer ourfclte* to be perfuaded by hfifli
but even refolve to have nothing to do in any Affair,
where ftchtreKhennH, flippery Sp«rkj are concaned,
if we can avoid it wlthoat innCh Inconveaieiice.
FAB. LXXXII. Tie Uon and ih Frog.
T^HE Lion, hearing an odd Kind of a hollow
' ■*■ Voice, and feeing nobody, flatted up : He lillencd
i^gain, and perceiving the Voice to continue^ evtfn
trembled and quake^or Fear. At laft, feeing a Frog
crawl out of the LaKc, and finding that the Noife he
had beard, was nothing but the Croaking of that little
Creature, he went up to it, and partly out.of Anger^
partly Contempt, fpurned it to Pieces with his Feet.
n* APPLICATION.
This Fable 19 a pretty Image of the vain Fears and
empty Terrors, with which our weak mi fguided Nature
is lo apt to be alarmed and diftrafled. If we ftear bat
ever fo little Notfe, t^hich we aie not able' to arcount fiir
immediately, flay, ofttfn before V/e give cwrfthes Tinte
'to conitdM about it, we are ftiuck with Fear, and la.
ifcnti
^SOP's FABLES. H3.
iKMir under a moil jinhianly unreafonable Trepidation*
More efpedally if tht Alarm happens when we are
alone, and in the Dark. Thefe Notions are ingrafted
in our Minds vtry early ; w^ fack them in with- our
Nurfe's Milk ; and therefore it is the more difficalt,
when we are grown np, and afhamed of them, to root
them out df oar Nature* fiat, in order to it, it is well
worth our while to obferve, that the moft learned, the
moft ii^genious, and candid Writers in all Ages, have
;ridiculcd and exploded the Belief of fuch Phantoms, as
the Weaker Part of Mankind are apt ta be terrified with;
intiniating, that Gob|ins, Spedlres, Apparitions, Fai-
ries, Ghofts, &c. were invented by Knaves to frighceii
the Foois with. Fear is a natural PalHen ; and its Ufe
is, to put us upon our Quard againll Danger, by alarm-
ing the Spirits. Now all Paflions Ihould be kept in a
- State of Subje6Uon ; for the? they are geod ufeful Ser-
vants, yet, if once they get the better, they prove the
moft domineering Tyrants imaginable; nor do any of
them treat us in 10 flaviih and abjedl a Manner^ as that
of Fear. It unnerves and enfeebles our Limbs, preci-
pitates oir ft^rs oar Underftanding ; and, at the fame
Time that it reprefents a Danger near at Hand, difarms,
and makes as incapable of defending ourfelves againft
it. Thi3 is the. Cafe, even in reeled of real Dangers^
as Fire,. Thieves, or violent Ene/nies : And, even in thia
Cafe, a Man of either ^enfe or Honour would be alhamed
to be detedted in fuch a Weakriefs, But when the
Caufe of our Alarm Is groundlefs, and fubiiffs no wheVe
but' in' our own childifh Imagination, we ihould not
only take Care' liow we expofe ourfelves upon that Ac-
conjit, but refolve ttf man our Underftanding with Rea-
ion and Fortitude enough to maintain it againft the A&
tackft of 6very little imaginary Phantosh. Even tho(b
who have thoroughly reafoned the Point, may yet re-
tain fomethifig of the old Woman in their Mtnfds^
which having taken root too deep to be entirely plttck<^
out| majr fometimes furprit;e them in an unguarde Mo»
ment, and make them Hart like the Lion in the Fable :
But then they prefently recoiled tkemfelves, and, as he
<lid, treat the taufc. of theix Celufion with t^e Ufnioft
Cojitcihpt, F A If,
144 jESOP'.s fables.
' FAB. LXXXIII.
7'be Fir-Tree aud the Bramble.
A Tall ftraigbt Fir Tree, that ftood towering up
in the Midi): of the Foreft, was fo proud of his
Dignity and fai^h Station, that he overlooked the
litue Shrubs which grew beneath him. A Bramble,
being one of the mferior Throng, could by no Means
brook this haughty Carriage, and therefore took
him to.tajk, and dclired to know what he meant br-
it. Bccaufe, fays the Fir-Tree, I look upon myfeu -
as the firfl; Tree, for Beauty and Rank, of any ia
the Foreft : My fpring Top Ihoots up into the
Clouds, and my Branches difplay themfelves with a
perpetual Beauty and Verdure j while you lie groveU
ing upon the Ground, liable to be cruflied by every
Foot that comes near you, and impovcrifhed by the
' luxurious Drippings which fall nom my Leaves.
All this may be true, replied ihe Bramble. But when
the Woodman has mark^ you out for public Ufe,
and the rounding Ake comes to be applied to your
"Root, I am miftakcn if you would not be glad to
change Conditions niUi toe very wotft of us.
^ SOP'S FABLES. i4f
Tie APPLICATION.
If the Great were; to reckon upon the Mifchiefs to
which the^r sre expofed, and poor private Men coniider
the Dangers which they many Times efcape, purely by
being foj. nptwithftandine the feeming Difference there
appears to be between them, it would be no fuch eafy
Matter, as moft People think it, to determine, which
Condition is. the more preferable. A reafonable Man
would declare in Favour of the latter, without the leaft
Hciltatio^, as knowing upon what a fteady and fafe
Security it is eflablifhed. For the higher a Man it
exalted, the fairer M[ark he gives, and the more un*
Hkely he is to efcape a Storm. What little Founda-
tion therefore has the greateH Fai^urite of Fortune, to
behave himfelf with infolence to thofe below him;
whofe Circumftances, though he is fo elated with Pride»
as to defpife them, are, in the Eye of every prudent
Man, more eligible than his own, and fuch as he him-
felf, when the Day of Account comes, wiU wifh he had
never exceeded. Foi;, as the Riches which many over «
grown Great Ones call the Goods of Fortune, are feU
dom any ot^er than the Goods of the Public, which
they have impadently and felonioufly taken, fo public
J uftice generally overtakes them in the £nd ; and,
whatever their Life may have been, their Death is as
ignominious and unpitied, as that of the jneancft and
moUL obfcure Thief.
H ^ FAB.
r4« ^^Oi^'s FABLES.
F A B. LXXXIV. lie Bull and the Goat.
npHE Hull, being purfuca by the Lion, made ro-
■*■ wards the Cave, in which h^ dtfigned !o (ecu e
hittifelfj but was oppoftd Juft at the Entrance by
a Goaf, who had got Poiftffion before hiin, and
threatening a Kind of Defiance with his Hotijr,
fccnied.refolvcd to difpute the Pafs with him. The
Bull, who thought he had' no Time to tofe in a
Contcft of this Nature, immcdiateiy made off again j
but told the Goat, that it was not for" fear of him
or his Defiances: For, fays he, if the Lion were
not fo near, I would Coon make you knfiw the Dif-
ference between a BulT and a Goat.
n* APPLICATION.
ind Comfort to
It is very inhcimane to dray Sucediir a
People in Tribulaiion ; but to infulc ilit
the Weight of their Misforton-s, is fomethitig fuperla-
tivcly brutiOi and cruel. Theie is, boiveverj in the
World a Sort of Wfctcliei of tkis vile Temper. A^
lutat for an Opporionitf of aggMr^tiilg their Naigb-
bour's AfilifUon, and defer ihe fixecutius of ItKir evtt
Incllnacions until they can do it to the beU Advantage.
]f any o(ie labours under an expenfive X'i>v-fji[, left ht
fiiould eicape from that, one of thcfe Genilemen wiU
take Care to utcH him in a fecoad Aftlon ; hoping, at
leaS, to keep him at Say, while the more powerful
AAvethry attachs knn on the other Side. One cannut
confider this temper, without obferying fomething re-
markably cowardly in it: For thefe whiffling Anta-
gonills nexer iM^in their ^n.coanttr,. tin they-are fure
Die PerfoD they aim at it already over-matched,
■ FAB. LXXXV,
Tit FpwUs ami the BlackbirJi
A Fowler was placing his Nets, and putting bis
■^^ Tackle in Order by the Side of a Copfe, when
a Blackbird, who faw him, had the Curiofity to
■ enquire what he was doijig. Says he, 1 am buitding
- H 2 a Citjr.
C4<
JSSOP's FABLES.
a City for you Birds to live in ; and providing k
with Meat, and all Manner of Conveniencies for
you. Having faid this, he departed and Aid hitn-
fclf ; and the Blackbird, believing the Words,,came
into the Nets, and was taken. . But when the Man
came up to take hold of him, If this, fays he, be
your Faith and honefty, and thefe the Cities you
l>uild, I am of Opinion, you will have but few In-
lubitants« ^
arj^ APPLICATION.
Methinks this Fowler a^ed a Part very like that
which feme Rulers of the People do, when they tell
them, ihat the Projects, which they hare contrived with
a feparate View, and for tHeir own private Interefts,
are laid for the Benefit of all that come into them. And
to fach the Blackbird truly fpeaks, when* he affirms,
that Ere^rs of fuch Scheiftes will find but few to flidk
by them at the long Run. We exclaim againft it, as
Something very bafe and difhoneft, when thoie of a dif-
ferent Nation, and even onr Enemies, break the Faith
which they have publicly plighted, and tricked us oat
of our Properties. But what maft we call it, when Go-
vernors themfelves circumvent their own People, and
contrary to the Terms upon which they are admitted to
govern, contrive Traps and GilB to catch and infnare
them in ; Such Governors may fucceed in their Plot
the firil Time, but muft not be furprifed, if thofe who
Jiave once efcaped their Clutches, never have Opinion
enough of them Co trufi them for t^ future.
• •
FAB.
^SOP*s FABLES^. t^^
FAB. LXXXVI. Jupiter ^WPaHas.
/^NCE upon a Time the Heathen Gods hatf a
^-' Mind toadopt,each a particular Tree, intothetf
Patronage and Tuition. Jupiter c\\oie the Oak^.~
Vinus was pleafed to name the Myrtle; ApelU pitched
upon the Laurc! ; Cybele took the Pipe, and HtrcuUt-
the Poplar. Pallai being prefent, ejiprefled her Ad-
miration at their Fancy, in making choice of Trees
that bore nothing. O, fays Jupitt>\, the Reafon of
that is pkiin enough, for we would not be thought
to difpenfe ojr Favours with any mercenary View.
You may do as you plcafe, fays flie, but let the
Olive be my Tree; and I declare my Reafon for
chonfing it is, becaufe it bears Plenty of noble ufeful
Fruit. Upon which, the Thunderer, putting on a
ferious compofed Gravityi fpoke thus to the God-
defi : Indeed, Daughter, it is not without Juftice
that you are fo celebrated for your Wifdom; for unltTs
fome Benefit attends voyr A£tions, to perform them,
only for the Sake of Glory, is but a fUly BuJLiefs.
I50 jSSOP'!^ fables.
The APPLICATION.
This Fable i^ to put trs in Mind^ that we (hould in-
tend fomething uTetul and beneficial in all our Anions.
To undertake Things wftb no o'tlber Vievt^> but that
of empty 6lory, whatever (bme earions Dreamers may
fancy y is employing our Tine after a very idle, fooliih
Manned. The Almighty created the World out of his
infinite Goodnefs, for the Good of his Creatures^ and
not out of a Paflion for Glory ; which is a vain, filky,
mean Principle. And wh. n wt taflk <^f glorifying the
Author of our Being, if we tllink reaibnably, we moft
mean fhewing our Gratiiude to hitn^ by iitAtatiiyg^tbis
Goodnefft of his, as far as we are abler, And endeavour-
ing to make feme Good or other the Aim t^ all onr
Undertaking^. .For i^ mmfiy Gl^rf t)V tfiwArtii^ Ae
Purfuit of a ^Me Mari^ how vaftfy kffproper m^& k he
to ihake m Oferiag of h t^ m Att^wtie Deit)r« '
CAB.
MSQP's FABLES. 151
FAB. LXXXVII. lie Fox andtbt Bramblr.
A fox, hafd f r«ff d by tBc Hounds, was gfiting
■^* <n«T • Hedge, but I«re hij Foo< upon a Bramble
which »r«w jutTin the Micfft of it ; upon vfhich he
reproacbcd the Bramble ftu hiiinhorpiub'eCTuetty,
ill ufing a SirtngcT, who had fled ta him for Pro-
icAioft, after fiich a barbiirous Manner. Yes, faye
the t>rambt>f ywi.iniendcii to have mads mc ferve
yourTurr, I knew 1 but cake this Piece of Advice
with, you tor the future. Never lay hold of a Bramble
again, as you tender your fwecc Perfon j fuT laying
hold, i^s a Privilege that belongs to us Brambles, and
we do not care to let it go out of the Family.
Tht APPLICATION.
Impertinent People, who are mall apt to take Liber-
ties with othert, are generally the moft fjrpriaed, if the/
are retorted upon with any Severity ; tho' they, of ail
People, have the leaft Reafon to expeA Quarter. It can
■ot nut be pleafant to indifferent Spedtatori, when thejr
fee one of this Fraternity meet with his Match, and
beaieji at hi* own Weapons. He that it known to be aa
iil Man, may be hurt un.pitied ;. bis Misfortanea are
H 4. ■ conferred
152 j€ SOP'S FABLES.
t.oj]ferTed upon him to the Satisfadlion of bim'that occa-.
linns ihem ; and we do not look upon him ai an Objeft
ef Pity, but an Example of Jullicc. This ^able has an
h'.ye to a Moial which has been already drawn from fome
oihers; and adiiOs us to be cautious whom ue lay hold/
en, oriiWdie wirb, in loo familiar a Way : For,"' .thofe
who can lay hold again, and perhaps are better quali-
fitd for it iLan curfclves, are carefuUy to be avoided.
FAB. LXXXVIIT. Tie Cat a>iJ ihe Mice.
A Certain Houfe was much infefled with Mice;
■**■ but at laft they got a Cat, who catched and
eat every Day fome of them. 'The Mi.-e, finding
their Numbers grow thin, confulted what was belt
to bedqnc for the Piefervation of the Public, from
the Jaws of the devouring Cat. They debated,
atid came lo this Refolutiort, That no one Ihould
go down below the upper Shelf. The Cat, ob-
ferving the Mice no longer came down, as ufual,
hungry, and difappointed of her Prey, had Recourfe
to this Stratagem ; fhe hung by her hinder Legs on
a Peg which ftuck in the Wall, and made as if file
had been 'dead, hoping by this Lure to intice the
■ Mice
jESOP'% fables. »53
Mice to come down. She -had not bwn In thii
Pofture long, before a cunning old Moufe peeped
over, the Edge of ihe bhelf, and fpoke thus: Aha,,
my good Friend, are you there? there may you-
be ! i would not trull myielf with you, though youv
Skin were JlufFed with Straw.
Tht APPLICATION.
Prudent Folks never truft thofe a fecond Time, who-
have de:eiveij ihem once. And, indeed, we cannot
well be too cautious in following ifiif Rule; for, npon
.£xAiiiination, *e ihail find. That molt of the Misfor- ,
tunes which bets! us, proceed from our too great Cre-
dulity. They that know how (o fiifpefl, without es-
pofing or huitiag themfelves, till Honeliy cornea lo- ba:
more in Falhion, can never fufpeft too much.
FAB. LXXXIX.
The Fox and the Countryman.
A FOX, being haid hunted, and having- run »
*■*■ long-Chafe, was quite lired^j at laft he fpied a
Country Fellow in a Wood, towhom he applied
1 Hs fo-
154 ^SOP'i FABLES.
fat Refuge^ imreating that be wouM give him
Leave to hide himfelf in his Cottage, till the Hounds
were gone by. The Man confcntcd, and the Fox
went and covered hinnfelf up clofe in a Cofner of
tbc Hovel. Prefcntly rhe Hunters came upi and
inquired of the Man, if he had fcen the Fox. No,
fays he, I have not feen him indeed : But all the
while he pointed with his Finger to the Place where
the Fox was- hid* However, the Hunters did not
undtriland him, but called off their* Hounds, and
went another Way, Soon after, the Fox, creeping
out of his Hole, wa^ going to fneak off ^ when the
Man, calling after him, aiked him, if that was his
Manners^ to go away without thanking his Bene^
t^&OTj to whofe Fidelity he owed his Life. -R/y-
marJj who had peeped all the while, an<f fecn what
pa£*edy anfwered, I know what Obligations I have
to you well eneugh || and I afiure you, if your
Afirons had but been agreeable to your Words, I
ftould have endeavoured, however incapable of it,
to inrve returned you fuitable Thanks*
Tlr A P P L I C A T I O N.
Sincerity is a moft beautifal Virtue ; but there are
feme, whcfe Natures are fo poof fpirked and'cowardly,
tkfit tl^ey are not capable of exerting it. Indeed, un.
le& a Man be (Icady and ccnffanrt in all his Anions, lie
i^ill hardly deferve the Name of fincere. An opea
Fneaiy, thoogh more violent and terrible, is «ot^ how-
ever, fo odious and dctcftable as a falfe Fricrtd/ 'To pre-
tend te. ketf aViother's Counfet^ and appear in their In*
tere^,. while underhand we are giving Intelligence to
their £nemies, is treacherous^ knaviih, and hafe. There
are U me People in the World very dextfoiis at this Kind
of Pefamat on ; and can, while they feem mod vehement
in the Commendation or Defence of a Friend,^ throw
#ut a Hint whith /hall ilab their Repurfati<)il deeper
than the moft malicious Weapon, brandi/hed at them -
iu a public Manaer, could have been capable of doing,
J A EU
^SOP'-i FABLES. 155
FAB. XC. J Man Hi by a Dog.
A M A N, who had been fadly lorn by a Dog, was
■**■ ad«iled by fome old Woiiian» as a Cure, to dip
9 Pisc= of Hrirad iit the Wound, niiJ give it the Cur
that bit him. He did fo-i and A-'.fip happening to.
pafs by juft at the fdipc Time, aO^ed him, what he
meant by it; the Man informed him; Why theB^
fays MpPi do it as privdtcly as you can, I befeeclx
you ; for if the reft of the U<igs of the Town were
to fee you, we ihould all be eat up alive b); (hem.
The APPLICATION.
Nothing contributw fo much to the IncreaTe cf
Itozuery, as when the Undertakings pfa Rogue are, at -
lended with Succefs. If it were not for Fear of I'unilh-
mcnt, a great, Pert of Mankind, who now mshe a Shift
'to keep themfeKes honell, would appear great Villain? :
But if Criminals, inftead of meeiing with Punifljrnents^
were, by having been Tuch, (o attain HiMiour and Prefer-
ment, oi^r natural Inclination; loMifclilef woitlil be \atr
pioved, iiud tve llioulu be wicked out of buiu],jtiun-
H & f A B.
is6 ^SOP'& FABLES.
FAB. XCI. Fortune atid the Boy.
' A ^^y "'^^ deeping by tb»Side of a Well. , For-
^^ tune Taw him, and came and waked him:
^^ying) Prythec, good Child, do not lie llc-eping
here; lor if you Ibould fall in, nobody would ini'-
pute it to you, but lay all tbe Blame upon m«
Fortune.
The APPLICATION.
Pcor'Fortane has a great deal thrown upon her in-
deed; and oftenlimea very unjuftly too. Thofe of our
Afiions which are attended wtih Succefs, though often
o*ing to fome Accident or other, we afcribe, without
any Scruple, to forae particular Merit or good Quality
in ourfelves; but when any of our Doings mifcarry,
though probably through our own Infufficiency or Ne-
g'eft, all the ill Conleqoence is impnied to Fortune,
and we acquit ourfelves of hating contributed any
'i'hing cowards it. The fillieft Part of each Sex, when
ihey difpofe of themfelvcs indifcrcetly, or difadrai^
1 Ugeoufly
j^SOP'a FABLES. 157
tageoufly in Marriage, and have nothing elfe to fay fa
Excufe, cry oat, O there is a Fate in every Thing, and
there is no refilling Fate, &c. But theie People (hould
take Notice, that, as they ^haye a very good Proverb
on their $ide, in Relation to Fortune already, it is
highly anreafonable in them to claim more than their
Share, and to afcribe the ill Succeis of their own foolifii
Negpciationsy to the Management of Fortune. Pro-
bably,, the firft Occafion of confining the Smiles of For-
tune t6 Feople of this Stamp moce particularly, might
ariie from the ImprobabiJ^ity of their fucceeding by any
Art c»* right Application of their own. And, therefore,
by an oppofite Rule, the Wife and Induftrioas only
fhould be intitled to ill Luck, and have it in their Power
to charge 'Fortune with every Lois and Crofs which be-
fals them ; for if, ^ when they have concq^ted their
Meafures judicioufly, and been vigilant and a£live in
their Bufinefs, Matters refufe iVill to anfwer Expedi-
tion, they nwft be allowed to hare very hard Fortune *
But Fools have not the lead Right tp take hold of this
Handle.
F A B.
»58 jESOP'i FABLES.
, F A B. XCir. ne Mule.
A Mule, which was well fed, and worked little,
^*- grew fat and wanton, and ftiiked about very
notably. And why (hould not 1 run as well as the
^eft of them ? fays he;. It is well known, I had ar
Horfe to my Father, arid a very good Kacer he vn^.
So'on after this, his Mader took him out, and being
upon urgent Bufincfe, whipped and fpurred the
Mule, to m-<ilce hirji put forward; who beginning
to lire upon t4ie Road, changed his Note, an^ faid
to himfelf. Ah ! where is the Horfe's Blood you
boailed of but nowi I am forty to fay it. Friend,
but indeed your wcuthy Sire wat an Afs, and nut
a Horfe.
t:^/ APPLICATION.
However high ibeir Blood may beat, one may ventore
to afHrm (hofe to be but Mongrels, and AJlss in Rea-
lity, who make a Buftleaboiit their Genealogy. If foroc
in the World Iboiild be vain enough to think they can
■ 9 derive
jESO P'i FABLES. iS9
ittin their Ptfdigf«t from one of the old Rcmaa Fimi.
iies. Md being otherwife deftimie of Merit, wouJd f^in.
draw feme from thence ; it might not be improper upon
fuch an Occafion to put them in Mind, [hat Romalui,
the firft Founder of that People, was bafe-born, and ilie
Body of hii Subjeft! made up of Outlai^s, Murderer!*
and Felons, the Scum and Off-fcouriog of the neigh.
touring Nations, and that they propagated their Ue-
fccndant) hj Rjpes. A* a man traly great, ftincj fof-
Sciently bright of hitnfelf, witioit wanting to be em.
bUaoned by a fpleadid Anceltrjf ; -fo they, whofe Live*
■re odipfed by Foulnefs or Obftjrity, ioftead of Ihewin^
to an Advamage, look but the daiker for being plicei
m the fame Line with their illuilrioui ForefatKera.
FAB. XCIIl The F6^ and the A^f.
ONCE upon a Time, the Beafts vcre i<. void rf
Reafon as to cJmfe an Ape for their Kir>g. He
»iad danced, and diverted them with playmg antic
Tricks, and truly nothing would ferve, but they
tnuft anoint him cl»ir bovcreign, Accordingly
ctowitcd M «», a»<J irffeat)* to iQoIt «ry wife and
; , pohuc.
i6o ^SOP's FABLES.
politic. But the Fox, vexed at his Heart to fee his
F>1 low-Brutes a<Sl fo fooliftly, was refolved the
firft Opportunity, to convince them of their forry
Choice, and punith their Jackanapes of a King for
his Prefumption. Soon after, fpying a Triip in a
Ditch, which was baited with a Piece of Flefli, he
went and informed the Ape, of it, as a Treafure,
which, being found upon the Wallc, belonged to
his Majefty only. The Ape, 4i€aming nothing of
the Matter, vwtnt very .briflc'y to take Pofleflion j
but had no fooner iaid 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 re-
venged of him : At all which Reynard laughed
heartily ; and going ofF, added,* with a Sneer, Tpu
a ^iag^ and not uruferfiand Tfftf !r
. 7i/ A P P L I C A T ION.
A weak Man Ihotild not afpire lobe a iLing; for if
Be wtft, in the £|ld» it would prove as inconvenient to
hiitifelf^ as difadvantageoiis to the Public. To be qua^
lified for fuch an Office, an Office of the lafl Importance .
to Mankind, the Perfon Ihouhf be of dillingaiihed Pru-
deace> and moil anblemifhed Integrity 4 too honed to
im^fe upon others^ and too penetrating to be impofedL
npoii ; thoroughly acquainted with the Laws and Gebias
of the Realm he is to govern ; brave> but not pailionate i
good-natured, but not foft; afpiring ^t juft Eiisem ;
defpifin^ vain Glory ; without Supertlitipa ; without
Hypocnfy. When Thrones have b^en filled by People
of a different Turn- from this, Htftories (hew what a
wretched Figure they always made ; what Tools they
were to pacticalar Peribns, and what Plagues to their
Sabje£ls in general. They who ftudied their Palfions and
entered- into their Foibles, led theai by the Nofe as they
pkafed ; and took them off from the^G^ardiaofhip of the
F ublic, by ibme paltry Amufemeat, that themfelyes might
have the better OppQii^unity tf^ rifle and ploiider it.
F A a
^ so P'% F AB LES. i6i
; F A B. XCI V". ^he Mole and her Dam. '
'T'HE young Mole fnuffed up her Nofe, and told
-*-. ker Dam, fhe fmelt an odd Kind of a Smell.
By and by, O flraoge 1 fays (he, what a Noife (here
is in niy Ears, as if ten Thoufand Paper-Mills Ivere
going.^;^ little after (hewas afit again. Look, look,
what IS that 1 fee yoijder? it- is juft like the Flame
of a fiery Furnace. To whom the Dam replied.
Pry thee. Child, hold your idle TOngue ; and if you
would have us allow you any.Senfe at all, do not
affefi to Ciew inore than Nature has given you.
rA/ A P P L I C A T I O N.
Tt is wonderful that Affectation, that odiois Qj^ality,
/houM have b^n alwayi fo common and epidemical f
fince it is not more difagreeable co others, than hurtful
to the Perfoo that wears ii. By Affeflatian, we aim at
being thought to poffefs foirie Accomplifhment which we
have not, or at !hewing what we have,' in a conceited
oftentatioifs Manner. Now this we may be affured of,
thafamong difceming People at leil\, whin we endea-
' voat
*6a ^SOP's FABLES.
Tour at any Thing of chii Kind, infiead of Aicceedlng
in the Aitetnpt, we detrafl iiQni fomc real PoJTeflion,
aad make Quaiicies that would othertvile pals welt
enough, appear naufeom and fuirome. Is it not ridi-
culctas IS &c zn. oU battered Jleau. pat liimfc:f to pain,
that he Braf appear to trt^ad firm, and walk Drong and '
upright f A Man, defeftnre in hi* Eyes, ran agaiall a
Pofl, ralber tl»an confefs be wasci a Guide ^ And one
tiial i* rfeaf iniftakJBg evyrj Tiu«gyoii (ay, ruhft than
yOB flfould tufpeA hr caaaM hear ! Yet perhaps rhtfe
Thiags are don* exeiy Day ; SJid iBuEiCcd. to fiinie clhcT
i\fiiE<:tauoD, b; (h« vtr; People iImi iMgh at iben.
F A B. XCV. Tig Fox aMd the Boar.
THE Boar flood whetting his Tofts againft ai»
dd Tree. Tha Fox, who happened to come
by at the fame Time, afked hitn why he made thofe
martial Preparations of whetting his Teeth, fince
there was no Enemy near, that he could perceive ?
■ Thai may be» Maficr ReynarJ, fays (he Boar; but
we fhould fcour up out Arms while we have Lei-
sure, you know ; for, in Tune of Dan^ri we Ihalt
hvK fsmething clfc to do. ' Tht
JESOP'% FABLES. 15^
ne APPLICATION.
He that is not idle when he is at LeiAire, may play
with his Boiineij. A d if c w t MaA ih^ttld have a Re-
ier^e of every Thing that U^ ne^tSsixy be/«re-haad ; that
wheo the Ttsie comes for him to make Ufc of ihcm,
he may not ht is z Hurry and a ConfitfioA. A wife
Getierjil has not his Mes to dirciplinty or his Atanu-
nition tb profifde, when the Tramfet fosndi fo AtMs ;
but /et» apaiv his Tinier of Eteroife for oae, aacfxhis
Ma|^azif»es«fer she ocher^ in the cftltti SearfoH of Peace,
Wtf h^pe ta fii^ to itrood eld Age: Shorald we not
theft ]ay »j» ft ScofV «f (font^vnlertcief tgmuA, that Time,
when w« W2tU be aioft in want of them, and leaft able '
to fttcuT€ them? W« i»tift iliei 1127^ ftevcr ftan; we
inui« Afv tWe «l^ Cam^ Mectfary Thiagi ferss to
tra«463t b^/bft wt 4rf«f« | at U^f iam€ TnB<^ or i»ther
for tfl lii b<:(^0«»el)« wfckk a fiNtdieti D^tioke may ore-
venc nil fnm iol(t^ I Safe there if. And if fa, how
ine)ic«&ble ftall we be, if «re defo the Exec et Ion of
it, till the Alarm come upon U9, / ^/V w^/ thtnk 0/ it^
li an txprtSion un^rorthy a wife Man's Moath ; and
wa« <m)f wteiMUd far tki Ufe ef Foelt.
FA B,
i64 ^ SO P's FABLES.
F A B. .XCVI. '
.Tbs,Oh\ Woman and the Empty Cafk.
AN Old Woman faw an empty Calk lyings from
which there had been lafely drawn a Piece of
choice racy Palm Sack ; tMe Spirit of which yet
hung about the Vefltl, and t.he very I-ce yielded 2
grateful cordial Scent. She applitd her Nofe to
the Bung-hole, and, fnuffina; very heartily for fome
Time, at laft, broke out into this Excl.^matlon ;
O! the Jelicious Smell ; how good, how charming
good moft you have bi*en once, when your very
I^regs are fo agreeable and rtfreihing .'
The APPLICATION.
Bhadrtis was an old Man when he wrote his Fabfcs.
and this he applies to himfelf; intimating, what we
ought 10 judge of fiis Youth, when his Old Age was
capable of fuch Produfllons. But fure this is a Piece of
Vaai:y ttiat dimiDilliet Ib'meihing of the good Savour of
jESOP'& fables, 165
an agreeable old Man ; and it liad been handfomer to
have left us to make the Application for him. It is, at
once» a pleaixng. and melanciioly Idea, wbich is given
us by the view of an old Man, or Woman, whofe Con*
verfation is reliftiing and agreeable. We cannot forbear
Teprefenting to ourfelves, how inexpre/Sbly . charming
chbfe mnfl have b^en ijj the Flower of Youth, whpie
Decay is capable of yielding us fo much pleafufe..- Nor,
at the fame Time can we help repining, that this Foon-
tain of Delight is now almoft dried up, and going to
forfake us; and that „the Seafon in which it flovyea in
the greateil Abundance, was {o long before we w^re
acquainted .with the World. It is no diificult Matter
to 'form a juil Notion of what the Prime of any one'a
Life was, from the Spirit and Flavour which remain
ov^n in thelafl Dregs. Old Age, merely as fuch, can
never render z Per Jon either contemptible or difagree-.
ajbte in the £ye of a reafonable Man ; But fuch as we
find People at that Time of Life, much the fame they
certainly were, i^ thofe which they call their better
X)ays. As they that can make themfelves agreeable,
notwithftanding the Difadvantage of Old Age, mull
have been highly entertaining in the Vigour of Youth |
£0, whenever we meet with one in Years, whofe Hu«
monr is mpleafaot, and Manners burdenfome, we may
take it for graat^, that, even la the Prime of Youth,
fuch an one was troublefome, impertiQcnt, and uufo-
ciable.
F A B.
i6S jSSOP't FAB-LES.
FAB. XCVII. The Fowler and the Lark.
A I
Fowler fet Snares to catch Lacks in itieopea
' Fieid. A Lvk w^s cuiglit} and finding her—
fulf iiuan^lrd, could not forbt^ismentlng her hard
Fate, Ah ! woe is mcj fays Am, vrhat CrimeJiave
I committed ? I hfiVe cak6n neithef Silver nor <m>1<1^
mot any Thrng of Vdlue; but maft'die for' only
Rtttng a pflOT Grain of Wheat.
7*/ APPLICATION.
The irregular Adminiftration of JuKicein th€ World,
is indeed a very melanchol}' Subjefl to think of. A
poor Ftllow (hall be hanged for Healing a Sheep, per-
haps to keep his Family from ftarvingj *hiIeoi>e, who
is already great and opuleni, (hall, for that very Rea~
Ibn, think himfelf privilirgcd to commit almoft any
Jinornnties. Bui it is i\i:itKzTy that a Shew and Form
of Jullice (houtd be kept up; otlier(vife, were People
to be ever fo great, and fo foccefsful Rogues, they would
not be able lo iteep PoireQion of, and enjoy their Plun- ■
der. One of our Poets, in his Deii;riptJon of a Court
of Juftice, calls it a Place,
WhtTf
^SOPU fables. tfiy
Whirl link Vitlahi mufi Jtdmil to Fait,
Tbtu grtai OMS may tnjty li>t Ifarld in Start.
■What a fad Thing h h to-yeljeft (and the more hi,
'tKCaute not lo be remedied) that A Mtia may rob the
Public o( Millions, and tfcs^e-ax Uft ; when he thn b
taken picking a Pocket «f five ShiUtng), unltfs iic
luiovt tiov xa m»ke airiead, « furc to^'wingfor it.
FAB. XCWII.
The Owl and the Gmlhapper.
A N Owl ^at keeping in a Tkk* ftut la GrdlhopT -
'^*' prr whowM finging beneath^ would irat lat hav
be quiet, abufing her with very indeecnt and uiv-
.Civil 'Language; tellifig her ftie was a fciiitfalou*
Pcrfou, who pied a-nights to get tier Living, arrj
thut herfelf up all D.iy in a iiollow Tree. 'Thfc
Owl defircd her to huld her Tongue anci be ^uiet; ,
No(withflanding 'which, .Ihe was the moreimpcrti-
n?nt. She begged of her a fecond Time toie^vc
off,; but all V3 no Puipofe. The Owl, .vwtad ,»t
itwHeact^to find that all rflicifaiiJ waxier not^iq^
cafl abDutitomvei^ihar Ijy ^ciaitagem. 1Wvll, fii^ -
JIk-, {incc one mult b&kept awake, it is % Pleasure,
however.
i69 jE SOP'S FABLES. -
however, to be kept awake by fo agreeable a Voice ;
which, I muft confefs, is no ways inferior to the
fineft Harp. And, now I think of it, I have aBot«
tie of excellent Nedar, which my Miftrefs Pallai
gave me; if you have a Mind, I will give you a
Dram to whet your Whiftle. The Grafliopper^
ready to die with Thirft, and, at the fame Time,
pleafed to be fo complimented upon Account of her
Voice, fkippcd up*to the Place very briflcly ; when
the Owl, advancing to meet her, feized, and, with-
out much Delay, made her a Sacrifice to her Re-
venge J fecuring to herfelf, by the Death of her
Enemy, a Poffcffibn of that Quiet, which, during
her Lifetime, (he could not enjoy.
The A PPL I C A T I O N.
Hamanity, or what we underftarfd by common Civi-
lity^ is nof more aneceifiry Duty^ than it iseafy to prac-
(ife. The Man that U guil(y of Ill-Manners, if he h>s
been bred to know what is meant by Manners,- muft do
Violence to'himfelf, as well as to the Perfon he pfFends ;
and cannot be inhuman to others^ without being crael
to his own Nature. It has been obferved, in the Ap-
plication to the Forty- feveoth Fable, that People of
captions Tempers being generally in the wrong, in tak-
ing Things in, which were never fo intended, are likely
to be but the more perfecuted, in order to be laughed
oat of their Folly; and that, not unjuflly. But we
muft take care to diftinguiih ; and, when any Thing
troly impertinent and troublefome has been faid or done
to another, not to repeat it becaufe he takes it ill, but
in«ediately to defift from it ; efpecially when he is fo
moderate, as to make it his Rcqueft two or three Times,
before he proceeds openly to take his Coarfe, and do
himfelf Jaftice. This Point ihould be well confidered ;
for many Quarrels of very ill Confequence, have been
occafioned by a raft nnthinking Periiftence in the im-
pertiQeat Humour before-mentioned. Some young
People are fond of ihewing their Wit and Intrepidity*
and
^ soy's FABLES. 169
and therefore take fuch Occalioni to do it; AnJ when
a Friend is peevljli, (as one may h»ve a private Caulefor
being fb) tbey will not leave, tiil liiey have rallied ttiin.
out of i-t ; no, though he intreats them ever To gravely,
and earneftly. Whereas in Truth, we have no Right to
-be impertinent wiihonc anorhi^r to Extremity ; and tho'
there is no Law to puni(h fuch IcciviHtiei a^ I have
been fpeaking of, ihey will fcarce fail of meeting with
a deferved and jull Chadifeoisnt, foine Way or other,
FAB. XCJX. . Tbe One-eyed Doe. .
A Doe, that had but one Eye, ufcd to graze near
■^*- the Sea -, and that flie might be the more fLCure
frrni Harm, fhe kept her blind Side towards the
Water, ftom whence Ihe had no Apprehenfion of
Danger, and with the other furveyed the Country' as
ihe fed. By this Vigilance and Precaution (lie thr.nght
berfelf in the uimolt Secutiiy ; when a fly Kellow,
with two or three of his Companions, who had been-
poachtny after her fcvetal Djys to no Purpofj, at
iaft took a Boat, -and fetching a Compafs upon the
Sea, came gtiitly down upimher, and ihot her. 'i"he
Doc, in the Agonies- of Death, brcatbt-d out thi*
1 .JoU(u!
170^ JESOP's FAB L E S,
doleful Complaint : O hard Fate! that IJhould re-
ceive my Deith's Wound from <hat Side whence I
expected no ill ; .and be fafe in that Part where I
looked for tlie moft Danger*
y^r APPLICATION,
Life is fo full of Accidents and Uncej-taintiet, that,
with all the Precaution we iiie, we can never be faid ts
be eniirely free from Danger. And tho' there is but one
Way for us to come into the World, the PaiTages. to let
ns oat of it are innumerable. So that we may guatd
ourfelves againft the mollviljble and threatenuig llltr as
mifchaswe pleafe, but fliaU flill leave an unguarded
Side to a thoufand latent Mifchiefs, which tie in Ambulh
roundabout us. 'Ihe Moral, therefore, which fuch a
Befleftion fuggells to us, is to be neither too fecure.
nor too folicitous about the Safety of our Perfons ; as it
is impofiible/or us to be always out of Danger, fo would
it be unreafonable and unmanly to be always in Fear of
that which it is not in our Powcj- to prevent.
•FAB. C. 2"// River Filh aad theStaFi(ti.
THk VVaiirs of a River being m ghtdy fwdleJ
by a great Flood, the Stream ran down with a
tiolcBt Cuirefll» and by its rapid Forte carried a
hug«
^ SOP'S FABLES. 171
hiigQ Barbel along with it into the Sea. This
Freih- water Spzifi was no ifooner come into a nev/
Climate, but he began to give himfelf Airs, to talk
big, and look with Contempt upon the Inhabitants
of the Place. He boailed, that he was of a better
Country and Family than any among them, for
which Reafon they ought to give Place to him, and
pay him Refpeft accordingly. A fine large Mul- >
]@t, that happened to fwim near him, and heard his
infolent Language, bid \^im hold his'filly Tongue i^
for, if they mould be taken by Filbermen, and car-
ried to Market, he would foon be convinced who
ought to have the Preference : We, fays he, fliould
be bought up, at any Price, for Tables of the firft
Quality, and you fold to the Poor for little or
nothing.
m APPLICATION.
It proceed^ from a Want either of Senfc or Brcedlng»
or both, when ForeigBers fpeak flightlyof the Gountry
they happen to be in, and cry up their own. It is in-
deed natural to have an Affe^lion for one*s own native
Place; nor can we, perhaps, in oar Mind, help prefer-
jng it before any other: But it is certainiy both im-
prudent and unmannerly, to exprefs this in another
Country, to ^*eople whole Opinions it muft needs con-
tx-ididt, by the fame Rule that it plcafesour own. But,
however, granting that there is a certain Difference be-
tween Countries, fo a« to make one greatly preferable,
^ in the Generality of Opinions, to another, yet what has
this to do with tlyj Merit of particular Perfons ? Or why
ihould any one value himfelf upon an Advantage over
others, which is purely owing to Accident? It muft be
from fome ufeful or agreeable Talent in ourfelves, that
we are to merit the Eileem of Mankind ; and if we. (l^ine
. ift a Superior Degree of Virt^je or Wifdom, whatever
our native Air happened to be, virtuous and wife Men.»
of e\'ery Nation under Heaven, will pay us t8e Regard "^
and the Adcnowledc;ments we deferve.
^ . la FAB.
J7a" ^SOP'^ FABLES.
FAB. CI. iEfop at Play.
A N Athenian one Day, found Mfip at Phy with
•'*■ a Company of little Boy% atrheir childilh Di-
verfions, and begin to jeer and laugh at him for it.
The old Fellow, whn wjs too much a Wag himfelf,
to fuftcT others ro ridicule him, took a Bow, un-
ftrunj, and laid it upon the Ground. Then calling
the Cfinrorifius Jlh^nian, Now, Philofopher, fays he,
expound [he Riddle if you can, and tell us what the
unftrained Bow implies. The Man, after racking
his Brains, and fcraichirg his Pate about it a confi-
derable Time, to no Purpofe, at laft gave it up, and
declared he knew not what to make of it. Why,
fays J^/op, laughing, if you keep a Bow always bent
it will break prefenl^y ; but, if you let it go Aack,
it will be the fitter for Ufe when ybu want it,
Tht APPLICATION.
The Mind of Man is like a Bow in this Ref|>fft ; for
if it be kept always inient uponBiiiineis, it will either
brexk, and be gcod for nothing, or lole that Spring and
■tneigy, which is required in oiie wlio ivouM *qiiii him-'
felf iviih'Credit. Hut Sports and Uiverlious loaih and
ilackeQ
^SO P's FAB LES. 173,
ftXct^D it, and keep tt in a Comli-ion to be exeited ta
ihe bett Advancage upon Occalibn. Jt proceeds either
from Pride, Ill-nature, or llvfocrif/, when i'cupL-cen-
Uiie and arc oftcnded at the Libertie; nhich f J;ci< ule
in thus relaxing their Mirds. Sloth and Idieit-li, b/.
whith we negleft tlic I'rorecution of our ntceiT.ry Af-
fairs, muft be ecnd.-iiined by all Means ; -but ;hol^ svho
know how to di pat h the f-ffpei" Gufiners of Lift- ivcll
and fedfonably enough, nctii h- uniie/ no Apprctien-
6oas of being furprifccl at tlicir Diverfions, if thry have
nothing d'iboncrt in them. As thefe Amufem/nts ought
to be allowed, becaufe they aie proper, fo it i:: no great
Matter how they are followed ; wo raay, if we iikc it,
as well play with Childreri, as Men ; and rather, if we
find (hey can diwert us betiei-, which is not very feldom
(he Cafe: Softie M'tyl a^d WDmen arc ofclefs and un-
Iraftabie in ev;ry Circumltanee of Life ; and fame Chil-
(Jrcn lb cfigaging and entertaining, with sn ngrecab'e
»ndel;gned Mrxture of__lnnocen<e and Cunning, that
the Company nf the latter is, many Times, the more-
preferable and diverting. ■
FAB. CII. Tbe Jack-Daw and the Pigeons.
A Jack-Daw, obferving that the Pigeons in a ccr-
•^*' tain Dove-Cotc lived well, and wanted for no-,
I 3 - thing
174 JESOP's fables.
thing, white-waihed his Feathers^ and endeavouring
to look as much like a Dove as he could, went and
lived among them. The Pigeons, not diffinguifii*
ing him as long a« he kept fi lent, forbore to giv«
iim any Difturbance, Bat at laft he forgot hb
Chara6^er, and began to chatter ; by which the Pi-
geons difcoverirrg what he was, flew upon him, and
beat him away from the Meat, (o that he was
obliged to fly back to the Jack-Daws again. They^ •
not knowing him in his difcoloured Feathers, drove
him away I ike wife ; So that he who had endeavoured
to be more than he had a Right co^ was not permU'*
ted to be any Thing at all.
Th^ APPLICATION.
The pretending to be of Priociples which we are not^
•iihcr out of Fear, or any Profpcft of Advantage, is a
\<fiy bafe, vile Thing ; and Whoever is guilty of it, de^
ftrves to meet with ill Treatment from all Sorts and
Condicions of Men. But the befl of it is, there is. na
Fear of fuch Counterfeits' impofing upon the Worlcf
]ong, iti a Dtfguifc fo contrary to their own Nat n re :
Let themlbut open jtheir Mouths, and, like the Daw m
the Fable, they immediately proclaim their'Kind. If
they fliould deceive for a while, by appearing in an un-
queftioiinble Mace, or hanging out falfc Colours, yet,
if touched upon the light String, they would be difco-^
yered in ah Jnftant: For, when People are afting a
wrong Fart, their very Voice betrays them 5 they either
cannot adl jtheir Part fufficiently, or they over aft it :
And, which ever is the Cafe, a Man of Difcretion and
fionour will be fure to diflioguiih^ and to difcounte*
nance iach pitiful Impo^ors.
F A B.
^ SOP'S FABLES.^ 175
Fab. cm. ne Sow a«d tbe ^luh.
A Sow and a Bitch happening toirCct, a Debato
^^ arofe betwixt them, concerning their Fruitfui-
nefs. The Bitch inhfted upon it, that {he brought
more at a Litter, and oftener, than any other Four-
iegged Creature. Ay, fays the Sow, you do indeed,
but you are always in Co much Hafte about tr, thac
you bring your Puppies into the World blind.
Ti>e AP Pt I Q AT I ON.
Tbt mere Hafif, tbt •aitr/r Sftti/, is a moft fxceOent
Proverb, and worthy to be worn upon fome confpicuoiu
i*Srt of our Drefi or Equipage, that it may give us a
proper Check, when ive go about any Thing of Import.
an:e ; which otherwifc wc might he apt 10 purfue with
too moeh Horry and Precipiiaiion. It is no Wonder
our Produflions Ihould come into the World blind, or
lame, or otherwifedefcftivc, when by unnatural Method*
we accelerate their fiirlh, and rcfufe to let them gn [heir
£jll Time. And if a. haity Publication be iiich a Crime^
I 4- wha&
176 ^SOP's FABLES.
what muft ic be to brag, and make Profellion of it m
Preface and Dedications, as ihe Praftice of feme is?
Sure fucb Writers fancy the Wor;d will admire their
Pjrts when tliey endeavour tlius to convince them how
nuich ihev have .vrote, and ho" liltle 'lime and Pains
lh;y l;ave beftowcd upuH It. Bji, however, the Ad-
vertifememi and Hints they give us of ihis Kind, may
be fo fdr uiefiil, as to induce us to take ihein at their
Words, and fpare oupfelvei the Trouble of perufing a
'I rcatife, ivh ch tliey aflure us beforehand is incoriett
«rid f^uttv, thfr:ugh the Idlenefs, Impatience, or wilful
Negleft of the Autliof.
F A B. CIV. ^he Sparrow and ike Hare.
moft woful [ylantier. A Spariow, that fat
upon aTrce juft by, and faw it, could not forbear
being imfeafonably witty, but called out, and f aid
to the Hare: So ho ! what, fit there and be killed !
Pr'ythee, up and away; I dare fay, if you would
but try, i'o fwift a Creature as you ate, would eafii/
efcape from the Eagle. As he was going on with
his
M^OP*s FAffLES. 177
his cruel Raillery, down came a Hawk, and fnapped
him up; and nocwi hdanding his vain Cries and
Lamentations, fell a devouring of him in an In*
ftant. The Hare, who was juft expiring, yet re-
(feived Comfort from this Accident, even in the
Agonies of Death; and addfefling.*her laft Words
to the Sparrow, faid. You, who juft now infultcd
my Misfortune with fo much Security, as you
tho>ught, may pleafe to fhew us bow well you c%a^
bear the like, now it has befallen you.
Tbe APPLICATION.
Nothing is more impertinent than for People to be*
giving -their Opinion and Advice, in Cafes, in which,,
were they to be their own, themfeives would be as much.-
at a Lofs what to do. But fo great an Itch have moft
Men to be Direftors in the Affiiirs of others, cither to-
ihew the Superiority < f their Underftanding, or their
own Security and Exemption from the Ills they would
kave removed, that they forwardly and. conceitedly ob*
trude their Counfel, even at the Hazard of their owa
Safety and Reputation^. There have been Inftances of'
thofe, who either officioufl/, or for the Jeft's Sake, have
^ent much of their Time in reading Leduresof CEco-
nomy to the reft of the World ; when, at the fame Time,,
their own ill Hufbandry has been fuch, that they were
forced to quit their Dvvellings, and take Lodgings ; while
their Goods were fold to mal&e a Compofition for the
Debts they owed to petty Trad«fmen. Without giving
more Examples of this Kind, of which every one may
£urni(h himfelf with enough from his own Obfervation,\
we cannot but conclude, that none are greater Objeds.
of Ridicule, than they who thus merrily a/rum,e a Cha-
racter, which at the f^me Time,- by fonie Incidents o£
their Life, they convince us of. their being fo unfit for.
I i J A
17$ ^SOP's FABLES.
FAB. CV. Cfcfar md theSUve,
A S Tiko'itis Ctt/ar w/is upon a Progress to ,Mj//«
■f*- once, he put in at a Houfe he had upon the
Mountain ^i/^nai; which was built there bv Lr.nt-
bis, and cnmmandcd a near Vifw rf^he Ttifean Sea,
hiving a dillain Profptfl ever of that of Sialy. Her-,-
i'! he was walking in the Gardens and WilderncflVs
of a moft delightful Vcidure, one nf his domefiie
Slavef, which belonged to that Houfc, putting hin>-
fei/iiitpa n-.oft niert Pofture andDrefs, "appeared in
one iif the Walks where. the Emperor happened to
be, fprinkling the Groui'd with a VVatciing-Pof,
in o'der t.. lay the Dui};; and this he did fy offici-
ouflv, that he was taken Notice of^ andevcn laughed
lit ; for he tan through private Allies and Turnings,
f,oni one Walk to another; fo that, wherever the
lirptr.ir went, he- flil! foi>nd-this Fellow mighty
bu/y with his Waeering-Por. But at laft, his Oe-
I'^gri being difcovereJ, which wjs, That he farcied'
i.afar would be fo touched with this Diligence of
tii:-, as to make him fr(c ; (Pait of which Ceremony
c».tW«»1 in elving the Slave a gcmie Stroke on one
-■ " ■' Side
JB:S-OP*s fables* r79E
Side of his Face) his Imperial Majefty, being dif-
pofed to be merry, called' him to him ; and wheir
the Man came up, full of joyful Expeftations of
his Liberty, Hark you Friend, fays he, I have ob-*
ferved that you have been very bufy a great while ^'
but it vvas imperti neatly bufj', in officioufly med-
dling v^'here you had nothing to do, while you might
have employed your Time better elfcwhcrej and
therefore I muft be fo free as to tell you, that you
have miftaktn your R'lan ; I cannot afford a Box of
the Ear, at fo low a Price as you bid for it»
ne A P P L 1 C A T 1,0 N.
Phardrus tells us, upon his Word, thatthlj is *a trae
Stcry ;. and that he wrote it for ihe Sake of a Set of xh*<
duilriou* idle Gentlemen ac Rcttu, who were hafafTcd
anJ fatigued with a daily Succeilion of Care and Trou-'
bk*, beci^ufe they had nothing to do j always in-ri Hurry,
but withoat Bulinefs; bufy, but to no Purpofe; la-
bouring under a voluntary NcceiTity ; and-taking Abun-
dance of Pains to fliew they were good fofnothing. Bjc
what great Town or Ci:y is {(^ entirely free from this
Seft, as xsy rciider the iVMivl of this Fable ufelefs any
where? for it points at all thofe officious good -n-tcu red
People, who are etern Ily rrnning up and*<ir),vn lo (ftnf.
ts^eir Friends, without doin^ them any good ; who by a
Complaii:\nce wrong judged, or ill-applied, difpieaft,
while lh<iy endcavor^to cb igc, a^d are never doirg leis*
to the Purpofe, thart when ih^y are moft ,empLnye«t.
Hovv mnny are there who thijik themfelves entitled to
good Foils from Government, only for having, been Dab-
blers in Politics all their Lives, to tliC Negfecl and Pre-
judice, of (heir proper Cfilbngs 1 foi* nrcver f:iiHng to en-
quire tUe'News of the Day of their Acquainunce,,and
cxpieSing a hearty Satisfaction or a deep Concern, jis-
the Account given has ai}cfted them 1 Thore is another
Sort, who arc fo concerned i( (I you ftiould find out rh?c
they are mere Cyphers in Life, ih^t rhcy cvef«a£t their
Part, and are tvcr in a Hurry ; who appear at CoftVe-
Houfes, Jhd other public i'iuces, locking about eagerly
lor one with whom they have no Bulini^f?, aud waiitins^
1 6 to
i8o AiSO P's FABLES.
to be aflted to fta/, that ihey may have an Oppottonity
of telling you they CLinuot poffiUy do it. People of this
Caft aKwiys fi-bfcribe [heir Leiterj with a Tours, in great
liaftc, though they write to you only betaiifelhey have
not.iiiig elle to do. In a Woid, this F^b;e is defigned
Tor the Reformatioit of all thofc who endeavour to raife
10 ihemfelves Merit and Applaufe from a mif.ipplied
Induftry. h is not our being bufy and officious that
will procure us the Efteem of Men of Senfe-, but the
jnteidine and contriving oor;Adions lo f. n-.e noble ufe-
ful Furpofe, and for the general Good of Mankind.
FAB. CV'l. r^'^ Sheep-Biter.
A '-;.nain Siiep!ii;tiJ iiaj a Dog, upon whofe Fi-
**■ delity he ieli:;d very much; for whenever he
had an CVcafion to be abfL-nt himi'elf, he commit-
ted ihc Care and Tuition cf his Flock lo the Charge
of this Dog ; and, to encoorage him lo do his Duty
cheerfully, he fed him conflanily with fweet Curds
and Whey ; and fometimes threw him a Cruft or
two extraordinary. Yet, notwithfianding this, no
fooner was his Back turned, but the tieacherout
Cur fell foul upon the Fltck, and dcvotued the
Sheep
jSSOP'% fables. i8i
Sheep inftead of guarding and defendinj them. The
Shepherd, being informed of this, was refolved to
hanff him ; and the Dog, when the Rbpe was about
h\% Neck, and he was juft going to be tied up, be-
gan to expoftuJate with his Rfafter, afking him.
Why he was fo unmercifully bent againft him, who
was his own Servant and Creature, and had only
committed one or- tv^jo Crimes; and why he did not
rather execute Revenge upon the Wolf, who was
a. conftant, open, and declared ' Enemy ? Nay, re-
plies the Shepherd, it is for that very R^afon that I
think you ten Times. more worthy of Death than
him ; from him I expeded nothing but Hoftilities,
and therefore Could guard againft him : You I de- ,
pended upon as a juft and faithful Servant, and fed
and encouraged you accordingly j and therefore
your Treachery is the more notorious^ and your In-
gratitude the more unpardonable.
r*^ A P P L I C A T I O N.
No Injuries are fo bitter and fo inexciifable as tho(e
which proceed from Mea whom we trailed as Friends^
and in whom we placed a Confidence. An. open Enemy jr
however inveterate, may overpower and deftroy iis,\or
perhaps may huit and afflid us only in fome Meafure;
but, as fuch a Treatment cannot farprife us, becaufe we
cxpe£\ed no lefs, neither can it give us half the Grief
and Uneafinefs of Mind, which we are apt to feel when
we find ourfelvcs wronged by the Treachery and Falf-
hood of a Friend. When the Man wliom we trufled and
efteemed, proves injurious to us, it is a Cafamity fo cruelly
complicated* in its, Circumliance's, that it involves us in
Grief of many Folds, and multiplies the Sum of our In-
felicity. At one and the fame Time, we find a Poc
where we Icaft expeded, and lofe a Friend when we moil
wanted him ; which muft be as fevefe and piercing, as
it is fudden and furprifing. It is natural, therefore, for
our Refentment to be in Proportion to our Senfc of fach
an Injury ;, and that we (hould wifh the Punifliment of
fo extraordinarys a Crime may be, at leail; as great as
that which ufually attends an ordinary one. FAB.
i82 • i^ sop's FABLES.
FAB. CVII. ne Thkf and ibe Dog.
A I hici-, toriidg lo rub a c-.-tC^in Houfe in <he
■** NijLhr, was duturbetl in his Auemptsty a fierce
vigilant Dog, wiio kept barliing at him continually.
Upon which the Thief, thinking to itop his Moui-h,
thee* hi<Ti a Piece of Bread : Bat the Dog refufed ifc
with Indignation ; telling him, that btforc, he only:
fufpeflcJ him to be a bad Man; but now, upo'i his.
'oft-'ering to' bribe him, he was confirmed in his Opi-
nionj ar.d that, as he was rntrulted with the Gujr-
dianfhip of his Mafter's Houfe, he Ihould tiever ceafe-
fcarking whilefuchaRogueashe lay tiirkiiig about it^
Tfit APPhiCATiON,
. A Man «lio is very free in his Proteftationsof F/Ieni-
flljp, or Offers of great Civility upon [he firlt Iniervieiv,
may meet with Applaiife and Efteem from Fools, but
contrives his Schemes of that Son to li:i!e or no Pur-
pofe, in the Company of Men of Senfe. . It i j a com-
Mpn and known Maxim, to fufpefl an Enemy 'even the
more, for his endeavouring to convince as of his Bene-
volence; becaiife the Oddnels of die Thing pu^s us'
r I up;)il
JESOP's FA'BLES. iSj
upon our (juard, and m&kci us conclude, ihaC lame
pernicigus DeCgn mull: be couched under fo fuddcn and
unexpeaed a' 'turn of Behaviour; But it .is no unne-
celTarj- Caution, to be upon the Watch againfl even in-
diffeient People, when we perceive them Lincommonl/
forward in their Approaches of Civility and Kindnefs.
The Man, wh6 aifirll Sight makes ns an Offer, which
]9 due only lo particular and well- acquainted Friend%
mull be either a Knave, and intends by fuch a Bail lo
draw ns into bis Net; or a Fool, with whom we oughL
to .tvuid having any Communication. 'I'hus fjr iha
Conflderation of thi* Fable nay be ufeful to us in pri-
vate Life; what it contains farther, in Relation to the
Tublic. h. That a Man, truly honefl, will nei-er let his
Mouth be flopped uith a Bribe ; but, thejjteaicr the
Offer is which is defigned to buy his Silenie. the louder,
and more conflantly, will hs open againft the Mif-
creants who would pr^i^ife it upsn bin.
FAB. CVHI. ne Harper.
A Fellow that ufed to play upon his Harp, and
■^^ fing to it in litiie Alehoufes, and made a Shift,-
b^ the Hetp of thofc narrow costined Walls, to
p)t»fe
i»4 iE SOP'S FAB LES,
pleafe the dull Sots who heafd him ; from hence
entertained an Ambition of (hewing his Parts upon
the public Theatre, where he fancied he bould not
fail of raifing a. great Reputation and Fortune in .a
very fliort Time. He was accordingly admitted
upon Trial ; but the Spacioufnefs of the Place, and
the Throng of .the People, fo deadened and weakened
both his Voice and Ihftrument, that fcarce either
of them could be heard y and where. they could, it
founded fo poor, fo low and wretched, in the Ear
of his refined Audience, that he was unive.rfally ex*
ploded and hiflcd off the Stage. •
The APPLICATION.
"When we arc commended for our Performances by
People of much Flattery, or little Judgment, we (houjd
be fure not to value ourfelves upon it; for want of
which, many a vain unthinking Man has at once ex-
pofed and loft himfelf to the World. A Buffoon may
be. very agreeable to a Company difpofed to be mirth-
ful over a Glafs of Wine, who would not be fit to opeii>
his Mouth in a Senate, or upon a Snbjed wherje .(bund
Seaie and a grave and ferioas Behavtour are expected.
It U not the diverting a little, infignificant, injudici-
oui Audience or Society,^ which can gain 4is a propeE>
Efteem, or infure our Succefs, rn a. Place which call*
for a Performance of the firll Rate; we Ibould have
either allowed Abilities to pleafe the moll refined Tafles,
or Judgment enough to.know that we want them, a.nd
to have a Care how we fubmit ourfelves to the Trial.
And, if we have 2^ Mind to purfue a juH and true Am-
bition, it is not fufficicnt that we ftudy bareiy to pleafe,
but it is of greatcft Moment'whom w« pleafe, and in
what Refpedt ; -otherwife, we may not only lofc our ^a»
boar, but make ourfelves ridicuTousinto the Bargain.'
FAB,
- j£SOP'% FABLES. i8j
FAB. CIX. The Two Crabs.
TT is faid to be the Nature of a Crab-Fiffito go
■^ backward : However, a Motber-Crab, one Day»
ret}rove(] h«r Daugjttci, and was in a great Paffion
with her for haf untoward »ukward Gait, which the
defired her to alter, and n«t to move in » Way fo
contradiftory to the reftof the World. Indeed, Mo-
Iher, fays the young Crab, 1 walk as decently as I
- can, and to the beft of my knowledge j but, if you
would have me go otherwtfe, I beg you would be io
goodastD'pradtife it firt}, and. Q)ew mc, by your own
Example, bow you would have me bebave piyfclf.
nt APPLICATION. ,
The Man, who is fo impertinent as to retwfee otiera
for a Milbehaviour of which he himfeif is guilty, mull
be either a Hypocrite, a fenfelefs Creature, or an impu'
dent Fellow. It is firange that mankind, being fo apt
to aft wrong in moft Particulars, (houid at the fame
Time be fo prone to CalninD]; and X>etraAion. One
would
I>« MSOP's FABLES.
wonld think that they who err fo ntilorioulT)' and fre^
^uentlji ihemfelvea, Ihould b& 7a<htr jcnder in cVDCeat-
tng, than officious in carping at the Faults of their FeK
Jo*.Sinnersi efpcdJIy, confidering that it is natural
to be mi/led by our FaQiuns and Appetites into fi me
Excefs or other, but unnaturul and inijuman to impeacli
etheri of Mifcarfiaees, of which outf^'kei arc eqiia!!/
guilty. Granting it were ever fo proper, or fo much
our Duty to find Fauit with others, yei ne mull have a
great Share of Impudence, if we can bear to doit while
we know ourfeKes liable lo the f^me Imputations.
Example is a thoufand Times more inllruftive, or ai
leaft perfuafive, than Precept: For, though the Rules
for Viflue were even more pre0ing and numerous than
they aje, yet let but the Fafhion runuporj Vice, as it
moll commoDiy does, and you fee how ready and con-
formable the Wdtld ihRWs iilelf to t\tr'} ?art of it.
FAB. QX. TbtThisiand the'QoY.
A BOY fat weeping upon the Side of a Well, A
■'*■ Thief happsning to come by, juft at the fame
Time, aflced him why he wept. The Boy, fighing.
»nd. fobbiug, le^liedi. tbe i^ring was broke, and a
Silvec
jE SOP'S FABLES, 187
Silver rTjinkard was fallen to the Bottom of the
Well/ Upon this the Thief pulled oflThis Clbthc?,
and went down into the Well to look for it; where,
having groped about a good while to no Purpofe,
he Came up again^ but found neither his Clothes
nor the Boy; that little arch DifTcmblcr having
run away with them.
Tie A P P LI C A T.I O >!.
♦ •
Howevei* Juftice may be but little praftifed and pj^-
fued by particular Men in the common Courfe of their ■
Ad|ions, yet evc;ry one readily agrees, that it ought" to '
be kept up and inforced by the Several Penal Laws, id
JRcipeiS^ to the Public in general. Many a one can
fcarce forbear robbing and defrauding another, when
it h in his Power to do it with Intpunity ; but at the
fame Time, he dreads being robbed and defjrauded again »
as much as if he were the^moft innocent Man living,
and is as fevere in profecuting the Offenders ; which
proves, that an unjuft Man is deliberately wicked, -and
abhors the Crime in another which he dares' commit
himfelfi It is for this Reafon^ that the greater Part Of
Mankind like well enough to have Puniihment inHi^ed
upon thofexwho do wrong; and accordingly fubmit themV
felves to be governed peaceably and quietly by the Lawa
of their Country, upon the Profpedi of feeing Juftice
executed upon all thofe who do them an Injury. And,
however a tender Nature may (brink at tlie Sight, and
commiferate the Condition of a fufFering Malefaftor,
yet, in the main we* may obferve, that People are
pleafed'and fatisfied when the Sword of J UHice is un-
iheathed; and MultituTles will even crowd to be Spec«
tators, when the finifhing Stroke is given. But what
affords us the greateft Pieafure upon fuch Occailons, i&>
when we are entertained with a View cf Judice, a^jng^
as it were, in Perfoo, and puniihing Cheats and Trickr
fters, by making their own Contrivances inflrum^tal
in it, and by ordering, as in the Fable, that their Wick*
edaefs may fall upon their own Head,
* FAB.
i88 /£50i"s FABLES.
FAB. CXI. Mercury and the Woodman.
A M-in was felling a Tr« on the Bank of a JIJ-
^^ ver, and by Chance let his tfaicbet flip out of
brs Hand, which dropt into the Water, and imme-
diately funk to the Bottsm. Being ttaereCoce in great
Diftrcfs for the Lofs ef his Tool, he fat down and
bemoaned bimfelf moft lamentaWy. Upon this.
Mercury appeared to him, and, bring informed of
(he Caufe of his Complaint, dived to the Bottom
of the River, and coming up again, (hewed the Man
a golden Hatchet, demanding if that were his. He
dcnieJ that it was. Upon which Mercury dived a
fecond Time, and brought up a filver oni. The
Man refufed it, alledging likewife that this was not
his. He dived a third Time, and fetched up the
individual Ratchet the Man had loil ; upon Sight
of which the pooi Wretch was overjoyed, and took
it with all Humility and Thankfulnefs. Mercury
was fo pleafed with the Fellow's Honefty, that he
gave hioi the other two into the Bargain, as a Re-
ward
^SOP's FABLES. 189
war4 ror his juft Dealing. The Man goes to his
Companions, and giving them an Account of what
had hiippened, one of them went prcfently to the
Riveras Side, ^nd let his Hatchet fall defignedly
into th« Stream. Then fitting down upon the
BaniCf'he fell4i weeping 0nd lamenting, as if he had
been really and Xorely 4tfflided. Mecitry appeared
as b^ore, and diving, brought him up a golden
Hatchet, ^ing if 'that was the Hatcbet lie loft.
Tranfpotted ^t the precious Metal, be anfwercd«
Yc$ i and went to fnatch it greedily. But the<5od
deielting his abominable Impudence, not Qnly re-
fufed to give him that, but would not fo much as
Jet 'him have his own Hatchet again.
The APPLICATION.
Notwith/luiding the Pronenefs of Mankind to do
Evil, and the Account which fome Hod in playing tke
Knave, yet there cannot be invented a more true and
rcafonable Maxin), than that by which we are afTured
that Honejiy is tht hefi Policy. If we confider it in refpeil'
to the other World, there never was a Religion but
ftriftly required it of its Votaries : ff we examine it upon
Account of this, we fliall find that the honcft Man, pro-
vided his other Talents are not deficient, always carries
the Preference in our Ellcem, before any other, in
wJiatever Bufmcfs he thinks fit to employ himfelf.
FAB.
190 - ^SOP's FABLES.
FAB. CXII, ri^ Creaking Wheel.
rpHE Coachman, hearing one of thc.^yheels of
"*■ his Coach creek, was furprifed; but more efpc-
clally when he perceived that it was the worft Wheel
of the whole Set, and which he thought had but lit-
tle Pretence to take Tuch a Liberty. But, upon his
demanding the Rcafijn why rt did fo, the Wheel »c-
plicd, that it was natural for People who laboured
ui)der any AiQi^ion ot Infirmity to complain.
Tbi APPLICATION.
Though we natuTally defire lo give Vent to the Ful-
nefs of our Head, when it i) charged with Grief, and
though by uttcrinjj our Complaints, we may happen to
move the Compaflion of thofe that hrar us, yet, e\Kry
Thing confidered, it is heft to reprefs and keep them to
ourfelic?; or, if we muft let our Sorrow fpeak," to Cake
Care that it is <torje in Solitude and Reiircmenc. Whit
the Poets nien'ion as an ufual Thing with Lovers, Would
not be amifsin'ihofij who .arc under any ftovvard Cala-
mity, w(iich cannot b^ kept quiei, to utter it to the
Woodi and Mountains, and to call the Rocks and Ri-
vers to WMnefs fo the Cruelty of tllelr Delliny ; That is,
if tkey muA (hew any Weaknefs or Impatience under
- (lie l^relTure of advetfe Fortune, to do it as ptivUeSy as
JESOP's FABLES. t;*
fhey can : For tho' ibe Commifcration of a CoCt-httrud
Verioa may be drawn forth romeiime) by imparting the
Bitiem::fs of ouf Condition, yei the Wodd »iil be apt
to ihink us [roublefoine Mnd iiripoirciinate ; and con-
clude, that if our Hafdfliips were Co great as wc would
have People believe, we could not bear to talk of them
fo frequently and abundantly, as foinccinics we do. But
befides, nothing is more generally true, than that it it
inuch happier for u; to ihare ilie Envy, than the Pity
of Mankind. And if the firil gf thefe U by no Means
eligible, if we cnnld avoid it, how much more ought
we to take Care to give as linle Occafion as palfible for
(he latter.f Scarce any one is emied without poflelSng
fomething valuable, or atleaft defirable; but weno fnnncr
become Objefls of Pity, than wc are found out to be
deficient in fome Refpe£l or other, and perhaps unlit
and unequal for the Company and Acqu»intance, wiih
which we formerly tonvcrl'ed. Upon the whole, iho'
we be pitied, we (hall never be ih* more elieemed for
feeing mKerable ; aiid if we can but appear happy, ten
to one but we Ihjill be bebveJ in Cour(e.
FAB. CXIII. rbe M&n, andhis Wooden God.
Man hiviiiga wnodeii God, wutHiippcd it evtry
^ Dayi and, among other Things, prayed parii-
Culatly fur WeaUh, bccaufc his CirciunKajx;^^ were
A'
192 ^SOP's. FABLES.
but low. But when be had continued to do this for
many Days to no Purpofe, in a Pafiion at the Difap-^
pointment, he took the image by the Lcgs^ knocked
it- againft the Pavement, and -broke it in Pieces ;
upon which a great Qyantity of Money, which. had
been indofed within it, flew abcut the Room. The
Man no fooner perceived this, but addreffinghun-
felf to the Idol, thou obftinate, perverfe Deity, fay§
he, who while 1 humbly befought thee, hadft no Re-
gard to my Prayers, but now thou art ufed ill, and
broken to Pieces, doft pour forth good Things, in
even a greater Abundance than I could defire.
The A P P L I C A T I O N.,
This is a Fable of a very, extraordinary Coin position |
if, as the ancient Mythoiogifls fay, it is defigned to £g-
niiy no more than, Tiiat where, fair Means will not do^
foul muil be ufed. Indeed feme Natures are fo very
rough and untradlable, that gentle Ufage and moderate
Treatment are thrown a\^ay upon them ; theymuft be
wrought upon like (lubborn Metals, by Blows frequently
and heartily applied. But what has all this to do with
Religion and the Worfhip of God ? The Fable is ufc-
lefs in that Refpeft, unlefs we confider it in this Light,
That the Adoration of Images is the mofl flupid Pare
of Religion that ever was invented.. How any of the
fober fenfible Heathen World could be induced, fo as
to give into fach an unreafon able Piece of Devotion, is
aiionifhing ; or how they could fuppofe that a fenfelefs
Stock or Stone, which had neither Life or Motion in it,
could underfland their Complaints, and redrefs theii:
Grievances: Such a Suppoiition muft be monftroufly ab>
furd and foolifh. But what then mud we think of thofe
Chriflians, who blindly run into the fame Pradice, the'
they have an acknowledged and received Command from
the God they worfhip, abfolutely forbidding it ! What
was only Stupidity in the Heathens, in them is ^rofs
Wickednefs, and profane impudent Impiety. But the
People uho can be made to believe that this is tight, may
be taught to fvvallowany Thing, and confeqaently are
the fitteft Tools to carry en the Tra"de of Prieftcraft.
F A B.
^ SOP'S FABLES. I9J
FAB, CXIV. neKidandtbtVlQK.
A KID being moanted upon the Roof of a Shed,
'^*- and feeing a Wolf below, loaded him with ail
Manner of Reproaches. Upon which, the Wolf,
looking up, replied. Do not value yourfelf, vain
Creature, upon thinking you mortify me i for I look
upon this ill Language, not as cpming from you,
but from the Place which proteins you.
The APPLICATION,
To rail and give ill Language, is very unbecoming',
rot only Gentlemen in parUcular, but Men in general: ■
Nm can we eafily determine whether Courage or Man.
ners are mod wanting- in the Perfon who is given to nfe
it. Now. when any one is (b fcreened and protected
'by the Place he ii-in, ihat he may commit fuch Iqde-
cenciea with Im^aniTy, however his Catcafemayefcaiie
Scot-free, yet he isTuretp pay for it in kis Repotationt
it being impoffibk we Qiou Id think him m Man af Ho-
nour, whi) eodeavoun to wound lu fmm the Adyaniaga'
of ihe Place in whidi he baf^c^a Vt be, and reiuka to
S, engage
154 ^^0?'s FABLES.
BDgige US npofi eqnal Terms. Whenever, therefore,
we are attacked by one, whom the Comply we are in,
or fome other Circumftance makes it improper or im-
jpraAicable for us to come at, kt us wifely cnrb our
Paflions of Refentinent, by conllderiiig, that it is not
the fiUy Pcrfon who fpeaks, but fotne Situation, by
which he is fecured, that utters the Reproach againll
us.. The fame RefitOion may Jervealfo to divert, in-
Itead of exafpeiating ui.^ai theimpotent Malice of thofe
poor Spirits, who at the'fame Time thst they take the
Advantage of a Place to brandilh their infamous Tongues
againfi at, Ihew how much they fear ua, and that they
Arft ROC do it, unlefs they knew themfelves to be out
•f the Reach of our Refeatment.
FAB. CXV. Ti>£ Jutilcious Lloa.
A Lion having talcen a young Bullock, flood over,
and was juft going to devour it, when a Thief
ftcpt in, and cried Halres with him. No, Friend,
fays the Lion, you are too apt to take what is not
your Due, and therefore I Ihall have nothing to by
leyoa, £/ Chance, a poor boaeft Travdler bap-
^.yOP's FABLES. 155
^ned to come that Way, and feeing the Lion, mo^
deftly and timoroufly withdrew, intCTiding €0 go ano-
ther Way : Upon which, the generous beaff, with
a courteous affable Behaviour, defired him to come
forward, and partake with him in that, to which
his Modefty andHumility had given him (b good a
Title, Then,>dividing the Frey into two e^ual
Parts, and feafting himfelf upon one of thcm^ he re-
tired into the Woods, and left the Place clear for
the honeft Man to come in and take his Share*
The A P P L I C A T I O N.
There is not one but will readily allow this Beha«
viour of the Lion to have been commendable and juft ;
notwithilandlng which, Greedinefs and Importunity ne-
ver fail to thrive and attain their Ends, while Modefty
-ilarves, and is far ever poor. Nothing is more difa->
j;reeable to quiet reafonable Men, than thofe that are
petulant, forward, and craving, in foliciting for thoir
Favours: and yet F^voars are feldom beftowtd btt&
vpon fiich as have extorted them by thefe teafing of«
fen£ve Means« Every Patron, when he fpeaks his real
Thoughts, is j-eady to acknowledge that the modeft
Man has the beft Title to his Efleem ; yet he fafFers
himfelf, too often, to be prevailed upon, merely by
outrageous Noife, to give that to a Ihamelefs afluming
Fellow, which he knows to be juftiy due to the filentj,
nnapplying, modeft Man. ' it would be a laudable
Thing in a Man in Power, to make a Refolution not to
tonferany advantageous Pod upon the Peribn thatalka
for it ; as it would free him from Importunity, and afv
ford him a quiet Leifure, upon any Vacancy, either to
confider with himfelf who had deferved beft of their
Coontry, or to inquire, and be informed by thofe whom
lie could truft. But, as this is feldom or never pradlifedj
no wonder that we often find the Names of Men of lit-
tle Merit, mentioned in the public Prints, as advanced
to confiderable Stations, who were incapable of being
known to the Public any other Way*
K 2 FAB*
196 .^SOP'i FABLES.
FAB. CXVI. T'A* Wolf *»</ Kid.
'T^HE Goat goine abroad to feed, flitit up. her
^ young Kid at Eiome, charging him to bolt the
I^oor faAj and open it to nobody, till (he herfelf
Ihould leturn. The Wolf, who Jay lurking juft
by, heard this Chaige given j and loon after came
and knocked at the Door, couaterfeiting the Voice
of the Goat, anddefiringtobe admitted. The Kid,
looking out at a Window, and finding the Cheat,
bid him go about his Bultncfs; for, however he
might imitate a Goat's Voice, yet he appeared too
much like a Wolf to be truftcd.
Tht APPLICATION.
As it is intpoflible that young People Ihould fteer their
Courfe ari^hcin the World, before they are acquainted
with the Situation of the many Dangers which lie in
their Way \ it ii therefore necefTdry, that they Ihould
be under the Gorernmcnt and DireAioD of thofe who
ve appoiiued to take the Charge of their £dacaiion,
, whether
9
^SOP*s FABLES. 197
whether they arc Parents, or Tutors by them intruded
with the Inftru^on of their Children* . If a Child has
but Reafon enough to confider at all, how readily
fhonld it embrace the Counfel of his Farther !, how at-
tentively liilen to his Precepts! and how fleadily pur-
fue his Advice ! 'i'he Father has already walked in the
difficult Wildemefs of Life, and has obferved tvery
Danger which lies lurking in the Paths of h, to anno/
the Footlleps of thpfe who never trdd the W^y before*
Of thefe, with much Tendernefs and hrtcere Affedtion,
he makes a Difcoi-^iy to his Son ; telling him what h©
muil avoid, and directing him how to ffiake a fafc, ho-
- nourable, and advantageous Journey. When therefore
the Child refufes to follow the DireAions of fo fkilful
a Guide, (o faithful, fo loving, and fo fincere a Friend*
no Wonder if he fa.l!s into many Mifchicfs, which
otherwife he mighi have efcaped, unpitied and unia- ,
mentcd by all that know him, becauie he ohftinately-
contemned the kind Admonitions of him thar truly
wiQied and intended his HappineA, and perverfely fol- ,
lowed the Examples of thofe who decoyed him out of
the Way of Virtue, into the thorny Mazes of Vice and
Error. Nor fhoold Children take it ill, if the Com*
mands of their Parents fometimes feem difficalt anil dif-
agreeable ; perhaps upon Experiment, they xnay prove
as pleafant and diverting, as rf they had fbilowed their
own Choice ; this however, they may be aiTured of, that
.«H fuch Cautions ate intended^ out of true Love and
.Affection, by thofe who are more experienced than
themfelves, and therefore better Judges what their Con^
i9& ibonld be.
K 3 r A B.
lyS ^SOF's FABLES.
FAB. CXVIt.
y^f WoM", the Fo*, and the Ape.
npHE Wolf indiflrd the Fox of Felony, before
■^ the Ape, who upon that Occafion was aj^
pointed fpcclal Judge of the Caufe. The Fox gave
in his Anfwer to the WoiPs Accufation, and de-
nied the Faft. So, after a fair Hearing on both
Sides the Ape eave Judgment to this Purpofe. I am
of Opinion tnar you, fays he to the Wolf, never
loft the Goods you fue for : And as for you,. turoing
CO the Fox, I make no QuefVion, faid he, but you
hive ftolen wh^t is laid to yeuc Charge, at leaft.
And thus the Court was difmilTcd, with this public
Cenfure paft upon each Party.
The APPLICATION.
A Man that hai once bletnilhed hi) Credit by Ena.
very, will oot be believed for the future, even thp* he
fhould %eak the Truth. Oju would think th« Conli-
deratioB
jESOP'% f ABLES* 199
deration of this fhould be ibme ObftFo£lion to lying
and cheating, aird a Di(sdurag^ttiein td.tbe Pro/dibrs
of that Faculty. WhoeVer'is detedied of voluntary de-
liberate Falihood, altho' no Cbgnizance is had pf it by
the Public, will yet be for ever'dctefted by the honed
dtfcrieet Part of his Acquaintance : And though he may
efcape all Maoner of Penalty, from the' Law of the
. Land in which he lives, yet all that know him will lay
-Jiim under a tacit private Condemnation, and treat him
for ever after as an Outlaw, and an excommunicated
Perlbn. Cheating and Knavery may now arid then
fucceed and pafs,,MttiUr with thennoft filly unclifcern-
ing Part of Mankind ; but the Contrivers of fuch viU
lainous PJots, whatever their Advantage may be, are
iiire of getting little or no Honour by their Exploits;
and are hable to* be dete£ted and expo fed, even by the
£mp]e Crew which they pra^ifc upon. A very Ape
knows bow to diflinguilh, and pafs juft Sentence upon a
Fox or a Wolf: But the honeH juil Man^ who is fair
and upright in all his Dealings, is unexceptionable tok
every body, and no lefs fure of turning every Negociation
to his Profit, than to his Honour and Credit. A Knave
bas a Chance^ and perhaps but an indifferent one^ of>
fdcceeding once or twice, and that with the moH fooHlb
Part of Mankind ; whereas an* honeft Man is fure qf
being confiantly trufted, and well ^t^med, and that by
all wife and good People. .,
«
\
»•»
wi*
K4 FAB;
40O jBSOP'a FABLES.
FAB. CXVUI. Jupiter OTrf/feAfi.
ACertflin Afs which belonged to a Gardener, and
was weary of carrying his heavy Burdens, prayed
Ifi Jufher to give him a new Matter. T^f'^t^ Kon-
femiiig to his Petition, gave him a Tile-maker,
who loaded hitn with Tiles, and made him carry
heavier Burdens than before. Again he eame, and
made Supplications, bcfceching the God to give him
one that was more mild ; or, at lead, to let him have
any other Mafler but this. Jupiter could not chufa
but laugh at his Folly ; however, he granted his
RequeA this Time aifo, and made him over to a
Tanner. But, as foon as the poor Afs was fenlible
what a Matter he had got, he could not forbear up-
braiding himfelf with hisgrealFoUyand Inconftancy,
which had brought him to a Matter not only more
ciuel and exacting than any of the former, but one
that would not fpare his very Hide after he was dead.
^he A P P L I C A T I O K.
This Fable is a lively Reprefentation of the Inftabiliir
cf Mankind, who are feldom or never contented with
their own Lot. But whatever Men may think, it is a
wff5(5i"s FABLES. 201
tkonfand 10 one but they know led of wy oihtr Way,
than of that in which they have been bred : And if
Providence Ihoold comply with their humouiou* Re-
qycft in fucb a. Cafe, they would probaiily Rnd themrdves
more at a Lofs, and more uneafy in their new Station
of Life, than ever they were in the old ; at leaft, there
is. great Reafon to fuppofe they would. 'The Vanity
apd Ignorance of the Men of this World are fo great,
that if every Man might be what he delifed, few wonld
be what they ought. So that it ii nut of lef* Impor-
tance to the Good of the Public in general, than our
own particular Quiet and HappineJa, that every Man
ihould be eafy and contented wiih the Condition whick.
Providence and hie Educ4tion have allutted him.
FAB. CXIX. f be Boy and his Moihn,
A Little Boy who v/ent to School, ftole one of his
School Fellow's Horn books,, and brought it
Home to his Mother ; who was fp far from corredt-
wg and difciiuraging him upon Account of the
Theft, that flie commended and gave him an Apple
.for his Pains. In Ptocel« of Time, as the Child grew-
Hf to be a Man,, he accuftomcd. bimrelf to gteatcr
K 5 Kebberies;
1202 ^S9P'% FABLES.
Robberies ; and it laft, being apprebendecl and conw
milted to Gaol, he was tried and condemned for
Felony. On the Day of his Execution, as the Of-
ficers were conducing him to the Gallows, he was
attended by a vaft Crowd of People, and among the
reft by ht$ Mother, who came fighipg and fobbing
along, and taking on extremely for her Son's un-
happy Fate; which the Criminal obferving, called
to the Sheriff, and begged the Favour of him, that he
would give him leave to fpeak a Word or two to h>s
poor affli£led Mother. The Sheriff (as who would
deny a dying Man fo reafonable a Requ^ft) gave him
Permiffion ; and the Felon, while aseyery enethoughr>
he was whifpering fomething of Importance to his
Mother, bit off her Ear, to the great Offence and
Surprife of the whole Affembly. What, fajr they,
was not this Villain contented with the impious
FaiSls which he has already committed, but that he
muft increafe the Number tof them, by doing this
Violence to his Mother f Good People, replied he,
I would not have ye be under a Miftake; that wick-
ed Woman deferves this, and ev^n ^orfe at my
Hands ', for if (he had cbaftifed and chid, inftead of
rewarding and careffing tne^ when in my Infancy I
ftole the Horn-Book from the School^ I had not
«omc to this ignominious untimely End.
. The APPLICATION.
Notvvithftanding the great innate Depravity of Man-
kind, one need not fcruple to affirm, that mod of the
'Wickednefi which is fo frequent and fo pernicious in the.
World, iPrifes from a bad Education ; and that the Child
is obliged either to the Example or Connivance of its
Parents, for moft of the vicious Habits which it wears
thro' the Courfe of its future Life. The "Mind of one
that is young, is like Wax, fofr, and capable of any ,
Impreflion which is given it ; bu^ it is hardened bv
Time, and^ the firfl^ Sign at ore grows fo firm and dora<^
bloj that fcarce an/ Pains or Application can erafe it. it
3 ^
jE'SOP's FABLfiS. aoj
..iaa.miftalteQ.'Ngtion.in People, when they imagine that
there is no O^ciilisri for rc^ahtln? or reilraining the
Ailions of vr-ry young Children, which tho' allowed to
,be rometimes very naughty in thofe in a more adviaced
'Age, are in them, (hey fuppofe, altogether innocent and
inol^nrive. Bat, however innocent they may be, a* t»
their Intention then, yet, as the Praflice may grow upon'
them unobfcrved, and root itfclf into a Habit, they
eughito'be sheckcd and di 1*1:0 unlenaiKed in- their firft
EftarM towards any Thing that is injurious or diftioneftf
that ihe-Lovc of Virtue and the Abhorrence of Wrohg
■snd Oppreilion, may be let into their Mintfs, at the fame
Time that they receive the very firft Dawnof Underftand-
.iog, and Glimmering qF Reafon. Whatever Guilt arifes
from the Aftions of one whpfe£ducationha6 beendeficteot
as to-ihis Foiat, no Queflion but a jull Share of it win
be laid, by the Great Judgeof the World, to the Charge -
of thofc who. were, or fhould have been hia InAruSor:. '
.F A B- ' CJCX. rbe Wolves aad the Sick Afs.
AN Afs being fick, the Report of it wm (prai
abroad in the Country, and Tome did not itick
V) fay, that-IIu w«uld die before another Nigbt went
. , ., a 6 ever
404 ^ SOP'S FABLES,
over her Head. Upon this, feveral Wolves came
to the Stable where (he lav^ under Pretence of mak«
ing her a Vifit ; but rapping at the Door, and a(k-
ing how file did, the young Afs came out, and told
them, that his Mother was much better than they
defired*
Tbi APPLICATION.
r
The cha^Uable Viiits which are made to many ficic
Teoplcy proceed from much the fame Motive with that
which prevailed upon the Wolves to pay their Duty to
the fick Afs, namely » that they may come in for fome
Share of their Remains, and feaft themfelvesupon the Re-
verfioB of their Goods and Chattels. We cannot there*
^ fore, without Pleafure, fee thefe feUih Vifiunts diCco^
* vexed thro^ their Mafk of Charity, and treated with fuch
a Re&rve, as Neighbours of their Sort Juftly challenge.
* ^s a Behaviour thus grofly impertinent and odious,
smil needs be o&nfive to a difcerning Man, and more
efpecially at fuch a Time, when he labours under thy
Indi^ofttlon or -Pain of Body, fo it is very frequently
injunotts co the Interell of him who makes Ufe of it»
and proves to be the Means of his milEng fuch an Inhc*
titance or Legacy, as a more diilant and. modcltQft»
yorcaratt might hiute ft oiit d to him.
r A ff.
jE Simp's FABLES, 205
FAB. CXXI. ^ff Ant and /he Graftopper.
IK the Winter Snhn, a Commonwealth of Ants
was bufily employed in the Management and
Prefervation of their Com ; which' they expofed to
the Air, in Heaps, round about the- Avcnuej of theii
little Country Habitation. A Grafhopper, who had
chanced to outlive the Summer, and was ready to
ftarvc with Cold and Hunger, approached them
with great Humility, and begged that they would
relieve his Neceffity, with one Grain of Wheat op
Rye. One of the Ants afked him, how he had dif-
lofed of his Time in Summer, that he had not taken
'ains, and laid in a Stock, as they had done i Alas^
Gentlemen, foys be, I pa&ed away the Time r
E
lily and |llcafantly, in Drinking, Singing, and
Dancing, and Dcver once thought of Winter. If
tkat be the Cafe, leplied the Ant, laughing, all I
kave to fay is. That th^ who drink, RngyMti dance
ia the l^ummeik muft Ifarve in Wiatcr*
tit
.to6 /ES(^P's FA'fiLESr
7ke. A.P P L I.C.A T.I ^N.
^As Summer is the Seafbn of th« Year in which tfce
iriduilrioos and laborious Hu (band mail- gathers an^ lays-
up fuch Fruiu as may fupply his Nec^flkies in Win-
ter, (6 YoDth and Manhood are the Times of Life-
which we fhmild employ and befk>Mr in laying. in> iitch &
Stock of all;- Kind of Neceflariesy. as may Aiffice for the
craving Den>iinds of hefplefd old Age. Yet notwith-
ifending the Truths this» there are many of thofe whii:!).
we call rational Creatures, who live in. a Method quite-
oppofite to it, and make it their Rulinefs to fquander
away in a profufe Prodigality, whatever they get m
tli<rir younger Bays*^ As H the Infirmity of Age would
require no Supplies to fupport tt ; or, at leaft, wouldi
ftnd them adminiilered u^ it in ibme miraculous Way.
From this Fable we )eam this admirable Leifqn^ Never
to loie any prefenc Opportunity of providiifg again (I the-
future Evils and Accidents of Life.. While Health, and.
the Flower and Vigour of our Age remain £rm and en-
tii:e> let us hay tbem <Mit to the bed:. Advant^^; tbct
when the latter Days take hold of us, and fpoil us of
our Strength and Abilities, we may h/ive a Store mode-
rately fufhcient to fubiift upon,. which we laid up ia.thft:
JVIonuD{ of our Agew
/J
FAB.
,^S-OP'i FABLES. ao7
F A B. CXXII.
The Afs, the Lion, and the Cock.
I Afs and a Cock happened to be feeding toge-
■ tbrr in the fame Place, when on a fodden they
fpied a Lion approaching them. This Beaft is re-
ported, above a!) Things, to have an Averfion, or
rather Antipathy, to the Crowing of a Cnck ; fo
that he nofooner heard the Voice of that Bird, but
he betook him to his Heels, agd run away as faft is
ever he could. The Afs, fancying he fled for Fear
cf him, in the Bravery of his Heart purfucd him,
and followed him fo far, that they were quite out of
the Heating of the Cock ; which the Lion no fooner
perceived, but he turned about and feized the Afs ;
and juft as he was ready to tear him to Pieces, the
fluggifli Creature is faid to have expreflcd hi'mfelf
thus } Alas 1 Fool that I was, knowing the Cowar-
dice of my own Nature, thus by an a(Fei£led Cou-
rage, to throw myfeif into the Jaws of Deaih, when
1 might have remained fecurc and unmolelled !
Ihe APPLICATION.
There are many, who, out of an Ambition to appear
confiderable, a.St& to fliew themfelvcs Men of Fire, Sjm-
aoB JBSOP'a FABLEfi.
rit ud Courage: Sat tKcfe being Q^alittei, of which
they are not tne riglic Owncri, they genersljgr expofe
themfelvei, and Ihew the little Title they have to them,
by eadeaTOuring to exut and .produce them at nnfeafon-
able Timeif or with improper Perlbni. A BuHy, for
fear yoo fliouM £ad him oat to be a Coward, over^Os
his Part, and calli you to account for Afironla, which
a Man of trae Bravery would never have ihoaght of.
And a cowardly frlly Fellow, obferving that he may
take fomc Liberties with Impunity, where perhaps the
Place or the Company protect him, falily concludes front
thence, that the Perfon with whom he made free, is a
greater Coward than himfelf; To" that he not only con-
ttBuethiioSenfive Raillery and Impertinence forchepre-
fent, b^t probably renews them in fome Place not fo pri*
vUeged as the former, where his Infolence meets with a
due Chaftifement; than which nothing is more equitable
in itfelf, or agreeable to the difcreet Part of Mankind.
FAB. CXXIII. ne Ape and tbf Fox.
'T~'H£ Ape meeting the Fox one Day, humbly
* requeiled him »o give him a Piece of bis fine
long brufli Taii, t& cover hk poor neked Backfide^
which was exporcd to all the Vjtdence and Incle-
mciw/ o£ the Weather i, for la^B be, Reynard, yow
bans
ASSOP'% l^ABLES. aop
have already more than you have Occafion for, and
a great Part of it even drags along in the Dirt. The
Fox anfwered. That as to his having too mu^, that
was more than he knewj but be it as it would, he
had rather fwccp the GroMnd with his Tail as lof)g
as he lived, than deprive hitnfelf of the leaft Bit to
cover the Ape's nafty Itinking Pofteriors.
The APPLICATION.
One cannot help confidering the World, in the Par-
ticulnr of the Goods of Fortune, as a Kind of Lottery ;
jn which fotpe hw are in titled to Prizes of different De-
grees; others, and thofe by much the greateft Part,
come off with little or nothing. Some, like the Fox,
have even larger Circt>mftances than they»know what to
do with, infomuch that they are rather a Charge and
Incumbrance, than of any true Ufe and Pleafure to them.
Others, like the poor Ape's Cafe, are all Blank ; not
hating been fo lucky as to draw from the Wheel of For-
tune, wherewith to cover their Nakedncfs, and live with
tolerable Decency. That thefe Things arc left, in a
f^at Meafttre by Providence, to the blind uticertain
Shuffle of Chance, is reafonable to conclude from the un-
equal Diftribution of them; for there isfeldom any Re**
gard had to true Merit upon thefe Occafions ; Folly
and Knavery ride in Coaches, while Good-fenfe and
Honefty walk in the Dirt. The All- wife Difpofer of
Events, does certainly permit thefe Things for juft and
good Purpofes, which our (hallow Underllanding is not
able to fathom ; bnt, humanly thinking, if the Riches
and Power of the World were to be always in the Hands
of the virtuous Part of Mankind, they would be more
likely to do Good with them in their GeneracioB, than
the vile fottiCh Wretches who geneially enjoy them. A
atruly good Man would dired iall the fuporilaoas Part
of his WeAith, 8^ leall> for the Neceifitiies of iiis Fello^ft^
Creaturesi thoogh there were no Religion which en-
joined it: But lelfiih and avaricious People, who are
always great Knaves, how nuch ibever they may have*
wiU never think they have enough; much lefs be induced
by any Confideradoh of Virtue«nd Religion, to part witH
th^ leaft Farthing for public Charity and Beneficence.
FAB*
I
aio ^SO P's TABLES.
FAB. CXXI V. The Afs and tbe Utdc Dog.
T*'HE Aft, obfercing how great a Favourite tbe
■*■ little Dog was with his Mafter, how much ca-
refled and fondled, and fed with good Bits at every
Meal ; and for no other Reafon, as h« could per-
ceive, but Skipping and frilking about, wagging his
Tat), and leaping up into his Maimer's Lap; he
was refolve'd to imitate the fame, ai-.d fee whether
fuch 1 Ijehaviour would not procure him the fame
Favours. Accordingly, the Matter was no fooner
come Home from watlcing about his Fields and
Gardens, and was feUcd in bis Eafy-chair, but the
Afs, who obferved him« came gamboling and braying
towards Kim, ia a verv aukward Manner. The
Matter could not help'laughirvg absud at the odd
Sighf. But his Jril was fbon turned imo Earneft,
nben he felt the rei^h SaFute of the Afs's Foro-
fcct, who, 'raifing himfblf upon lus hinder I>egs„
pjwed againft his Breaft with a mod loving Air;
and would tain have j,ymped. iat» his Lap* The-
. > .'-'■. ■ ..SP^
•jESOP'% fables. ft^ii
good Man, terrified at this outrageous Behaviour,
and unable to endure the Weight of fo heavy a
Beaft, cried out; upon which, one of his Servants
running in with a good Stick, and laying on hear-
tily upon the Bones of the poor Afs, foon convinced
him. That every one who defire it, is not qualified
to» be a Favourite.
7^^ A P P L I C A T I O N.
Some Men arc as engaging in their Way as little
Dogs. They can fawn, wheedle, cringe-, or, if Occa-
fioiV requires, leap backward and forwardi over a Stipk,
to the great Emolument of their Mailer, and Entertain-
ment of thofc that behold them. Bat thefe arc Quali-
fications to which every body cannot pretend; and
there^re none but thofc who have a Genius for it, (hould
afpire at the Employment. Maivy a Man envies the
Happinefs of the(e Favourites, and would fain infinu-
ate himfeif into the fame good Graces, if he did but
Jknow the Way ; but, whoever has a tolerable Share of
Difcretion, will diftruft his Abilities in this Refpea,
and modehly forbear the Attempt^ for Fear he (hould
^Ifcarry and look like an Afs. Bat, in ihort, the true
Moral of this. Fable is, l*hat every one ihould confider
the juft Turn and Temper of his Parts, and weigh the
Talents by which he hopes to be diilinguifhed* After
fuch an Examination, he may the more certainly know
how to apply them to the moft proper Purpofes ; at
leaft, fo as not to hurt, or even mortify himfeif by any
.xniftaken Addrefs, Since there is fuch a Variety of
Tempers in the World, and a no lefs Multiplicity of
Arts ^nd Studies to fit and tally with them, how rea-
fonable is it in general, how much would it be for the
true Intereft of ertty one in particular, if Men would
but be direded by the natural Bent of their Genius, to
fuch Furfaits at are moft agreeable to their Capacities*
and to the Rudiments of J^ducation vdiich they have
soft firongiy imbibed.
FA B.
4ia ^ SOP'S FABLES.
FAB. CXXV. "
ffhe Bird«, the Hearts, anii the Bat.
y^NCE upon a Time, there commenced a jierce
v-/ v/'ar between the Birds and the Bealls ; whe« ,
the Bat, taking Advantage of his ambiguous Make,
hop-d, by that Means, to live fccure in a State of
'T4cutra4it)', and fave his Bacon. It was not long
before the Fntces on each Side met, and gave a Bat-
tle; and their Animofitics running very high, a
bloody Slaughter enfued. The Bat, at the Begiti-
, ning of the Day, thinking the Birds moft lilccly to
carry it, lifted (limfetf among [hem ; but kept flut-
tering at a little Dillancc, that he might the better
ob^ve, and take his Meafurcs accordingly. How-
ever, after fome Time fpcnt in the A^ion, the Army
of the Bealh foeming to prevail, he went ecurely
over to them, and endeavoiired to convince than,
by the Affinity which he had fo a Moufe, liiat he
was b/ NatUK a Beaft^ and would always continue
hsta
jESOP's fables, 213
firm and true to their Intereft. His Plea was ad-
niitted ; but^ in the End, the Advantage turning
completely on the Side of the Birds, under the ad-
mirable Cfondud and Courage of their General, the
Eagle; the Bat, to fave his Life^ and efcape the
Di%race of falling into the Hands of his deferted
Friends, betook hirnfclf to Fljght ; and ever fincet
fkulking in Caves and hollow Trees all Day, as if
afliamed to (hew himfelf, he never appears till the
Dufk of the Evening, when all the feathered Inha-
bitants of the Air are gone to Rood*
TJ^ A P P L I C A X I O N.
For any one to defer t the Intereft of his Country, and
turn Renegado, cither out of Fear, or any Profpeft of
^d^jrantage, is fo notoriouily vile and ]qw, that it is no
Wonder if the Man, who is defcfted in it, is for ever
afhamed to fee the Sun> an4 to ihew himfelf in the Eyes
q£ thofe whofe Caafe he has betrayed. Yet, as there is
ii:arce any Vice> even to be imagined, but there may
be found Men who have been gu^y'of it, perhaps there
have been as many Criminals- in the Cafe hefore us, as
in any one Particular befides, notwithilanding the Ag^
gravation and extraordinary Degree of its BafenJ^.
We cajinot help reflecting upon it with Horror ; bur,
as truly deteftable as this Vice is, and mnft be acknow*
ledged to be by all Mankind, fo far are thofe that prac*
tife it from being treated with a juft Reientment by the
reft of Mankind, that, by the kmd Reception they af-
terwards meet with, they jather feem, to be encoujpaged
and applauded, than defpifed and difcodntenancedfbr k.
P A B;
214 yESOP's FABLES.
FAB. CXXVI. r^f Bear «»<//*<? Bee Hives.
A B £ A'R, climbing over the Fence into a Place
■*^ where Bees were kept, began to pliinder the
Hives, and rob them of their Honey. But the Bees,
to levenge the Injury, attacked him in a whole
Swarci together} and though they were not able to
pierce his rugged Hide, yet, with their little Stings,
they fo annoyed his Eyes and Noflrils, that, urable
to endure the fmarting Pain, with Impatience he
tore the Skin over his Eats with his own Claws,
and fuflfered ample Punifhment foe the In)"^/ ^^
did the Bees, in breaking open their waxen Cells.
TA^ A P P L I C A T I O N.
Many and great are the Injuiies of which fome' Men
'are guilty towards others, for the lake of gratifying fome
liquuiilh Appetite. For there arc thofe who would not
fticic to bring Defotatiou upon theii' Countryj and run
the Hazard of their own Necks into the Ba^ain, ra-
ther than baulk a wicked Inclination, either ofCruelty,
AmbiiioD, or Avarice. But it were to be wiJhed, all
>yho.aie hurried by fuch blind Inpulfes, would conflder
a Mo-
jESOP'% fables, ai5
a Moment; beibre they proceed to irrevocable Execn*
tioii. Injttrifcsand Wrongs not only call for Revenge
and Reparation with the Voice of Equity itfelf, b jt ^4
teitiAes carry their Punifhment along with them, and,
by an, DBfotefeen Train of Events, are re tor iff d at the
Headof the After of them; and not feldotn, from a deep
&tmatXi, expiated upon hirorelf, by his own Hand.
' FAB. CXXVII. r^f Cock ^rf Tiff Fox.
A COCK' being perched among the Branches ot
■^*- a lofty Tree, crowed aloud, lb that the Shril-
ijefs of his Voice ecboed through the Wood, and
invited a Fox to the 'PlaCe„ whu was prowling in
that Neighbourhood,' in Qtteft of his Prey. But
ReyHord, finding the Cock wiu iiuccelfible, hy Rea-
son of the Height of hu Situation, had Recouife t«
Stratagem, in order to decoy liim down; lb, ap-
proaching the Tree, Coufui,' fays he, I am heartily
glad to fee yoU; but at the fame Time, I cannot
forbear expiefTing my Uneaftnefs at the Inconve-
nience of the Place, which will not let me pay is*
]K«fpci^ to ypu io a han^omer Manner} though I
■. . " fttppoft
ai6 ^SOP's FABLES.
fuppofe you will come down prefently, and fo that
Dimculty is eafily refnov£d. Indeed, Cbufin, fays
the Cock, to tell yo« the Truth, I do not think it
ftfe to venture 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 fome other Beaft, and what will become of me
then ? O dear, fays R^nard^ is it poffible that you
can be (b ignorant, as not to know oJF the Peace
tMat has been lately proclaimed between all Kind
of Birds and Beafts; au4 that we are, for the fu-
ture^ to fprbear HofttHties on all Sides, and to live
in the utmoft Love and Harmony, and that, under
Penal^ of fufFering the fevereft PunKhment tKat
can be inflicted? All this while the Cock feemed
to give little Attention to what was faid, but ftretched
out his Neck, as if he faw fomething at a Dtftance.
Cbufm, fays the Fox, what is that you look at {%
carnoftly i Why, fays the Cock, I think I fee a Pack
of Hounds yonder, a little Way off. O then, fays
the Fox, your humble Servant, I muft be gone. Nay,
pray Coufm, do not go, fays the Cock, I am juft
coming down ; fure you are not afraid of Dogskin
thefe peaceable Times. No, no, fays he; but tea to
one \yhether they have heard of the Proclaoiation yet.
The, ATP P L I C A T I O N.
• It.is a very agreeable Thing to fee Craft repelled by
Conning; more efpecially to behold the Snares of th«5
Wicked, broken and defeated by the diicr^t Ma^iage-
4neat gf the Innocept.. The Moral qf this Fable prm-
icijpally puts us in Mind, 9ot to be too credalous to-
wards tl^e Infinuat^pns of thofe, who are already diftin-
-guiihed ^^y their want of Faith and Honefty. When
therefore ^ny ,fuch would draw'nsinto'a Compliance with
their dellrudive Meafures^ by a i5retended Civility and
^extraordinary Concern for our Intereft, we fhoald cor«
-fider fach Propofah in their troe Lights ^ a Bait ari-
full/
jE SOP'S FABLES. 217,
fully plared to con^eil the fatjl Hook which is in-
tended to draw us into Ciipuviiy and Thraldom. An
boaeft Man, with a little pl;)in Senfe, may do a thou-
(and advanlngeous Things For the Public Goad, and
without being Mailer of much Addrefs or Rhetoric, aa
ealily convince People that his Dcfigns arc intended for
their Welfare: But a wicked defigning Politician, tho'
he has a TongLe as eloquent as ever fpolce, may fome-
limes be di (appointed in his Projeftj, and be foiled in
hi£ Schemes ) elpecially when thrir deKrnai»e Texture
ii (a coarfely fpun, and the Threads of Mifchief are fa
large in ihera, as to beftlt even by thofe wfao& Senfea-
arc fcarce perfeA eaough to fee and underltand them.
FAB. CXXVIII. The Cat and the Cock.
Cock, feized mm one Morning by Surprife,
' and a&ed him what he could fay forhim!elf, why
Slaughter Ihould not pjfs upon him? The Cocic
rcj/lied, that he was ierviceable to Mankind, by
f ro^ving in the Morning, and calling them up lo
their daily Labour. 'Ih^t is true, /ays ihc Cat, and
L it
3i8 jESOF't FABLES,
h the very ObjeAion that I have againfl: you ; for
you make fucb a (brill impertinent Noife» that Peo-
ple cannot fleep for you. fiefides, you are an in-
ceftuous Rafcai^ and make no Scruple of lying with
your Mother and Sifters. Well, fays the Cock, this
I do not deny ; but I do it to procure Eggs and
Chickens for my Mafter. Ah ! Villain, fays the
Cat, hold your wicked Tongue ; fuch Impieties as
ahefe declare that you are no longer fit to live.
Tli APPLICATION.
•
When a wicked Man, in Power, has a Mind to glut
hi» Appetite in any refpedl. Innocence, or even Merit,
IS no Prote^ion againfl him. The Cries of Juftice, and
the Voice of Reaibn, are of m> Effe£t upon a Confcience
hardened in Iniquity, and a Mind vcrfed in a long Prac-
tice of Wrong and Robbery. Remon Frances, however
reafonably urged, or movingly couched, have no more
Influence uponjhe Heart of fuch a one, than the gen-
tle £vening Breeze has upon the Oak, when it whim-
pers among its Branches ; or the rifing Surges upon the
deaf Rock, when they daih and break againd its Sides.
Power ihould never be trulled in the Hands of an im*
pious i'eliifh Man, and one that has more Regard to the
Gratification of his own unbounded Avarice, thaa . to
public Peace and Juftice. Were it not for the tacit
Conient, and heartlefs Compliance of a great Majority
of Fools, Mankind would not be ridden, as oftentimes
they are, by a little Mgoriiy of Knaves, to their great
Misfortune : For, whatever People may think of the
Times, if they were ten Times worfe than they are, it
is principally owing to their own Stupidity : Why do
they truft the Man a Moment longer, who has once in-
jureid and betrayed them f \
FAB.
^SOP's FABLES. aij
FAB. CXXIX. r**' Dog i« ;/« Manger.
A D O G was lying upon a Manger full of Hay.
*^ An Ox being hungry, came near, and oiFercd
to eat »f the Hay ; but the envious tll-nacured Cur,
getiing up a;id fnarlrng at him, would not fuffer
him to touch it. Upon which the Ox, in the Bit-
ternefs of hi« Heart, faid, A Curfe light on thee, for
a malicious Wretch, who wilt neither eat Hajr tby-
felf, HOT fuffer others to do it.
The APPLICATION.
Envy ii the moft anoatural and an accountable of aV
the PalTionj. There ii fcarce any other Emotion of tlio
Mind, however anreafunable, but may hare fomething
faid in ExcufefDrit; and there are many of thefe Wealc-
nelTcs of the Soul, which, notwiihllmding the Wroae-
nek and Irregularity of them, fwell the Heart, while
they laft, with Plcifure and Gladnefs. But jhe envtou*
Mitit ha) no fucK Apology At this to-make ; the Aronger .
the PaiEon is, the greater Torment he en4uret i and
fubjeOi himfelf to a continual real Faia, bf only wUb-
L 2 tug
«0 XSOT'i FABLES-
.ng III to oihen. Re<eng« is fweet, though cruel &nd'
'nhaman ; . an4 though it romeames thirlU even for
Blood, yet may be gluciEd and f^ciated. AvafUc is
fomelhirig highly monltrous ani abfurd ; yet, ti it is «
Defire after Riches, every link Acquifiiion givej it
Pleafure ; and to behold and feel the hoarded Treafuiv,
to a covetous Man is a conllani uncloylng Erjaymeni.
But Envy, which i; an Anniety arifing in oar Minds,
Upon our obfervin'g Accomplifhments in oihers, which
we want ourfelvea, can never rsceive any true Comfor;,
unlefs in a Deluge, a Conflagraiion, a Plague, or fome
general Calamiiy that thould befal Mankind : For, as
long Z» there is a Creature living, that enjoys its Being
happily within the envious Man's Sphere, it will af-
ford Nourifliment to his diftempered Mind: Butfuch
Noutilhment, as will make }iim pine, and fret,-and
himfelf to nothing.
FAB. CXXX. The Dog and the Sheep.
THE Dt^ Cued the Iheep for a Debt, of which
the Kite and the Wcif were to be Judges *.
Thiy, withoiit debating loag upon the Matter,. op
'' making
jE SOP'S FvABLES. aai
making anv Scruple for Want of Evidence, gave
Sentence for the Plaintiff ^ who. immediately i^tf^
the poor Sheep in Pieces, and divided the Spoil ^Ick
the unjuft judges.
The A P p. L I C A T 1 O N.
Deplorable are the Times, when open bare- faced Vil-
lainy is prote^led aad encouraged, when Innocence is
obnoxious, Honefty contemptible, and it is reckoned
criminal to efpoufe the Caufe of Virtue. Men origi-
nally entered into Covenants and civil Compads with
cdch other for the Promotion of their Happinefs and
Well-being, for the Eflablifhment of Jufttce and pub-
lic Peace.. How comes it then that they look llupidly
on, and tamely acquiefce when wicked Men pervert
this End, and eflablifh an arbitrary Tyranny of their
own, upon the Foundation of Fraud and Oppreifion f
Among Beafis, who are incapable of being civilized by
focial Laws, it is no ftrange Thing to fee innocent help-
lefs Sheep fall a Prey to Dogs, Wolves, and Kites : But
it is amazing how Mankind could ever (ink down to
fach a low Degree of bafe Cowardice, as to fufFer fome
of the worft of their Species to ufurp a Power over
them, to fuperfede the righteous Laws of good Govern-
ment, and to exercife all Kinds of InjulHce and Hard-
Ihip, in gratifying their own vicious LuHs. Wherever
fuch Enormities are pra^tifed, it is when a few rapa-
cious Statefmcn combine together to get and fecure the
Power in their own Hands, and agree to divide the Spoils
among themfelves. For as long aa the Caufe is to be
tried only among themfelves, no Q^cftion but they will
always vouch for each other. But, at the fame Time»
it is hard to determine which refemble Brutes moft>
they in ading, or the People in fuffering them to a^
their vile fel&ib Schemes.
L 3 FAB.
ai2 ^SOP's FABLES.
FAB. CXXXI. n^mvrkanJlbf Farmer.
A Hawk, puifuing a Pigeon over a Corn-fid J
■^^ with great Eagernefs and Force, thrcvr himTelf
into a Net, which a Hufbandman hid planted there
to take the Crows ; who being employed not far off,
and feeing the Hawlc fluttering in the Net, came
and toolt him : But, jufl as he waa going to kill
him, the Hawic befuught him to let him go, afTitr-
i^ hiai, thai he was only following a Pigeon, and
neither intended, nor had done any Harm to him.
To whom tha Farmer replied, and what Harm had
the poor Pigeon done to you I Upon which, be
wrung his Head off immediately.
Tit APPLICATION.
Piffion, Prejudice, or Power, may fo far blind a Man,
as not to fulTer him juDty to diftiiiEuifh whether he it
notifying injurioufly, at the (ame Time chat he fancies
' Kc ia only doing hb Duty. Now tlM beft Way of being
>; - coBvinccd,
^SOP'% FABLES. 52J
conYinced, whether what we do is reafonable and fit,
is to pot oarfelves in the Pl^tce of rhe Perfons witht-
whom we are concerned, and then confult our Con*
fcience about the Rectitude of oar Behaviour. For this
we may be afTured of, that we are ading wrong, whe;i«
ever we arc doing any Thing to another, which we
ihontd think unjim if it was done to os. Nothing but
an habitual Inadvertency, as to this Particular, can be
the Occaiton that fo many ingenious noble Spirits are
ofcen engaged in Conrfes fo oppofite to Virtue and
Honour. .He that would ftartle, if a litt^ /Attorney
ihonld tamper with him. to forfwear himfelf, to bring oS
fbme finall Offender, ibme ordinary TrefpafTer, will,
without Scruple, infringe the Conftitdtion of his Coun-
try, for the precarious rrofpett of a Place or a Peniion*.
Which is moil corrupt, he that lyes. Hire a Knight of
the Poft, for Half-a-Crbwn and a Dinner, or he that
does it fot the more fubftanrial Confideration of »
Tkottfand Pounds a Ycarf -W^ch would be doing moft
Service to the Public; giving true Teftimony in a
Caufe between two pjivaie Men, atid againft cme littha
common Thief, who has flolen a Gold Watch ; or voting
honeftly and courageoufly againft a Rogne of Stare, who^
has gagged and bound the Laws, and ftript the Nation ^
Let tho& who intend to zSi jti^ly* but view Things in
this Light, and all would be Ivellf Therfe Would be no^
Danger of their opprefling others, ot Fear of being op-
preflfd themfelves.
L 4 TAB.
224 JESO P's FABLES.
FAB. CXXXII. Death W Cupid.
f~*UPJDy one fultry SummeT's Noon, tired with
*-' Play, and faint with Heat, went into a cool
Grotto to repofe himfelf, which happened to be the
Care of Death. He threw himfetf carelefsly down
on the Floor, and his Quiver turning topfy-larvy,
aJ] the Arrows fell out, and mingled with thofe of
Death, which lay fcatlered up and down the Place.
When he awoke, he gathered them up, as well as
he could ; but they were fo intermingled, ihst tho'
he knew the certain Numher, he could not rightly
dillinguini them; from which it happened, that he
took up fome of the Arrows which belonged to
Deaths and left fcvera! of his own in the room of
them. ,This is the Caufe that we, now and then,
fee the Hearts of the Old and Decrepit transfixed
with the Bolts of Leve; and with equal Grief and
Surprife, behold the youthful blooming P^rt of our
Species fmicten with the Darts of Death.
ru
^^aP's. FABLES. 225
r*^ A P P L I C A T I O N.
If we allow for this Fable's being written by a Hea<'
thetT^ and according to the Scheme of the ancient Pa-
gan ! Theology, it will appear to be a pretty probable
Solution of fome Parts of the Difpenfation of Provi«
dence, which otherwife feem to be obfcure aisd unao-
cou-ntable. For, when we fee the Young and the Old
fall promircadufly hy tbe Hand of Dtathy and at the
fame Time con^der that the World is governed by an
all-wife Providence, we aile puzzled how to account
for fo fcemingly prepofterous and unnatural a Way of
working. We &ould look upon a Gardener to be
mad, or at leaft vejry capricious, who, when his young
Trees are jufl ^rrived to a Degree of bearing, fhould*
cot them down for Fuel ; and cKufe out old, rotten,
decayed, faplefs Stocks, to graft and inoculate upon ;
Yet the irregular Proceedings of tliofe two Levellers
Lo've and Deaths appear to be every Jot as odd and un«
r^fonable. However, we muft take it for granted, *
that thefe Things, though the Method of them is hid-
den from our Eyes, are tranfa^d after the moH juft
and fit Manner imaginable; but, humanly fpeaking,
it is flrange chat Dtath (bould be fuiFered to make fucht
undilVinguifhed Havock in the World, and at the fame
Time, juil a« (hocking and unnatural to fee Old Age
laid betwixt a Pair of Wedding- Sheets, as it is for
Youth and Beauty to be locked up in the cold Embraces
of the Grave.
I> 5 F i%B^
22fi MS'0\P'% FABLES,
FAB. CXXXIII. tht Dove and the Ant.
'"pHE Ant compelled by Tbirft, went todrinL in
■*■ a clear, purling Rivulet ; but the Current, with
its circling Eddy, fnatched her away, and carried
her down [he Stream. A Dove, pitying her dif-
tpefled Cfinditioff, crept a Branch fiom a neigh-
bouring Tree, and let it fall into the Water, by
Means of which the Ant faved herfelf, and got
afliore.. I^ot long after, a Fowler having a Dtlign
upon the Dove, planted his Nets in due Order,
without the Bird's obferving what he was about ;
which the Ant perceiving, juft as he was goin'g to
put his Defign in Execution, fhe bit him by the
Heel, and made him give fo fudden a Stan, that the
Dove toolc the Alarm, and iiew away.
Tht APPLICATION.
One good Turn deferves another; and Gratitude i*
excited by fo noble and natural a Spirit, that be ought
to be looked upon as the vileft of Creatures, who ha»
so Senfe of it. it '^H indeed, Tq very juft and equita*
£S0 P^¥ FABLES. 227
Me a Thing, and fo much^ every Man'* Doty, that 10
fpeakofil properly, one Aioutd not meoiion it a» any
Thing' meritorious, or ih« may claim Praiftf and Ad- ^
miration, any more than- we ftiOiiM fay a Manou^ht
to be rcMf^ed or caBimendc^ for not kilJing his t-'a-
tiier, or forbearing to fct Fire to hi» Neighbour'* Houfe.
Tlw bright and fliining Piece of Morality, therefore,
which is recommended to ui in thi* Pabte, is^ec fortli'
in this Example of the Dove, who, without any Obli-
eadon or Expeftfition, does a voluntary Office of- Cha-
Fity to iti Fellow-Creature in Diftrefs. The conftant
uninterrupted Praftice of this Virtue, is the only
Thing in which wc are capable of Imitating the great
Author of our Being ; whofe BtlcveJ San, befidei the
many Precepts he has given to enforce this Dutv, ufed
this Expreffioo as a common Saying, It ii mart hitjjidtt
gme than IB reciivt.
FAB. CXXXIV. I'he'E.i^zandtbeCxfyv.
A N E^gle dew down from the Top of a hi^h
-^^ Rock, and fettled upon the Back of a Lamb t
and then inftantly flying up into the Air again,
bore bis bleating Prize aloft in hit Pounces. A
h 6 Crow
228 jS SOP'S FABLES.
Crow who fat upon an Elm, and beheld this Ex-
ploit, refolved to imitate it ; fo flying down upon
the Back of a Ram, and intai^gling his Claws in
the Wool, he fell a chattering and attempting to
fly ; by which Means he drew the Obfervation of
the Shepherd upon him, who, finding his Feet
hampered in the Fleece of the Ram, eafily took
him, and' gave him to his Boys for their Sport and
Diverfion.
The APPLICATION.
Every Quality which is excellent and commendable^
is not, however, always a proper Objed for our Imita-
tion. We ought to (late our own Account honeflly
and fairly, that we may fee what our Abilities are, and
how our Circumftances ftand : Otherwiie, we may not '
only become. r id icu}o us to others, but prejudicial, to
oorfelves, by fome aukward and ill-judged Emulation ;-
though it happen to be in a Qualification truly lauda-
ble and great. It behoves every Man to exert a good
Share of Induflry towards the Advancement of his in-
tereft, or, if he pIeafes,.of his Reputation. But then
it is" highly neceflary that he' does this with a true Re-
gard to his own Capacity, and without any Danger o£
expofing or embarrafling himfelf In the Operaiioa.
FAB.
^SOP's FABLES. as^
F A B. exxxv.
Tif Envious Man ami the Covetous.
AN envious Man happened' to be offering up hcs
: PrayiifS-to^n^(V<r»juftin the Time and Place
with a covetous mifcrable Fellow. Jufiter, rot
caring to be troubled with their Impertinences
himfelf, knt. Jpalla to examine the Merits of their
Petitions, and to give them fuch Relief as he (bould
think proper. Apollo therefore opened his Com-
miflion, and withal told them, that, to make fliort
of the Matter, whatever, the one alked, the other
fhould have it double. Upon this, the eovetou}
Man, tho' he had a thoufand Things to requef^, yet
forbore to afk firft, hoping to receive a double Quan-
tity J for he concluded, tnat all Men's Wiflies fym-
pathifcd with his. By ihi«. Means, the envious Man
had an Opportunity of preferring his Petition firft,
which was the Thing he ainjtd at; fo without much
Helitation, he {.rayed to be relieved, by having one
df hia£yes.putout; knowings that, of Confcqucnce,
ha Ccmpanion would be deprived ef both.
130 ^ J O P • s F A B L E S.
Tbt APPLICATION.
In ihii Fable, the Polly of tbofe two Vicn, Envy anii
Avarice, ii fullv expofed, end handromely rallied. The
Mifer, thnugb Ke has the Riches ofihe World, withaut
Siiic, laid opea to hit Choice,, yet dare* not name the
Suon, for fear another (hould be richer than himfelf.
ingly. The eovioui Man, though he has a Power of
cilling for good Things, wilhgut Meafare. to himlelf
or others, yet waves this happy Privilege, and is con-
tent to punilh himfelf by a yery great Lora, even that
of an Eye, that he may bring down a double Portion
ofthe lilceCalitnity upon another. Thefe are the true
Tempers of the Covetous and Envions ; one can fcaroe
determine whether they are Aiore mifchtevoul to them*'
felves, or to the Public; but it is manifel^, that they are
highly noxiousloboth, and Ifaould be treated accordingly.
■ FAB. CXXXVI. TheFoxmdtbeUoa..
'X'HE firft Time the Fox faw the Ljon, he ftU-
-^ down at his Feet, and W^ ready to die widt
Feat. The fecond Time, he took Courage, and
could
^ SOP'S FABLES. aji
could evtu bear to look upon him. The Chird
l^ime he had the Impudence to cdme up to him, to
falut^ him^ and to enter into familiar ConverCittOQ
with him.
Thi APPLICATION.
From this Fable we inay obferve iIm two Extremes
in which we iluiy faiU. as to a proper Behaviour towards
our Sup^rion: The one ia a Baibfufnefsy proceeding
either from a vicious guilty Mind» or a timorous Ru/H«
city ; The other, an over-bearing Impudence, which
aflumes more than becomes tt« and {b renders the Fer-
fon infufferable to the Coaverfation of well-bred rea-
fonable People. Bat there is this Difference between*
the fiaflifulnefs that arifes from a Want of Education,
and the Shamefaced nefs that accompanies confcioas
G uilc ; the firft, by a Continuance of Time and a nearer
Acquainunce, may be ripened into a proper liberal Be-
haviour ; the other no iooner finds an eafy pradieable
Accefs, but it throws oS all Manner of ReverencCr grows
tytry Day more and more familiar^ and branches out
into the utmoft Indecency and Irregularity. Indeed^
there are many Occafions which may happen to call an
Awe, or even a Terror upon cur Minds at firft View,
without any juft and rea(bnable Grounds: But upon a
little Recolledion, or a nearer Iniight> we recover our-
felves, and can appear indilFerent and unconcerned,
where, before, we were ready to fink under a Load of
DifEdence and Fear. We fhould, upon fuch Occafions,
ufe our Endeavours to regain a due Degree of Steadidefs
and Refolution ; but, at ihe fame 'I ime> we mufi have a
Care that our SfForts in that Refpedt do not force the
Balance too much, and make it rife to an unbecoming
Free^odiy and an offenfive Familiarity.
FAB.
i3^ MSOP*% FABLES.
FAB. CXXXVIl. rieGcefeaffrf/i^ Cranes;
A Flock of Geefe and a Parcel of Cranes ufed of-
^*' ten to feed together in a Corn- field. At laft»
the Owner of the Corn, with his Servants, coming
upon ihem of a fuJiJen, fyriirifed them in the very
Faifl; and the Geefe being heavy, fat, full bodied
Creatures, were mod of thctn Sufferers; but the
CraneSj being thin and light, cafily flew away.
the APPLICATION.
When the Enemy comes to make a Seizure, they are
farelo foffermoft, whofe Ctrcumllances are the richeft
and faiielt. In any Cafe of Perfecution, Money hangs '
Irke a dead Weighc about a Man ; snd tve never feel
GoH fo heavy, as when we endeavour to make ofi^with
it. Therefore wife and politic Miniders of Slate, when-
ever they fee a Storm begin to gather overtheir Heads,
alA'ays take Care to unlade themfelvei of a good Part
of their Cargo; and, by this Means, feldom find but
iheBlaftsof Ubloquy, thro' which they are to make their
Way, are leb deaf and inexorable than the flotmy
Wav<9 of the Ocean. Indeed, Poverty is too fre^ucnil^
8 tb&
jESOP's fables. 2J3
tjic Occafion of Men's being Ireated as if they were guiltr .
of the greaieil Crimes and Reproachei: But then, ihefe
Sort of Ciiniiaals hav« this Advantage, that no one
thinks lit to treat them with any Thing worfe than Con-
tempt; Whereas, if an^ Pretente can be found to fall
u^n [he Man who is rich, it is a Miracle if he efcapes
wiih both Life and Money. In (hort. Riches ore like
the Baggage of an Array ; Ttry oleful, while we lie in
^uict PolTelSon of the Camp, or are powerful enongh to
defy the Enemy j but when once we are nut to the
It out, if we would get off with our Lives or Liberties, we
mull quit our Baggage as foon as pofiible, and leave it
for Plunder to oof Purfuers. Nay, however flrongly in.
trenched we may think oxrfelves, as long as Money is in
tTie Cafe, it is good to look about us for fear of a Surprife:
For, after all, be that does not, upon OccaCon, make
himfelf \ying) with his Riches to fly off with, deferves to
be puniQied, like a Goofe as he is,, for his Heavinefs.
FAB, CXXXVIll. The Hork end the A&.
•*rHE Horfe, adorned with his great War-Saddle,
■*■ atjd champing his foaming Bridle, came thun-
dering along the Way, and made the MouiUains
echo with his loud (hrill Neighing. He had rot
gonf
a34 :£ SOP'S FABLES.
gone far, before he overtook an Afs, who was la-
Dourln? under a heavy Burden, and moving flowly
on in the fame Track with himfclf. Immediately
he called out to him, in a haughty imperious l^one^
and threatened to trample him in the Dirt, if he
did not break the Way for him. The poor patient
Afs, not daring to difpute the Matter, quietly got
out of his Way as fail as he could, and let him gp
by. Not long after this, tlie fame Horfe, in an En*
gagement with the Enemy, happened to be (hot in
the Eye, which made him unfit for Shew, or any
military Bufincft ; fo he was.ftript of his fine Orna-
ments, and fold to a Carrier. The Afs meeting him
in this forlorn Condition, thought that now it was
his Time to infult; and fo, lays he,, Hey-day,
f'riend, is it you! Well, I always believed that
Pride of your's would one Day have a Fall.
fU APPLICATION.
Pride is 4 very unaccountable Vice: Many people fall
into it anawares, and are often led * into it by Motives,
which if ihcy confidered Things rightly, would make
then abhor the very Thonghts of it. Th«-e it 90 Man
that thinks well of himfelf^ but defu'es that the reft of
the WQrId (hould think fo too. Now it is the wrong
Meafures we take in endeavouring after thi8> that ex-
pofe us to difcerninjg[ People in that Light which they
call- Pride, and which is fo fzr from giving us any Ad-
vantage in their Efteem, that it renders us defpicahle
land ridiculous. It is an AiFedation of appearing con-
fida*able that puts Men upon being proud and iniolent ;
and their very being fo^ makes them> infallibiy, little
and inconiidcrable. The Man that claims and calls for
Reverence and ^efped, deferves none 1 he that a&s for
Applaufe, is fure to lofe it ; the certain Way to get it is
to leern to ihun it ; and the humble Man, according to
the Maxims even of this Worlds is the mo^ Hkely to be
exalted. He that, in his Words or Adions, j^eads for
Superiority, and rather chufes to do an ill Adtion^ than
eondefcend to do a good one* ads like a Horfe« and is
• • : Kf
^SOP'i FABLES. 235
U voiJ af Reafon anil UnderAaniling. The Rich and
the Powerful want nothing, but the Love anil Efleem of
Mankind to eamptete their {^elicit/; and thefe they
are Aire to obuin bj a gond-humournl, kind Conde-
fcenAoD ; and as certain of being every body'i Awr-
fibn,- while the kail Tinfture of overbearing Rudencfa
it perceptible in their Wordi or Aftioni.- What bru-
tal Tempers mull they be of, who can be eafy and in-
different, while They know themfelvcs to be uaiverfally
hated, iho' in the Midll of Affluence and Power? But
this is not all ; for if ever the Wheel of Fortune fhould
whirl them from the Top to the Bottom, inftead of
Friendihip or-Commiferation, they will meet with no-
thing but Contempt j and that with much more Jultice
than ever ibey themfe]*et exerted it towards others.
FAB. CXXXIX.
1%e Hufbandman and bis Sons,
A Cntiip Hufbandmxn lyingattbePointtjf Deith,
■**■ and being delirous his Sons Ihould purfue that
innocent entertaitling Courfe of Agriculture, in
which himfelf had been engaged all bis Life, made
Ufe of this Expedient to induce them to it. He call-
ed tbetn to fais Bed-fide, and ^olte to tbii Effe^
All
aje jESOP'% fabl es.
All the Patrimony I have to bequeath to you. Sons,
IS my Farii> and my Vineyard, of which 1 make you
Joint-Heirs. But I charge you.not to let it go out
of your own Occupatioi); for, if I have any Trea-
fure befldes, it lies buried fomcwhcre in the Ground,
within a Foot of the Surface. This made the Sons
conclude, that he talked of Money which he had hid
there: So, after their Father's Death, with unwea-
ried Diligence and Application, they carefully dug
up every Inch, both. of the Farm and Vineyard.
From whence it came to pafs, that tho* they miiled
of the Treafure which they expe&ed, the Ground,
by being fo well ftirred and loofened, produced fo
plentiful a Crop of all that was fowed in it, as {Uroved
a real, and that no inconiiderable Treafure.
The APPLICATION.
Labour and Indadryy .well applied > feldom fail of
finding a Treafure ; and fioce iomething towards the
Coiiveniencies and PlcafuresoPLifc may be-4k us pro-
cured, why ihottld we lofe and. throw it away, by being
flothful and idle? Exercife is a great Support of Health,
and Health is by fax the greate^fingle Blefiing eTLife ;
which alone will weigh fufiicient^ with any confiderate
Man, fo as to keep him from being utterly deflitate of
Employment. But of all the Kinds of Treafure which
are fure to reward the Diligence of the adlive Mao, none
is more ^gieeable, either in the Purfuit.or Fofleffion^
than that which arjfes from the Culture of the Earth.
What can .be more fatisfa^lory, than to have out Hopes
grow and increafe every Day with the Pfoduft of' the
Ground ; to have our Minds entertained with the won-
derful Oeconomy of the vegetable World; our Nerves
ftrengthened, and our Blood purtiied, by aconftant Return
of Exercife ; and a new Reliih given to every Meal from
the Fragrancy of the Air, and Freihnefs of the Soil h
Add to all thefe, that the Treafures and Delights of
Agriculture'are jb various, that they are not eafily to be
defcribed, and arenever to be excelled* They are fcarca
to be conceived by one that' has not felt them, nor ta
be truly painted by any but the greateft of Poets*
^SO P's FABLES; ij;
FAB. CXL. ^heHoTkandJheUoa,
A LION, feeing a fine plump Nag, had a great
■^ Mind to cat a Bit of him, but knew not which
Way to get him into his Power. At lart he be-
thought himfclf of this Contrivance ; he gave out
that he was a Phyfician i who, having gained Ex-
perience by his Tiavelwiito foreign Countries, had
made himfelf capable of curing any Sorr of Mabdy
or Diflemper, incident to any KinJ of Bead ; hop-
ing by this Stratagem, to get an eafier Admittance
among Cattle, and find an Opportunity to execute
his Defion. The Horfe, who fmolted the Matter,
was refoTved to be even with htm ; and fo humour-
ing the Thing, as if he fufpedieJ nothing, he prayed
the Lion to give him his Advice in Relati'in to a
Thorn he had got in his Four, which had quite
lamed him, amd gave him great Ptin and Upeafi-
nefs: The Lion readily afireed, and dtfired he might
fee the Foot. Upon which the Horfe lifted up one
of his hind Legs, and while the Lion pretended- to
be poring earnettly upon his Hoof, gave him lucha
Kick in the Face as quite Itunncd bim, and Icit
him
838 MSOP'% FABLES.
him Tprawling upon Ibe Ground. In the mean
Time ihc Horfe trotted away, neighing, and laugh-
ing merrilj at the Succcfs of the Trick, by which
he had defeated the Purpofeof sac who intended
10 have tricked him out of his Life.
Tbt APPLICATION.
Tho' all Manner of Fraud and Tricking is mean, and
Btterly tteneath a Man of Senfe wi Honour, yet me-
think), Etjuiiy itfelf allow* us todilappoiDi the I>eceiver,
and to repel Craft by Cunning. Treachery has fomething
fo wricked, and worthy of PuniHiaieat in its Nature, that
it deferves to meet with a Reiurn of its own Kind; an
open Revenge would be too liberal for it, and nothing
matches it but iifelf. However ihenfore aitominable it ii,
to be the Aggreflbr in this Point, yet it cannot tie incon-
(jftcntwithVirtae to counterplot, and to take all Manner
of Advantages againfl: the Man who is undermining us.
FAB. CXLI. 'TbeVior\,tbeBtiir,andtbe^OTt-
A Lion and a Bear fell together by the Ears, over
■**■ the Caicafe of a Fawn, which they found in
the Foreft, their Title to him being to be decided by
Force of Arms, The Battle was fevcre and tough
4 on
^^0?'^ FABLES. a39
on both Sides,, and they held it out, tearing and
worrying one another fo long, that, what with
Wounds and Fatigue, they were fo faint and wear/t
they were not able to ftrike another Stroke. Thus»
while they lay upon the Ground, panting and loll-
ing out their Tongues, a Fox chanced to pafs by
that Way, who, perceiving how the Cafe ftood,
very impudently ftept in between them, feized the
Booty which th^ had all this while been contend*
ing for, and earned it off. The two Combatants,
who lay and beheld all ihis, without having Strength
enough to ftir and prevent it, were only wife enough
to make this Refledion : Behold the Fruits of our
Strife and Contention ! that Villain, the Fox, bears
away the Prize, and weourfelves have deptived each
other of the Power to recover it from him.
The APPLICATION.
When People go to Law about an uncertain Title, and
have (pent their whole Eilate in the Conttft, nothing is
more common than for fome little pettifogging Attor-
ney, to (lep in and fccure it to hinrfelf. The v^ry Name
of Law feems to imply Equity and Juilice, and that is
the Bale which has drawn in many to their Ruin. Others
are excited by their Paflions, and care not if they de-
ilroy themfelves, fo they do but fee their Enemy perilh
with them. Bur, if we fay afide Prejudice and Folly,
and thick calmly of the Matter, we ihall find, that going
to Law is not the beil Way of deciding Differences
about Property; it being, generally fpeaking, much
fafer to trult to the Arbitration of two or three honefl
fenfible Neighbours, than, at a vafl Expence of Money,
Time and Trouble, to run through the tedious, frivo-
lous Forms, with which, b^ the Artificeofereedy Law-
yers,, a Court of Judicature is contrived to be attended.
It has been faid, that if Mankind would lead moral vir-
tuous Lives, there would be no Occaiion for Divines ;
if they would but live temperately and foberly, that they
iVould never want Phylicians ; both which AfTertions^
tho' true in the main, are yet expreiTed in too great a
Latiyide.
a+o .€S6P'& FABLES;
Latitude. But one may venture to affirm. That if Men
preferved ailrift Regard to Juftice and Honsfty in their
Dfalingj with each other, and upon any MiRalce or
Mifjpprehenfion, were always ready to refer the Matier
to diimterefled Umpires, of acknowledgecl Jadgmenf,
and [ncegriiiy, they never could have (he leaft Occafioti
for Lawytrs. When Peoplr have gone to Law, it is rarely
to be found but one or both Parties was either Ilupidly
obltinaie, or ralhly inconfideraie. For, if the Cafe
fhould happen to be fo intricate, that a Man cf cotnmoa
Senfe could not dillinguiGi who had the beft Title, how
eafy would it be to have the Opinion of the bell Coun-
fel in the Land, and agree to determine it by that? If
it Ihould appear dubious even after that, how much
better would it be to divide i he TUng in Difpute, ra-
ther than go to Law, and hazard the lofirg, not only of
the Whole, but Colls and Damages into the B^irgain I
FAB. CXLII. The Fox and ihe Sick Lion,
IT was reported ihat the Lton was fick, atid (he
Beafls were inadc to beiieve that ihejr could noc
make their Court better, than by going to vifit htm.
Upon this, they generally went ; but it wjs particu-
larly taken Neticc of, that tht Fox was not one of
ihc
JE SOP'S FABLES. 241
t
the Number, The Lion therefore difpatched one of •
his Jackafls to found him about it, and a(k him why
he h^d fo little Charity and RefpeA, as never to
come near him at a Time when he lay fo danger-
ouflyjll, and every Body clfe had been to fee him.
Why, replies the Fox, pray, prefent my Duty to
his Majefty, and tell him that 1 have the fame Re-
fpe£l for him as ever, and have been -coming feve-
ral Times to kifs his royal Hand $ but I am fo ter«'
ribly frightened at the Mouth of his Cave, to fee
the Print of my Fellow*Subje£ts Feet, til pointing
forwards, and none backwards, that I have not Re-
folution enough to venture in, • Now the Truth of
the Matter was, that this Sicknefs of the Lion's was
enly a Sham, to draw the Beafls ii;ito his Denyihe
more eaiily to devour them. .
T)J/ A P P L I C A T I O N.
I
A Man fhould weigh and confider the Nature of any
Propofel well, before he gives inio it : for a rafh and
haity Compliance has been the Rui^ofiBanya one.
And it is the QuiotefTence of Pf adencc not to be too eafy
of Belief. Indeed the Multitude think altogether in
the fame Track, and are much upon a Foot. Their
Meditations are confined in one Channel, and they fol-
low one another very orderly iii a regular Stupid ity.
Can a Man of Thought and Spirit be harneiTed thus»
and trudge along like a Pack^Horfe, in a deep {linking
muddy Road, when he. may frifk it over the beauteous
Lawns, or lofe himfelf agreeably in the fhady verdant
Mazes of uivreflrained Contemplation ? It is iropoffible.
Vulgar Notions are fo generally attended with Error,
that whtr^ver one traces the Footfleps of the Many
tending all one Way,, it is enough to make one fufpeei,
with the Fox in the Fabiej, that there is foin6 Trick in
it. The Eye of R^afon Is dulled and ilupified when it
is con^ned, and made to gaze continually upon the
fame Thing : It rathc,r chufes to look about it, and
amufe itfelf wiili Variety of Objeds, as they lie feat-
M tertd
342
^ SOP'S FABLES.
tered op and down in the unbounded Prorpcfl. He
ihaC goes impliciily into a Thing, may be miltaken,
notwiihflanding ihc Number of tliofc who keep him
' Compsny ; but he that keeps ont till he fees Reafon lo
enter, afls uf^n true Maxim of Policy and Prudence,
In Hiort, it becomes us, as we are reafnnable. Creature;,
to behave ourfelves as fuch, and lo do as feiu Things as
poflibtci of which we may Ir^ve Occalioii to repent.
FAB. CXUII. ■ The M\ce in Council.
TH 1. Mice called a general Council ; and having
met, afcer the Doors were locked, entered into
a free Confultatwn about Ways and Mtans how
i'a render their Fortunes and Eftates more fecu?e
from (he Danger of the Cat. Many Things were
offered, and niuch was debated, pro and «h, upon
the Matter. At laft a young Moufc, in a fine florid
Speech, concluded upon an Expedienc, and that
the only or«, whictl was to put them for the future
entkeiy out of the Power of the Enemy ; and this
was, that the Cat -fliould wear a Bell about her
jE SOP'S FABLES. 543
Neck, which, upon the leaft Motion would gire the
Alarm, and be a Signal for thein to retire into
their Holes. This Speech was received with great
Applaufe, and it was even propofed by fbme, that
the Moufe who made it fliould have the Thanks
of the Aflembly. Upon which, an old grave Moufe^
who had fat filent all the while, ftood up, and in
another Speech, owned that the Contrivance was
admirable, and the Author of it, without I^oubt, an
ingenious Moufe ; but, he faid, he thought it would
not be fo proper to vote him Thanks, till he (hould
fiirther inform them how this Bell was to be faf*
tei)ed about the Cat's Neck, and what Mpufe
would undertake to do it. *
The APPLICATION,
Many Things appear feafible in Specalaifon, which
are afterwards found to be iinpraflicable. And fince
the £xecutioii of any Thing is that which is to com-
piete and finilh its very Exiflence, what raw CpunfeN
jors are thofe who advife, what precipitate Politici-
ans thofe who proceed « to the Managemeat of Things
in their Nature incapable of anfwering their own £x-
pediacipns^ or their Promifes to others* At the fame
Time, the Fable teaches us, not to expofe ourfelves la
any of our little politic CoiFee-Houfe Committees, by
determining what (hould be done upon every Occurrence
of Mal-Adminiilration, when we have neither Commif*
fion xior Power to execute it. He that, upon fuch Oc-
caiions, adjudges, as a PreferVative for the State, that
this Or that ihould be applied to the Neck of thofe who
have been Enemies to it, will appear full as ridiculous
as the Moufe in the Pable, when the Queftion is afked»
Who fhall put it, there? In Reality^ we do but expofe
ourfelves to the Hatred of fome, and the Contempt of
others, when we inadvertently utter our impradicable
Speculations^ in refpeft of th^ Public, either in private
Company! or authorized AfTemblies.
M2 FAB«
244 ^SOP's FABLES.
FAB. CXLIV.
^he Lion, the Afs, atjti the Fox.-
•T'HE Lion, the ATs, and the Fox, went a hunt-
irg together in ihc Fortft ; and it was agreed,
that whatever was taken ftould be divided nmongft
i'lem. They happened to have very good Spor-,
and caught a large fat Stag, which the Lion or-
dtted the Afs to divide. 'Ihc Afs, according to ihe
bell of his Capacity, did fo, and made three pretty
equal Shares. But fuch leielling Doings not fuit-
ing at all with the craving Temper of the greedy
Lion, without fariher Delay he flew upon the Aff,
and tore him in Pieces; and then bid the Fox di-
vide it into iwD Pares. . Reynard, who feldom wanteil
- a Prompter, ho'wever,' had his Cue giren him fuf-
hciently upon this Occafion; and fo, nibbling of
one little Bit, for himfelf, he laid forth all the reft
for the Lion's Portion. The Royal Brute was fo
delighted at this dutiful and handlome Proof of his
ReipcA, that he could not fof biar expreffing the Sa-
tis fa^ion
ftsfa£Hon it gave him ; and afked him w^haU where
he could poffibly have learnt fo proper and fo
courtly a Behaviour? Why, replies Reynard^ to tell
your Majefty the Truth, I was taught it by ihe Afc
that lies dead there.
The APPLICATION. ,
We may learn a ffrcat deal of ufefol Experience from
the Examples of other People, if ^e will but take the
Pain^ to obferve them. And, beiides the Profic of Vhe
InflraAions, there is no fmall Pleafure in being taught
any proper Science, at the Expence of foraebody elfe.
To this Purpofe, the Hiflory of former Times, as well
as the Tranfaftions of the prefcnt, are very well adapt-
ed; and fo copious, as to be able .to furnifh us wich
Precedents upon alraoft every Occafion. The Rock upon
which another has fplit, is a Kind of Light- HjuO or
Beacon, to warn us from the like Calamity ; and b>r
taking fach an Advantage, how ealily may we (leer'^a
fafe (Jourfel He that, in any Negociation with his Bet-
teri» does not well and wifely coniider how to behave
hi.mfelf, fb as not to give O^ence, may very likely come
qS as the Afs did: But a cool thinking Man, tho' he
ihottld dcfpair of ever making Friends of the People in
Power, will be cautious and prudent enough to do no^
^ng which may provoke them to be hiA Enemies.
M
F A K
24<I jS SOP'S FABLES.
FAB. CXLV. r/jf Old Lion.
A LION, worn out with old Age, lay fetching
'*^ his lafl Gafp, and agonizing in ihe convuifivc
Struggles of Deaih. Upon which Occ. Son, fcve-
ral of the Beafls, who had formerly been SufFereiS
' by him, came and revenged themfelves upon him.
The Boar with his mighty Tufts, drove at him in
a Stroke that glartced like Lighcning, And the
Bull goted him with his violtnt Horns. Which,
when itic Afs faw thty might do without any Dan -
fer, he too came up, and threw his Heels icto the
rion's Face. Upon which, the poor old expiring
Tyrant uttered thefe Words with his laft dying
Grban: Alas! hmv grievous is it to fufftr Infults,
even fromihcBraveand the Valiant; buttotefpurncd
by fo bafe a Creature as this is, who is the Difgrace
of Nature, is worfe than dying ten thoufand Deaths.
7J/ APPLICATION.'
He that would be reverenced and rcfpefted by the reft
of Mankind, muft ky in a Foundation for it of fome
Kindorotherj for People cannot be peifuaded to pay
Cefcreuce
,ESO P's FABLES. - 2^7
Ue/crence and Efte*raffir nothing. SA that ihoughwe
have lived in good Repoic in the WorW, if ever Vvt
Ihuuld happen lo out-live our StocIc, we mu ft not bo
furfineed to find eurrelves flighted and affroiitcd, evch
bj the vileft Scinn of ibe People. If therefore we would
tsu& to ourfelves a J)igni[y that will continue dm on!v
to the Knd of our Lives, but extend iifclf far down ■
amtfng the A^es of Polierity,- we Ihould take Care to .
eltabliih it upun a l'uan<iKtion of Virtue and Good-na-
ture : 7'his will iioi only preftrve us from the Inful i
(if* Enemies, but tui'in Occafion, fufround us with a
trufly Guarl of fjiihful and'Tiacerc Friends.
FAB. CXLVI. The Old Man and bu Sons.
A N old Mail had nidi:y bons, who were often fafl-
■**■ ingout with one another." Whan the Father
had exerted hij Auihoti,^y,.and ufejl other Means in .
order to reconcile them,;?nd all to no Purpofe, at
laft he had Recourfe to (his, Expedient ; he ordered
hiS Sofis-tobe CdHeid before him, and a fliort Bundle
of Stickft-to be brouoht) and then commanded them,
one by one, to ti^ if, wkh'alt their Might and
Strehgrh, tfwy cauld any of them break it. They
M 4 iril
248 j€ SOP'S FABLES.
all tried, but to no Purpofc ; for the Sticks being
clofely and compactly bpund up together, it was
impoffible for ihc Force of Wan to do it. After
this the Father ordered the Bundle to be untied^
ind gave a fingle Stick to each of^his Sons^ at the
fame Time bidding him try to break it : Which,
when each did all with imaginable Eafe, the Father
addreffed himfelf to them 'to this Efte<^. O my Sons,
behold the Power of Unity! For if yod, in like
Manner, would but keep yourfelvesftri<?^ly conjoined
inthe Bonds of Friendlhip, it would not be in the
Power of any Mortal to hurt you ; but, when once
the Ties of brotherly Affeftion are diffolved, how
fobn do you fall to Pieces, and are liable to be vio*
lated by every injurious Hsmd that affiiults you I
Tie. A P P L I C A T i::CXN.
Toothing is more necefiary tbivjti^ds ^^zo^etlng and
tondnuing xhJt Well-being of Mankind^ tKlit^^heir en-
tering in to> and preferving Friendlhip^ aird'A^iiiil^s.
The Safety af a Government depends chiei^ upon this ;
and therefore; it is weakened and expofed to its £ne-
inies> in Proportion as it i* divided by -PartieK ^ King^
dam dMied agahtfi Uffff U bftcught'tnL Defilaiioif* And
the iaipe holds good among all Societies and Co)-|}ora-
tions of Men, from the CotiftitutiOn of the Natio^n,
down to every little Parochial Vei^ry. But the Necef.
{\\.y of Fricndfljip extends itfelf to all Sorts of Relations
in Life ; as it conduces niightily to the Advantage of
particular Clans^suid Families* Thofe of the fame Blood
and Lineage have a natural Difpofition to unite toge-
ther, which they ought, by all Means, to cultivate and
improve. It muft be a great Comfort to People, when
they fall under any Calamity, Jto know that thirre are
many others fympathife with thefti ; a great Lodd of
Grief is mightily leflened, wheh it is parceHad oot into
many Shares* And then Joy, of ^all/onr Faffionsf loves
to )>e communicative, and generally'increai'es^ in Pro-
portion to the Numbei*.of thofe who partake of it )vitH
us... We deij^ the Threads and- M alkie of iu^ Eneray,
when
y^SO P's FABLES. 249
w!i«n we are afl'ured ihai be cannot atuclv us ftngle, but
mud encounter a Bundle o£ Alliei ai the fame Time.
But they that behave themielves fo as to have few or
no Friends in the World, live in a perpetual Fear and ,
JealouTy of Mankind, becaufe they are ienfible of their '
own Weaknefs, and know ihemfelves- liable to be
cruflied, or broken to Piecw, by »he firit Aggrcffor.
FAB. CXLVII.
T&e Old Woman and her Maids.
A Certain old Woman had feveral Maids, whom
•'*- rhe ufci to call up to th-^ir Work, every Morn-
i-i?, at the Crowing of the Cock, The Wenches. •
who found it grievous to have their Ai^eet Sleep
diflarbed fo cjily,' . combined together, amj killtd,
the Cock, thinking that, when the Alarm was gonr,
thoy jr.ight enjoy themfelvcs in their warm Beds a
little longer. The old Woman, grieved for the
Lofs-of 4ier Cock, and having, by fomc Means l)r
othsr, difcovcred the wtolc Plot, was refolved to be
even witbthem; for, from that Trcpc, flisobli^-d'
thicm tarlfec^nJlantly-ait'MMnidht. ~ . . ■
250 ^SOP'a FABLES.
Tht APPLICATION.
It can never be expefted that Things lliould be, in aH
Itefpeits, agieeahlc to our Wifiies; and if they are not
very bad indeed, we ought in many Cafes to be con-
tei'ted v,nh themi left when, thro' Impatience, we pre-
cipitately qoit our prefenC Condition of Life, we may
to our Sorrow £cd, wiih the old Saying, tiiat Teldom
comes a better. Before we attempt ati/Alteration of
Moment, we Ihould be certain what Sute it will pro-
dace; for, when Thing) are already bad, to make them
worfe by trying Experiments, is an Argument of great
Weakuefs and Folly, and isfure to be atiended wiib a
too lait Repentance. Grievances, if really fuch, ought
by all Means to be redrefled, provided we can be at-
fured of doing it with Succcfs : Sut we had better, at
iiny Time, bear with feme inconvenience, Than oiake
our Condition worfe, by attempting to mend it.
FAB, CXLVIII.
J'iff Falconer and the Partridge,
A Falconer havinz taken a Partridge in bis I^t9»
■'^ the Bird begged hard for a Reprieve, and pro-
nUed the Man, jf he.wouM let bim go> to<Iecoy
Mher
yESO P'i FABLES. . 251
other PartrMges into his Net. No, replies the Fal-
coner, 1 was beix>re detefhiined ABt to fpare you,
but now you • have condemned yourfelf by your
Ovvn Words: For he who is fuoh a Scoundrel, as
to offer to betray'his Friends, to fave himfelf, de-
ferves, if poffible, worfe than Death.
?7j<r , A P P L I C A T I O N.
However it may be convenient for us to like the
Treafon, yet we muft be vGry deftitute of Honaur, not
to hate and aboitiinate the I'raitor. And accordingly,
Hiftory furnifhes us with many Inftances of Kinga and
great Men, who have puniflied the Adtors of Treachery
with Death, though the Part they afted had been fo.
conducive to their Tntcrells, as to give them a Viftory,
or perhaps the quiet Poffeffion of a Throne. Nor can
Princes |)urfue a more juH Maxim than this; for a
Traitor is a Villain of no Principles, that, fticks at no-
thing to promote his own ielBih Ends; he' that betrays
on^ Caufe for a great Sam of Money, will betray ano- ;
ther upon the fame Account ; and therefore it muft be
very impolitic in a State to fuffer fuch Wretches to live
in it. Since then this Maxim is fo good, and ib likely
at all Times to be pra^fed, what flupid Rogues muft
they be, who undertake fuch precarious dirty Wor^!
If they nvifcarry, it generally proves fatal to them from ^
onrSide-cr other; if they fucceed, pferhaps they may
have the proxnifed Reward, but are fure to be detejled,
if fufered tp live, by the very Perfon that employs them*
M 6 FA B.
2fi ^SO P's. FABLES.
FAB. CXLIX,
^he Porcupine and the Snakes.
A Porcupine, waf
*^ Neft of Snakes to give him Admittance into-
their Cave. They were prevailed upon, and let him
in acciirdingly ; but were fo annoyed with his Aarp.'
prickly Qoills that they foon repented of their eafy
Compliance, and intreated the Porcupine to with-
draw, and leave them their Hole to themfelvcs. No,-
fays he, let them quit the Place that don't like itj
for my Part,. I am well enough latisfied as I am.-
7-£< A P P L I C A T I O N.
Some People are of fo brutifh, inhofpltable Tempen,
that there is no living with them, without graatly in-
commoding ourfelves. Therefore, before we enter into
any Degree of Friendfliip, Alliance, or Partnerfhip,
with any £erfon whatever, we {hould thoroughiy conti-
der bis Nature and Qualities, his Circa mllanCes and
his Humour. There ought tt) tie fomething in each of
thcfe
jESOF's fables. 25J-
thtk kefpedls to tally and correfpond with our owa>'
Mea&res^ to fuit our Gennis^ and adapt itfelf to ther
Size and Proportion of our Defires ; oiherwife our Af-
fociations, of whatero* Kind» may prove the greateft
Plagues of our Life^ Young Men are very apt to run-
in to diis Error ; and being warm in alt their P>aflions9
throw open their Arms at once, and admit into the
greateft Intimacy Pcrfons whom they know little of;.
but by falie and uncertain. Lights. Thus they fbme-
times receive a Viper into their Bolbm^. inflead of- a.
Friend^ and take a Porcupine for a Confort, with whom
they are obliged to cohabit, though (he nlay prov^ a.
Thorn in their Sides as long as theylive. A true Friend
is one q£ the greateft Bieifings in Life; therefore, to be
miflaken or difappointed of fuch Enjoyment, when wc
hope to be in full PoffefTioh of it, mufl- be as great a .
Mortification. So that we cannot be coo nice and fcru-
pulous in our Choice of thofe, who are to be our Com-
panions^ for Life ; for they muJ^ have but a poor (hallow
Notion of Friend (hip, who intend to take it, like a^
Leafe, for a Term of Years only. In a Word, the Doc- ,
trine which this Fable fpeaks, is to prepare us again fb
being injured or deceived by a ra(h Combination of any
Sort. Tie Manners of the Man we defirc for a Friend,..
of the Woman we like for- a Wife, of the Perfon- with
whom vve would jointly manage and concert Meafures .
for the Advancement of our temporal intereil, fhonld
be narrowly and. cautioufly iafpeded, before we em-
baiJc with S^Pk io* the fame Veilel, leil we (houJd alter
o\H Mind when it is too late, an4 think of. regaining
the Shjorc,^ after we have launched out of our Depth.
FAB.
254- ^5 ai»'s FABLES. ■
FAB. CL. The Peacock and the Migpyc,
q-HE-Birds met together upon a Time, to chufe
■*■ a King. And the Peacock ftanding Candidate,
difplayed his gaudy Plumes, and catchcd the Eyes
of the filly Multitude with the Richncfs of his Fea-
thers'. The Majority declared for him, and clip-
ped their Win^s with great Applaufe. But, juft as
they were going to proclaim him, the Magpye ftept
forth in the Midft of the AiTcmbly, and addreffcd
himfelf thus to the new King : May it pleafc your
Majefty Eleft, to permit one of your unworthy
Subjefls to reprefent to you his.Sufpicions and Ap-
prchenfioni, in the Face of this whole Congrega-
tion : We have chofen you for our King, we have
put our Lives and Fortunes into your Hands, and
our whole Hope and Dependanee it upon you : If
therefore the Eagle, or the Vulture, or the Kite,
fiiould at ipy Time make a Delcent upon us, as it
is highly probable they will, may your Majeity be
fa grftcious as to dilpel our Feais, and clear our
3 Doubtt
^^OP's FABLES. 255
Doubts al^put that Matter, by Icttiiig 11$ know how
you jritehd to defend us again ft them i This pithy
unanfwerable Queftion drew the whole Audience
intofojuft a Reiie<5lion» that they foon refolved to
proceed to a new Choice. But, from that Time,
the Peaeocic has been looked upon as a vain infig-
nificant Pretender, and the Magpye efteemed as
eminent a Speaker as any among the whole Com-
munity of Birds.
n^ APPLICATION.
Form and Outfide, in the Choice of a Raler^ fhould
not be fo much regarded^ as the Qualities and Endow-
ments of the Mind. In chufing Heads of Corpora-*
tions, from the King of the Land, down to the Mafter
of a Company, upon every new Eledion it fhould be
inqnired into, which of the Candidates is moll capable
of advancing the Good and Welfare of the Commu^
nity ; and upon him the Choice Should fall. But the
Eyes of the Multitude are fo dazzled with Pomp ^nd
6hew, Noife and Ceremony, that they cannot fee Things
really as they are : And from hence it comes to pals,
that fo many. Abfurdities are committed and main-
tained in the World. People (hould examine and weigh
the real Weight and Merit of the Perfon, and not be
impofed' upon by falfe Colours^ and Pretences of 1
know not what.
FAB,
aifi MSO F'% FABLE S.
FAB. CLI. TbeVaxTotandbtsCzge.
A Parrot, which belonged to a Perfon of Quality,,
yizs fed every Day wiih Plenty of Choice Dain-
ties, and kept_.in a ftately Cage, which was fet
abroad, upon a Marble Tabic in the Garden, that
he might enjoy- the Light of the Sky, and the
Frefbnefs of the Air to the bcft Advantage. Hb-
Alafter, and all the Family^ when they talked to >
him, ufed ibc. moft tender fond Exj-reffions, and.
the Dil'ordcr of his "i''e3tbers was fmooihed wit!)
kindly Touches, by the fair Hand of his Lady. . Yst-
notwithftanding this happy Silua-ion, he was.-un-
eafy, and envied the Coniiiiion of thofe Birds who ■
lived free in the Wildernefs, and hopped up and r
down, unconfined, from Bough to Bough. He
carneftly longed to lead the fame Life, and fecretly
pined with Grief, hicaufe his Wiflies were denied.
him. After fome Time, however, i( happened that
the Door of his Cage was left unfaftencd, and the
Jong wifticd for Opportunity was given him of
making an Elopement. Accordingly, out he fl;w, .
4 and
^SO^P''% FABLE Si 257
and conveyed himfelf among-the Shades of a neij^h-
bouri^g Wood, where he thought to fpend the Re-»
mainder of his Days in Content. But alas ! poor
Poll was miftaken ; a tboufand Inconvenieneie^',
which he never dreamt of,' attended this Elopement
of his, and he is now really that mifiTable Creature,
which, before, hfs Imagination only made him. He
is buffeted by the Savage Inhabitants of the Grove ;
and his Imitation of" a Human Voice, which for-
merly rendered him fo aereeable, does but the qiorc
cxpofe hina to the fierce Refcntment of the feathered
Nation. The delicate Food with which he ufed to
be fed, is no more ; he is unfkilled in the Ways of
providing for himfelf, and even ready to die with
Hunger. A Storm of Rain, Thunder, and Light-
ning, fills all the Air, and he has no Place to fcreen
or piifotedi him i his Feathers are wetted with the
heavy Shower, and i3}afled with the Flaflies of
Lightning. His tender Nature, fuited to a n\ilder
Cltdniaie, coold not (land the ftvere Shock ; he even
ditd under it. Bttt, juil before he breathed his lafty
he iis feid to have made this Refic^ioa: Ah, poor
Poll ! were you but in your Gage again, you would
n^ver winder more,
i
7J^ . A P P L I C A T I O N.
This Fable may be a proper Le^xi to tliofe who are
pofTeiTed with a Spirit of Rambling,* and trying £xpe-
riaients; who are fo infatuated with thefe airy No-^
tions^ that though they have a ^warm Houfe over their
Heads, and good Table to eat at^ kind indulgent Pa^
rents^ or fond Huibands, yet thev cannot be contented,^
but. mull fally forth into the wide World, and pafs, as
it were, into a new and untried Being. People may
hate felt imaginary Inconveniencies at Home ; but as
they have been ufed to live in a Depend ance u^on
others, let them bat go abroad, and try to fhift for
themfelves, and they will, in all Probability, foon feel'
tcali
258 ^SO P's FAULES.
re»l Miferiei. No Ship putj to Sea without an expe-
moced Pilot ; n&r do armies take the Field,- but ut]-
der a General of ConduA and Courage; yet feme Wo.
men and Children ars fo perverfe ai>d wrongheaded,
that they will leave a quiet fafe Pen, and launch out
inio a World of Troubles and Danger*, without the ■
leaft Share of Diferetioiv to fteer their Courfe by. How
can they hope 10 efcape IpUcting opoo evety Rock, who
are thut raftt and adTCnturou* ! A fevcre Repentance,
after fuch Elopement, u generally aa certain, as it is
ufelefi and unregarded.
FAB. CLII. W^ Fowler «K^ /if Ringdove,
A Fowler took his Gun, and went into the Woods
^^ a (hooting. He fpied a Ringdove among the
Brancbes of an Oak, and rntendetT to kiH it. He
clapped the Pi^cc to his ShoilMer, and took his
Aim accordingly. Cut, juft as he was going to
pull the Trigger, an Adder, which he had trod
Vpon under the Grafs, ftun^ him fo painfully in
the Leg,- that he was fprced to quit his Dcf^gn, and
threw, his Gun doyta in .a Palli^Do I'he Poif<in
immediately
^ so P's F AB Les. 159
immediately infeded his Blood, and his whole Bod/
b^gan to mortify ; which, when he perceived, hiie
could not help owning \t to be juft. Fate, fays he,
has brought Deftru6tion upon me, while 1 was
contriving the Death of ;:nother.
r*/ A P P L I C A T I O N.
This is another LeiTon againfl Injaftice; a Topic in
which our juft Author abounds. And, if we confidcr
the Mailer fairly, we muft allow it to be as reafonable
that fome one ihopld do Violence to us, as we Ihould
commii it upon another : When wc are impartial in
our Reftetlions, thus we muft always think. The un-
juft Man, with a hardened unfeeling Heart, can do a
thoufand bitter Things to others : But if a fingle Cala-
mity touches himfejf. Oh, how tender he is I Howin-
fupportable is the Uneafmefs it occafions ! Why Aiould
we think others born to hard Treatment, more tKaa-
ourfelves? Or imagine it can be reafonable to do to ano-
ther, what wc ourfelves (hould be unwilling to fuffer ?
In our Behaviour to all Mankind, we need only aflc
ourfelves thefe plain Queftions, and our Confciences
will tell us htfW to aft. Confcience, like a good va-
luable Domettic, plays the Remembrancer to us upon all
Occafions, and gives us a geatle Twitch, when we are
going to do a wrong Thing, it does nor, like the Ad-
der in, the Fable, bile us ro Death, but only gives us
kind Cautions. However, if we negled thefe juft and
frequent Warnings, and continue in a Courfe of Wick-
e4nefs and Jnjuftice, do not let us be furprifed if Pro-
vidence thinks fit, at laft, to give us a home Sting, and
to e;:ercife a little Retaliation upon us'.
FAB.
26o ^SOy'% FABLES.
FAB, CLIII. TheSov/aHdiheWolf..
A SOW had juft farrowed, and lay in the Stye,,
** with her whole Litter oP Pigs about her. i,
Wolf, who longed for one of thtm, but knew not
bow to come at it, endeavoured to infmuate himfelf
into the Sow's good Opinion, Aiid accordingly^
coming up to her. How does the good Woman in
tht Straw do f Says he. Can I be of any Service
to-you, Mrs. Sow, in Relation to your little Family
here ? If you have a Mind to go abroad, and air
yourfelf a little, or fo, you may depend upon it I
win take as much Care of your Pigv as you could
do yourfelf-, Yoiir humble Servant, fays the Sow,
1 thoroughly underlland your Meaning;- and, to
let you know I do, I rauft be fo free as to tell you,
I had rather have your Room than your Company ;
and therefore, if you would afl like a Wolf of Ho-
nour,, and oblige me, I beg I may never fee your
£ac£ a^aiiii
^SOP's FABLES. 261
7** APPLICATION.
. The being officiodfly good-Da tu red an<f civil, u lame-
-xhing fo uncomnion in the World, that one canoot bear
a Mao make Profellion of it, without being furprifed,
or, at lead, furfteaing the D in rtte reded net's of hit In-
tentions. Efpecially, when one who is a Stranger to
us or, though known, is ill clleemsd by us, will be
'inaleing OiFers of Services, we have grea.t Reafbn to
look to ourfelves, and exert a Shynefs .ind Coldnefs to-
wards him. We fhonid refolvS not to receive even
Favours from bad Kind of People ; for fhould it hap-
,pen thairome immediate Mifchief was not couched ia
. them, yet it ia dangerous n have Obligations to fuch,
i-or 10 give them an Opportunity of malting a Commo-
'Dication with na.
5F A B. CUV.
S'he Hufbandman and the Stork. ,■
'T'HE Hulbandman pi(ch3d a Net in his Fields to
■^ take the Cranes and Gi;efe which catne to feed
upon the new-fown Corn. Accordingly, he took
feveral ,
a62 ^SO P'% FABLES.
feveral, both Cranes and Geefc; and among them,
a Storkf who pleaded h.ird for his Life, and, among
ether Apologies which he made, alledged, that he
was neither Goofe nor Crane, but a poor *harmlefs
Stork, who performed bis Duty to his Parents to all
Intents and Purpofes, jfeeding them when, they were
old, and, as Occafion required, carrying them from
Place to Place upon his Back. All this may be
true, replies the Hufbjandman ; but, as I have taken
you in bad Company, and in the fame Crime, you
cnuft expe£l to fufFer the fame Punifbment.
The APPLICATION.
If bad Company had nothing elfe to make us flion
and avoid it^ this, methinks, might be fufficient, that
it infedls and taints a Man's Reputation to as great a-
Degree as if he were thoroughly verfcd in the Wjcked-
nefs 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 leis a Thief? Shall a
Womanf's going to Prayers twice a Day, fave her Repu-
tation, if the is known to be a malicious lying Go£ip?
No, fuch Mixtures of Religion and Sin make the Of-
fence bat the more flagrant, as they convince us, that
it was not committed out of Ignorance. Indeed, there
is no living without being guilty of fome Faults, more
or l^fs ; which the World ought to be good-natured
enough to overlook, in Conilderation of the general
Frailty of Mankind, when they are not too grofs and
coo abundant. But, when we are fo abandoned to Stu-
pidity, and a Neg^dt of our Reputation, as to keep bad
Company, however little we may be criminal in Reality,
we mufl expedl the fame Cenfure and Punifhment as is
due to the moft natorious of our Companions.
F A Bj
jE SOP'S FABLES. 263
FAB. CLV. The Shepherd's Boy.
A Certain Shepherd's Boy kept his Sheep upon a
■^^ Common, and, in Soort and Wantonnefs, would
often cry out, The Wolf ! the Wolf! By- this Means
h^ feveral Times diew the Huibandmen in an adjoin-
ing Fidd from their Work ; who, -finding tftemlelves
deluded, refolved for the futtire, to take no Notice
ofhis AJarm. Soon after, the Wolf came indeed. The
Boy cried out in Eariielt, But no Heed being given
X»his Cries, the Sheep arc devoured by the WoJf.
r*/ APPLICATION.
He that is dete^ed foi being a notorious Liar, belides
.the Ignominy and Reproach of the Thing, incurs ibis i
Mifchief, That he wiJl fcarce be able to get any one to
believe hini again, as long as he lives. However true
cur Complaint'tnay be, or how much foever it maybe
•for our InCereft to have it believed, yet, if we have-b^en
frequendy' caught tripping before, we ftiall hardly be
able to gain Credit to what we relate afterwards. Tho'
Mankind are goocrally llapid cnoogh to be be often im-
pofed
264 J^SOP'-i FABLES.
poled upon, yei.few arc Co feiifelers as to believe -a iio>
torious Liar, or to iruft a Cheat upon Record. Thefe
liltJe Sbams, wheo found out, are luficienily prejudi-
cial to the InteieA of every private Perfoo who pni£Ur«j
thein. But, when we are alarmed with imaginary Dan-
gers in Refpefl of the Public, till the Cry grows quiie
JUIe aid threadbare, how can it be expeAed v*e fbonld
know when to guard ourfelves agaioA real ones f
FAB. CLVI. T^e Serpent and the Mzn.
A Child was playing in a Meadow, and by Chance
*^ trod upon a Serpent. The Serpent in th? Fury
of his Pal£un, turned up, and bit the Child with
his Poifonous Teeth, fo that h: died immeJiately.
■■ The Father of the Child, infpired with Gtief and
■Revenge, lock a Weapon in his Hand, and purfuing
the Serpent, before he could get iiilo his Hole)
ftruck at hin-, and lopped off a. Piece of his Tail.
The next Day, hopini by this Stratagem to finifli
his Revenge, he brought to the S.rpent's Hole
' Honey, Meal, and Salt, and delired him to come
forth, protcflinga Chat he only fought a Recoocilia-
tioa
jS SOP'S FABLES. aii
tton on bath Sides. However^ he was not able to
decoy the Serpent forth, who only hifled frolh withiii>
to this Purpofe : In vain you attempt a Reconci-
liation ; for, as long as the Memory o£ the dead
Child, and the .mangled Tail fubfifts, it will bo
impoiQble for you and I to have any Charity for
each other, .
The A PPL I C A TJ O N,
The Man tJoho bos injured you *u/iU never fi^g''^^ J^»
is ^^^pan'tp Prowrb/ land, after tb^r^ dry Way, a very
;good' one. It feeinis odd, at irft Sight, becaufe olie
would think the BackwardBefs to forgive Should be ott
the Side of kitn who ha» received the Inmry ; but the
Truth of the Maxim liesj, with much more Certainly
ou the other Side. The Confcioarnefsof having prb«
vokedthe R^fentment of another^ will dwell fo conti-*
finally upon the Mind of the Aggfeflbr, that he cannot
j-efl till he has ftnifhed his Work* and pat it as much aa
poffible but of his Enemy's. Power to make any Retura.
upon him. Therefore, as the Serpent wifely obferves.
it is in vain for two People^ who have palpably injured
each other, ever to expe*5t to li^e well together for the
futare. Morality bids us forgive our Enemies, andrthc
Voice of Reafqn con^ms the fame : But neither. Rea«
fon jipr Morality bids «s eater into a Friendihip with^
or repofe a Confidence in, thofe who have injured u«*
We may irefolve not to return ill CJfage ; but ou|;ht ae«
Ver to be forgiven, if, when we can preveat it* we p«t
^mrXel vje^ iat(> our £neffly*s Haad&«
• . s <
N FAB,
i6tf ^ SOP'S FABLES.
FAB. CLVil.
?^f Swalltw oJtJ ether Binifs,
.A Fvmer wm fowiog his Fieid with Flue. TIm
*^ Swallow obfervea it; mni dcfired the ottet
ftrdi«o affift her in picking the Seed up, »nd dc-
^rojring it ; telling tfaem, th«t Flax was that p«r-
irici^us Material, of wbich the Thread was cocn-
fHjled wiiich made the Fowler's Nets, and by th^t
MsHie contributed to the Ruin of fo many inno^
cent Birds. Sut tht poor Swallow, not having the
good Fortune to be regarded, the Flax fprung up»
*nd appeared abuve the Ground. She then put
them in Mind once more of their impending Dan-
|;er, and wilhed ibcm to pluck it up in the Bud,
scfoie k went any farrher. They flill negledled her
Warnings; and the Flax grew up into the bigh
Stalk. She yet again deUr^ thehi to attack it, for
*hat it vats not yet too late. But all that fhc could
get wasj- to be ildiculed and defpifed for a filly pre-
Koding
•
jSSOP^'% fable*. i5»
tending Prophet* The Swallow finding art her
Remonftrances availed nothings was refolved to
leave the Society of Aich untbinklngt carelefs Crea-
tureS) before it was too late. So' quitting the
Woods, (he repaired to the Houfes ; and 'forTakii^g
the CoQverfation of the Birdsj has ever fince mwio
hcT Abode among the Dwellinga of Men,
The A P P L I C AT ION.
^ As M9n> we fliould always eKcrcife fe nuch Httnfta*
]iity> as to endeavour the Welfare of Ktankind, particu-
larly of our Acq^aaintance and Relations ; and« if by
notbing farther^ at leaft by our good Advice. When w)b
have done this, and, if Occaiion required, continued to
repeat it a fecond ot third Time, we ihall have acquijt-
ted ixurfeives fnHiciently from any ImpatattOn iipoji thtit
Mifcarriage ; and having^nothiog more to do, but to ^«
parate ourfelves from them« that we may not be involve^
in thair Ruin, or be fupj^fed to partalte of thcdr BAnr^
This is an £xcommttnication nyhich Rcafon allows*
For^ as it would bt cruel on the one Side^ to profecnto
and hnf^ People for being miflad^en ; fo« on the otkeJTj ft
woirld be indifcrett and 6ver complai&n^ to keep theai
Company throujrh all their wrong Nott^s^ and ift
contrary to our Opiaion« out of pure CiviUtJ*
N» fab;
^S'O-P'i FABLES,
FAB. CLVIir. '
TJi? Trumpeter lakett Prifoner.
I
^yVXrytupcler^ beujg Uhen PriToner in ■ BatUe,
rr begi?»3)wr^ fof Quarter, declaring his Inno^
ie!Mifc>'>?itn4 pFQ^fling, . that he neither had, nor
i;aulJiiciU;*iiT Man, bearing no Arms but onfy his
Trumpet^ whioh. .be was obliged to-found at the
Woid of Command. For that Reaf in, replied his
Enemies, we are deiermined not lo fpare ynu ; for
though you j-ourfelf never fight, y:t, wiih that
wicked Inftrument of ycurp, yoa blow up Animo-
fitv buiwecfl oihtT People, and fo b-uComc the Oc-
cafion of much Bloodihed.
Tht APPLICATION.
A May man be' guilty of Murder, who lus never
handled a Sword, or pulled a Trigger, or lified up tiia ■
Aim wiih any mifchievous Weapon. Ihere is a Utile
Jnceotiiafy called the Tongue, which ii more venomoui
than a pnifoned Arrow, and more killing than a iwo-
t^e^ Sword. The MortJ ol the Fable thecefore is
'hit; Ihii if in any civil Infurre^oni the Perfons taken
jBSOP'a ;FABi.ES. sf^
in Armsiagaioft ihe. Governmeat d«rerve to die. miteh
more do they, whofe .devilith Toognes gave Birth to
ihe Sedition, iind excited the Tumult. When \yici(e<i
.Priefts,, bftead of preachitig peace and Charily, employ
that Engine of Scandal, their Tongue, to fometn Re-
bellions, whether they fucceed in their Defigni, or no,
they ougTit lo be feverely pjniJhed ; for they hsve done
what iu them lay,- to fei Folks together by the Eari ;
they have blown the Trumpet, and founded the Alarni;
and if thoufinds are not dellroyed by the Sword, it i»
none of their Faulc. J '
FAB. CLIX. nt Hare anJ ibe Tortoile/
A flare infulted a Tortolfe upon Acount of hit
■**■ Slowflefs, arid vainly boaftcd of her own givat
Speed in Running. Let us make a Match, replied
the Tortolfe'} I'll run with you five Miles for five
Pounds* and the Fox yonder ihall be the Umpire
of the Race. The Hare aarccd j and away hey
both flarted together. But tlic Hare, by Realbn of-
her exceeding Swlftnefs, outran thcTorioiu to fuch-
a Degree, that flic made a Jeft of the Matter ; and,;
£odulg heifcli a little tired* fqujittsd in a 1 wft of.'
.;i ^ "N 3 Fern
^fot ^SOP'% FABLES.
Piw» that grew by the Way, and took a Kap 5
fhinkiDg^ that if the Tortoife went by, (he could at
zfif Tioae fetch him up, with all theEafe imaginr
aWe. In the mean wnile the Tortoife camejog-
giog QO,^ wi(h a flow but continued Motion ; and
th^ Hare, ou:t of a too great Security and Confidence
of yiAory^ overflecping herfelf, the Tortoife ar-
smd U the Dnd 0f the Race iiril*
n< APPLICATION.
J^duilry and Application to Bufinefs makes Amends
tiipihfi Want of a^ quick and ready Wit. Hence it is»
tha.t the Vidory is not always to the Strongs nor the
Sace to the Swift* Men of |uie Parts are apt, to defpKo
ike prqdgery of Bufinefs; but, by affe£ling to (new
tbo Sujperiority of their Genius, upon many Occafions,
thcy^ run intQ too great an Extreme the other Way ; and
ih^ Adminiftration of thejr^ Affairs is mined through
Idkiiefs and Negle.£^. .What Advantsige has a Man from
the Fertility of his ftivention, and the Vivacity of h's
Ijnigisnation, un lefs his Pcfohicions are execuied with a
fm.ta.ble and uninterrupted Rapidity? Jn (hort, youp
Mcii of Wit and fire, as they are called, areoftentiifcica
* Soti» Slov^nl, .and lazy Fellowsj I'hey are gc^erAly
proud and conceited to the hift Degree ; and in ihe ;ma<in»
not tkc iitrcll Perfonis for either ConvcrfatWni or B'«fi'
xiefs^ Su h is their V'aniry, they thiak theSprigh'tlirtefs
of their Humoar inconfiilent with a plain fober Way of
Thinking and Speaking, and able to atone for nil the
liftle Neglects of their B»*fihtffs and Pcfibns. But*thfe
World, will iK>t be thus impofisd upon ; the Man who
>vould gain the 'EH eem of .others « aud m^Jce ^s own
Fortune, mull be one that carries his Poii^t effeftually,
and finidies his Courfe without fwepving or loitering.
Men of duU Parts, and a flow Apprehcnlioi\, ^flilled by a
continued Diligence, arrmbre likely to attain this, than
your brifk 'Retailers df Wit^ with their affefled Spfeen
and Indolence. . And if Bi^firte^s be bfrt w«lltJil!le, ao
Matter wheiher it be <loite. by>tbe'8^H»es of a t^n^
Wit/ or she^oAfiddfiivg jbleadr^Ca :plalfa|>l»tidiD^ Man.
MSOP'^ FABLE3.- en
FAB. CXX. The V/nlfia Sheep's Clothing,
A Wolf, clothing himfelf iir the Skin of a Shoepj
'"^ and getting in among the Flock, by this Means
took the Opportunity to devour ni:;ny of them. Ac
Haft- the Shr^pbercT dtfcavcred hnr, Mid eunnmgly
^(lening a Rope about his Ntck, tied him op to a
Tree whieh ftoud bwd by. Some «her Shepherds
happening to pafs that Way, and obferving what
be was about, drew near, and exprcilfed their Ad^'
Kiiutionat it. Whzlfftys one of them. Brother,
do you make hanging of Sheep? No, replies the
Other, but I mnke banging of a Wolf whenever I
catch him, iho' in the Habit and Garb of a Sheep.
Then he fliewcd them iheir Miflake, an4 they aj>»
glaudcd the Juftice of the Execution.
n* application;
Thii Fable Ihewt la, that no Regard U ta be liS to
Ac mere Hiibii or On tfide of my Perfon, but to aaiif-
gfiifed Worth and intrinfic Virtne. When we place
o«f Efleem npoit the external Garb, before we infom
N 4 Ou/felvei
»72 ^SOP's FABLES.
•arfelveg of the Qaaliues which it covers, we may of-
ten miftalce Evil for Good, and !nftea<i of a Sheep, take
«.WoIf iaio OUT Proteftion. Therefore, however Inno-
cent Qr fanftified any one may appear, as to the Ven-
ture wherewith he b clothed, we may aft rafhly, be-
caofe we may be inipofed upon, if from theacc'we take
>t for granted, that he is inwardly as good and rtghr
(eous as his outward Robe would perfuade us he is.
Men of Jadgment and Penetraiion do not ufe to give
an implicit Credit to a particular Habit, or a peculiar
Colour, but love to make a more exafl Stru'riny ;,for
he that will not come up to the Chafafter of sin honeft,
jobu kind of Man, When flripped of his Sheep's Cloth-
10^, is but the more deteilable for his intended, Impof-
luie; as ilie Wolf, was but [he more obnoxious to the
Shepherd's RefenCment, by wcaiing a Habit fo little
failing with his Manners,
FAB. CLXI. The WoUcs and the Sbtep.-
TH E Wolves and the Sheep had been a long
Tim!; in a State of War together. At laft a
Ceffni.oa of Aims was propofedi in order to a Treaty
: . of
of Peace, and Hoft^ges were to l^e delivered on bothf
Sides for Security. The VfolVti propofed that the
Sheep. ihould give up tbek Dof^f^^m^ihe one Side^.
and that they, ^oulq deliver up^heir young ones9>
on the other, ' ^his Propbfai was agreed to 5 but
no fooiier executed, tbsm the young -Wolves began
to howl for^ want of th^it Dams. The old ones
took this Opportunity to .cry out, The Treaty wai*
brote J and fo falling upon the Sheep, wha were-
deftltuteof their faithful. Guardiaiis the Dogs, they
worried and devoiiied them without ControuU '
* . • . - I*
Tbt: A P P t. I C A T I O N, :
Ih all our Tranfadions with Mankin4« even ia itilf
moft private -aod" low IMs:, we flicruld have a (pecial Re*
gard how« and with: w||om' we trvft'^ciTrfelves. Men,
in this flefped,"..ooght .to lookvupoh' ea,ch othe^ as
Wolves>,and t6 keep themfelves under a ?eciire Guards
and in- a continual Foikrfe o!^ iHtfktiee;' Particularfv
«pon any Tr0atiesiioi^-rtit{>oi«att0e,> the Seonritie^ oA*
h6tk Sides ibouLd to^i^lli^^ainfidered ^and.each ^<^k^^
%&, mthSi fe' ciaittioua. a V^^itr j^ their. oWn Ijltrrc^^ ast
never, .to plfedge. or 'pant ^ih^tlja^; WWllr i» thc.«er^
B.fience'aBd^^fiafis ^f their .Safety ajad^lUbeing,^ 4^iv4'
if thi^.be a jail and realonable Rule for Mei^ 19 goyerir
themfelv^s by,- in their own nriyate' Affairs^ hpW in ucl^'
jnore fitting and heceflary .1$ it in any vox)j.unfture
wherein the Public 'Js concerned :. If the Enemy (houll
ilemaDd^itr whole' Ahiiyfcr* an Hoftage, the Dknger
1» our complyih^ With ifVotlld4wTn:^fofi andapp'i?
rent; that wt cotild net* hHp <obfei#ing it; hafperhsipi
$i Cerantry may eqaally^ «xpof« itftif by partihg wiih'd
particular. :Towao^■GeDeraI^: as its whdle Army-; its
Safety, not /eldoip, depending as much upon one of th«'
fo/iper,. as upo,9,tha kttel'.* Tiv 0tor€». H^age^ and Sc*-
curixies^ may .be. fqqiethic^g very dear to USi but ough^
ijcver.tobe given up^ if , our. Welfare and Pref^yatio^*
have any DepQ«dflaceiif6pLih|w^ \ . . /, 1 ,^
S74 -«^toiP*i. 'f AB-LJES.
FAB. GLXU. J&^ouflg'Kliui W'iwCar.
of whichbc gi«wlbf«<ld, thftt stiafi be f«il
JA Love witti- ity am urioch a DegfMf ttiatlwcauidi
kA itmt&cr 'Kigtir ner Da^ far ittc Bixct&'of' his
Pafion. Atlaft'iK pra^, to ir^nM, -the Gorf<l«(»
•f Bra»ty, to pity Um, sWitrcMevo hisPam. The
good- na tared Gn4de& was propilioB'', and heard'
his Prayers ; befbve he Tok up frpm kneelutf, the
Cat, which tie held in his Arms, vft» traiisl^rmcct
Into a beautiful Girl. The Youth -was triukl^uEtetk
with. Joy, and married hci that very Day> AbNighc
they wcnc ta,Be{i| and ;*s ' th«i aew Bride lay en^
circled )ir the EmtwACfi of her annroM Humn^
' ihc unfortunately heard a Moufe behind the Mang->
irig^, and fprung from his Atms m purbc it. i^tiHfS\.
offt tided to fee her facrrd &itti profoned by fiieh am
inde<ctit Behaviour; aiid peiceiwTvg that her new
Convf^rtjtho' a Woman in outward Appearance,
was a Cat in her Heirty-fye nade her reiurn to heP
■old Form again, that her Manmri andPcrisn mtghe
.be agricable to each oihtc. Tbt
^ SOP'S FABLER «7S
rhe A P P L I C A TIO N.
. People, as to their Manners «nd Behaviottr, tald! »<
ftrong Bias from CttflocQ and Edacation, boc a moch^
longer from Nature. Her Laws are J[o ilrong. that it^
is in vaUi for us to go to oppofe them; we tnay refine
and in^prcve, boc.can never totally, ajter^er Works.
Ppon^his Account it is> that wei^tenttmes iee fill/^'
aukward Bipckheads, difp]aying'i|heir fJdiqcifm aod*
FoUy>thl^ugh ^il their J^nfi^ns of J>lgnity ; for foma
Natufes are fo coarfe and ruflic, that a{t the )£n\broi»
dery of »a Court cannot .conceal them. Ikmbtlefs fach *
Pei^ple wer* intended by Nature for nothing abore*
driving Hogs^ to a Fair^'aad laughing at the Jokes 0(41
Country Merry>:4ndrew^ Fortune has found them-*
woi^thy of h^r Favours, and e^tven theuiALiftoutof the •
i/life : Bur yet they do iiot tail to ffive frequeat In4i<« -
cations of 'their true Connpi^Orionr hy a thoufand little^^
dirty Anions. . A fine Equipage, and a great EAate, >
any ratfe.a Man to an exalted Station, and procure Si
Ref]5e6t «o his outward Perfon ; iiotwifhfkaading;which^\
iti may ib happen* that ertry Time he ipenjcs and a^« .
)i6 cannot help ,pls^yiiv the Fool bs d^f^-fiWd^ JmoM'
• 1 • '
N 4 " . r"A-^B»;
J7< £SOP'& FABLES.
FAB. CLXIII. Tie A£s eating ThiRlci^
A N Afs was loaded with good Provirion3 of fcve-
■"■ ril Sorts, which, in Time of Harveft, he wa»
carrying into the Field for bis Mailer and the
Ke^CrS to-dinc upon. By the Way, he met witha
fine large 'Thifttc, and^ bcirig very hungry, begart
to mumble it i 'which, while he was doing, he en-
teied into this Refle£tion : How many gr^dy Epicures
would think themfelves happy, amidft fuch a Variety
nf delicate Viands as I now carry ! But to ine, this
bitter pricitlj' Tbiflle is more favory and relilbingy
tbaa [he moft exquifite and fumptuous Banquet,
Thg APPLICATION.
TTappineTs and Mifery, and oftentimes Fleafitre an<£
Tain, ^ift merely ia oar Opinion^ and are no more to
,fce accounted for, than the Difference of Taftes. Tiat^
nyiiti is mt Man's Miet, Is aaolkit^ Man's Poijon. U a..
.fropofition that ought to be allowed in all Particulars^
where the Opiuon is concerned, a« well as in Eating
ud Drinking. Our Senfes mull inform us whether a-
TluBg iJcafcs DC difjtcsfts^ bcfgre we can declare our
Jiidgmeot
MSOf's FABLES.
•77
Jadgment of it ; and that ti to any Man G^oo^ Or Evil,
which hta own Underftantling fuggefb to him to be
ioi and not that which. is agreeable to another'f Fanc)r.>
And yei as feargnable and as neceirary a* ic is lo grant
this, how apt arc we to wonder at People, for not liking
This or That, .or how can they think fn and lo! This
childilh H-umoiir of wondering at the different Taftes-
and Opinions of oihers, oceaiions much Uneafiners.
among the Generality of Mankind. But if we con*
fidered Things righily, why fliould we be more con-
urned at otheri differing from us in their Way of
Thinking upon any Subjeft whatever, than at iheir
liking Cheefe, or Muftard ; one, or both of which, we
nay happen to dillike? In Truth, he that expefls alt
Mankind fliould be af his Opinion, is much more Hupid
and uareafonable than the Al^ in the Fable.
FAB. CLXIV. The HoTCeanJ the haded Aru
A N idle Horfe, and an Afs labourinz under a
^^ heavy Burden, were travelling the Road toge-
ther; they both belonged to a eountry FcUow, wh^t
trudged u oa Foot by thtm. TMc Afs, ready to
* ' ': ^ faint
f^'nt imder bis faMii^ Jkia^, .^ntreAfecfthe HarAI to»
affift.hinx^. and lighten. hidr-.Bitfikn,, by tal&iAgifome-
ofJt upon his Sadb The^Mmffe was iH-mtured^ .
and :refufcd to>do *it ::'Upoti whic4i the poor •Afif>
tcimbled^down in tho Midft of the Hfohway,.aadi
explred'tn an Inftknti The Coufrtryman.ungirtcd »
his PaclUaddle*, and tried feveral 'Ways to relieve
him,, bttt all to^no Parpafc : Which, . when he per-
ceived,. he. took, the whole Bjurden, And laid. it^ upon ^
the Hoife^^tqgethenwrth the .Skin of ths.dead Afs ::
So that the Horfe, hy his Morofenefs in refufmg;;
tO'do>a> fmall Kindnefs,.jfciftly .brought uppa4um<«
ielf a, great inconventence. .
m^ AsBP'L liC A T I O N..
ScIF4Love;is nofttch iH Principle, if it were bat wcUt
tad ^tMiiy^ire£led; .for it is ^impdlTible that any Mam
fteuld love hiaif«lf to .anyPurpofe, who withdraws his i
AflUanee from his Friends or the Publica "Every/ Go-
Yemment is > to 'be con&dered as a Body Politic; ^andi
every Man who. lives in it, asA^Memher of that Body. .
Now, to oarry: on the Allegory, no Metiibcr can thrive .*.
better/ than when^tht^y all jointly unite their /£ odea-
voars to affiil and improve the Whole. ]f, the Hands
was to refufe iw Aflmance in procorto^^Fijod for the -
Month, thsy. moftxboth Aarve and. peri^ together. .
And when -chof^^^ .who^are Parties concerned rn the iame ?
Community, deny.fach Ailiflance to each other, ^s the.*
Prefervation of . that Community neceflarily requires^,
their Se)f-intereftednefs, in that Cafe, is ill diredled, «
and will have a. quite contrary Eflfed frotn^what they, in —
tended. How many People are ib fenfeler5, as to think :
it hard that there (hoold be any .Taxes in the Nation ! ',
whereas, were there to be> none indeed* .thofe very Peo* >
pie wcu!il be undone immediately. That little Property /
they have would be prefently plundered by foreign or »
domeftic Enemies ; and then they would be gUd xu con«
tribate their Quota, even without an AAof Pariiatnent. .
The Charges of fupporting a Government are necefTary
Things^
jCSOf * "FA B LES. «T^
9Malg!, and ^alily fop^ied by s due and wellpropork
timed Contribution. 'Uut^in a mrrowcr. andfnore eoi>>
inad View, n>'be readyoaOt&our Friende BpoR all Oo>
caAons, is not only gaud, as it is an-AA.of Hunanit)'.
^ut >Ktghly difcrecc, as it flKfrgtheni our Iniereft, and
gives luan Opportunity uf lightening the Bordea of.Lile*
FAB. CLXV.
- I^^ees, the Drones,.<m</ //jr W-afp»
A 'Pared of DconeS' got into a Hive among tlw
B«es, «rtd difputed ibe Title with them, fwear-
tng'that the Honey and the Ctmibs were - their
(SoCtds. The Bees were obliged to gn to Law with
feiem, and the Wafp happened to bejudjeof the
Caufe^ one' who was well acquainted with the Ma-
ture of each, and therefore the better qualified to
-decide the Controverfy between them. Arcord-
lagly. Gentlemen, fays he, (fpeaking to both Plain-
tin and Dsfendant) the ufual Method of.proceed.
ing in thefc Courts is pretty chargeable, and How
withal i therefore, as you arc both my Friends,, and
- 3 I wtftt
aJo ^ sap's F ABL.EB.
I wift yoQ well, I defire you would refer the Mat*
ter to me, and I will decide betwixt you inftantty*
They were both pleafed with the Offer, and re-
turned him Thanks. Why then, fays he, that it
may appear who is the juft rroprietors of tbefe Ho-
neycombs (for being both fo nearly alike, as yotr
are, in Colour, I muft needs own the Point is fome-
what dubious) do you, addre&ng himfelf to the
Bees, take one Hive ; you, fpeaking to tl*e ThpntSy^
another; and go to making honey as faft as yoti
can, that we may know by the Tafte and Colour
of It, who has the beft Title to this in Difpute*
The Bees readily accepted the Propofal, but the
Drones would not ffand to it. And fo Judge-
Wafp, without any farther Ceremony, declared in^
Favour of the former.
1 'the APPLICATION.
jNothing is it> fure a Sign of a IVfan'is being, or, ar
t^aft, thinking himfelf in the Wfong> as his refufing to-
come to a Reference. And, ffow happy would it be for
the Pubiic^ if oor Judges n(Sw-a-days were empowered'
to difpatch Caufes in that eafy expedite Way which the
Wafp in the Fable made ^{c of. But, as it is, the im-
pudent, idle, good-for-nq^hing Drones of the Nation,,
many Times poffefs thofe Favours and Benefits, which-
ihould be .the E.ewards of Men o£ Parts and Indufby.
Princes may eafily be impofed upon, if. they will.
take every, little Fellow's Word fof %tkp M^eafiire pf-\A$ '
own Merit. And it is indeed fcarce.po^ble that the
Encouragements of a Court ihould ^Iways bp di/penfed
to the moft deferving Men ; but fuch are . too modefl tQ
©iFer thenifelves. Bbt it highly concerns any Govern-
toent^ in the Difpenfation of its Favours, tl) diftinguifK*
thofe who have behaved well ; and ftot tp let Places of .
Profit and Advantage be run away with by I>rones^;^
who nevei; exerted t-fae lead Degree of Merit.
F A Bi
£SO-P'% FABLES. ■ aSi
FAB. CLXVI. TbeYoxintbeVTtW. .
A FOX, having fallen into a Well, made a
•*^ Shift; by {tickiirg his Claws into the Sides, to
keep his Head above Water. Soon after, a Wolf
came and peeped over the Brink ; to whom ihe Fox
applied himrdf very cameftly for Affiftaneej en-
treating that he would help him to a Rope, or fome-
thingof that Kind, which might Favour his Efcape.
The Wolf, moved v^ith Compiiflioii at his Misfor-
tune, could not forbear exprefling his Concern :
Ah ! poor Reynard, fays he, I am forry for ynu with
all my Heart; how could you polTibiy come into
this melancholy Condiiion? Nay, pr'ythec. Friend,
replies the Kox, if you wifli me well, do not (land
pitying of mf, but lend me fome Succour as faft as
you can; For Pity is but cold Comfort when one
IS up to the Chin in Water, and within a Hair's
Breudth of Starving or Drowning.
T»' A P P L 1 C A T I_0 N.
Pity, ■indeed. Is of itf^lt but poor Comfort at'any
Tim'ej and, ualefs it produces fomeihing more fubftan-
2Ja M so P'i r ASL^S.
tiat, is rather imperii neikcl/ traubIeroine> than any way
agreeable. To llaruf bemoaDing the MisfiinDnes of
•ur Friend), without' offering fo me Expedient to alle-
viate them, it only echoing to.their Grirf, and pattine
them in Mind that they are miferaWe. - He is trub my
Frieod, who with a ready Prefence of Uind fiippoits
me; not he who condoles with ne upon my iil Succcfs,
and fayi he u fcrry for my Lofs. In (hort, a. Fa.votir of
Obligation ii doubled 1^ being Well-ti»ed; and be it-
the beft Beaefaftor. who know* oiu: NecelfitieSr aod
complies with oHc Wj/h«, evm before tw alk him.
FAB. CLXVII. ^heFox aviJUWolf^
•THE V/oit having feid in Store «f Provifioo, kept
'■*■ clofc at Home, and made much of falmfelf.
The Fox obferved this, and thinkinff it iomething:
particular^ went to vifit him, the better to inform--
bimfelfof the Truth of the Matter. The Wolf ex-
iufed himfelF fpom l«etng him^, by pretending h«
was very much indifpofcd. All this did but confirm
the Fox in bis Sufpicions: So away he goes to a
Sbepberdf, and made Oi&ovcty. of, the Wolf,. telling
hin^,.
jESOP*:i TABLES, $83
hm» lie had nothing elfe to do but to come with a
good Weapon, and knock him on the Head as b^
laf m4iaCaW. The Shepherd foHowed his Direc-
tions, and killed the Woif. The wicked Fox cn-
jofod the CaVe and Provifions to himfelf, but cn-
jojred them not tong, for the fame Shepherd palling
afterwards by the Anne Hole, aad feeing the Pox
there, difpatched him alfo.
7j/ A P P L 1 C A T ION.
Thh Fable fecoas to be dire^ed againft the odious
Tfiade of Informing. Not that giving in Informations
ag^aind Criminals and Enemies of the Public, is in itfelf
odioas^ for it is commendable; but the Circumftancw
and Manner of deihig it^ oftentimes make it a vile and
deicftable Employment. He that accufes another, mere-
ly for the Sake of the promifed Reward, or in Hopes of
getting his forfeited Ettale, or with any other fuch mer*
cenary View, nay, even to fave his own Life> whatever
Ife gets by the Bargain, is fure to Icfe his Reputations
For, indeed, the moft innocent Company ts not fafe
with fach a'one in ir, nor the Neighbourhood fecure in
which he lives. A Villain of his Stamp, whofe onl)fr
End is Getting, ^^-ill as foon betray the XnnoceaJ as ,th©-
Guiliy : LjJt him but know where there is a fufpefted
ferfon, and propofe the Reward, and he will fcarce fail?
to work the Sirfpicitpn up to High-Treafon;, or be at %
Lofs to give fufficient Proofs of it. We have no fma^l
Comfort concerning this Sort of People, when we con-
Uder how improbable it is that they Ihouid thrive or
profper^ong in their i[!-gcJtte.n PoflejEans. For he thar
can betray ancrther, foi" the Sake of a little Pelf, mui||
he a Man of fuch bad Principles, that it cannot be for
the.toteireil of -any Comraunicy'to f^iffer him to live long
in it. Hefides, he him(elf will not be contented with
one iingle Villainy ; and there is no fear but he will;
provoke J u dice to hurl down upon hi? Head, at leaft,.
aji gfeat a Calamity, as he, by his mialicioas Informa*
tlon* ha3 brought upon attotker*.
tt8+ -jSSOP'i FABLES.
FAB. CLXVIII. The Froo: and the MouCc,
'T^HERE was onct a^reat Emulation between the
•* F/og and the Mou(e, which (hould be Mafter
€>f the Fen, arvd Warsenfued upon it. But the crafty
Moufc lurking under thcGiafs in Ambuftade; mado
fudden Sallies, and often furpFized ihe Enemy at »■
Difadvantagc. The Frog excelling in Strength, an<f
beijig more able to leap ib.oad an* take the Field,
challenged the Moufe to f.ngle Cofflbat. TheMoufe
accepts the Challenge ; and each of ihcm ehreted'
the Lifts, armed with the Point c.t a Bulruth, inftead
of a Sptar. A Kitt failing, in the Air, beheld 'theiii'
afai ofFj and while thi-y.were eagerly' Wftt upon.
each other, and prcfiing nn tg the Duel, (hi^ fatal
tnrmy defcendcd foufe upon them, and with hec
crooked Talons, carried off both the Ch:impioRS^
7^/ , A P P L I C A T I O N.
Nothing Co much expofcs a Man's weait Sidfe, and-
lays him Co open to an Enemy, as PalTion and- Malice.
He whofc Attention is wholly fixed upon forming a Pro-'
jefl of Revenge, is ignorant of the Mifchiefs thai ma»
be hatching ag^aiiiA lum irom fomc other Quarter, aad»
^'i'OP's' FABLES. 5^5
vpc^B the AIucIe, ii unprovidH with tjie Metni of de<
-fending or fecuring himfdf. ' How are the. Members of
a Common weal ill rometime; divided amongft them-
(elvcs, and infpired with Rancour and Mallet to thelaft
Degree ; and often upon a» great a Trifle, as that which
was the Subjefl Matter of Debate between the Frog
and ilie Moui'e ; not for any real Advantage, bit mere-
ly, who fhall get the better in the Difpute? But (ach
Animofiiies, ai infignllicanc and trifling as thdy may be
dmong themfelvei, are yet of the laft Importance to
their Enemies, by giving them many &ir Oppertunt-
ties of falling upon ihem, and reducing them to Mifery
and Slavery. O Briion', when will ye be wife ! When
wvill ye throw away the ridiculous Diftinflions of Party,
vheTc Ends of. Bulrulhes, and by a prudent Union fecure
yourfelves in a State of Peace and Profpciiy! A State,
of which, if it were not for yoor intolerably foolilfa and
KoneceHary DiviJiDns at Ho.iie, all the Powers upon ,
Earth could never deprive you.
FAB. CLXIX. 'TheVi^'aandtbe'^ea^tl,
AManhad caught'a Wcafcl, and was jirft going
to ItiU it. 'Che poor Creature, loefcape Death,
Cjried out in a pitiful Manner, O jjray, d© not kiK
%%6 JSSOP's FABLES.
met for I am ufirful to ymi^ and keep your Houfe
clear from Mice. Why truly^ fays the Man, if I
thought vou did it purely out of loye to me, I ihould
not only be inclined to pardon you, but think my(^f
ffnifi;hti^ obliged to you. But wherieas vou not only
killtheniy but yourfelf do the fame Mifchief they
would do, in eating and gnawing my Vi£tuaI&,^I
defire you would place your inAgnificant Services to
ibme other Account and not to mine. Having faid
this he took the wicked Vermin, and ftranglnl it
immediately.
The APPLICATION.
This Fable is pointed at thofe who are apt to impate
A^ons, which are done with a private View of their
own^ to their Zeal for the Public. This is the Cafe of
auoy 9i poor Grui-Jlrut Writer, who perhaps is for no
Party but himfelf, and of no Winciple but what is fab«
fervieut to his ewn Interefl, yet has the Impudence to
cry bimfelf up for a fprxner ConfeiTor of the Caa(^ that
happens to flourifh, a thorough honeH Man, who durft
fliew him^lf in the worft of Times. And with this po-
litic Vietir.9 thexe are a hundred thoufand Men in the
Nation, well attached to which Party you pleafe; who
are ferving the Imereft of that Side only, in their ftve-
ral Capaoities. By this Way of wprkiugi they have a
double Advantage-; firft, as they procure to themfelves
a good Number-of conftant Cuilomers of the iame Fac-
tion I and, fecondly, ^ they are entitled to fome remoie
Share in the Government whenever their Fa^Uon fuc*
ceeds. But fuch a Pretence to Favours is, in Truths lit-
tle betterthan that of the Weafcl. Both may chance to
hiwe done the Sc^rvices they boaft of; but as they ¥f€rt
priojcip^ly intended for the Promotion of th^ir own pri*
vajte AfFairs, wha^ver they might occafionaliy produce,
capnot be a fufficient Gfound foi^them.toraife any Merit
upon. A Hiehwajunan may at well plead ia his own
Behalf, that he never robbed aoy but tboft who were
JSneinies to the Government, and Men of unfoond Prin*
^iples. But how abfurd would fuch a Pretence be I
FAB,
Fab. clxx,
iEfop and the Impertinent Fellow.
jSCSOP's Matter came Home, one Day, fome-
what earlier than ufualj and, thefe happening
to be no ether Slave In the Houfe but ^fiPt he was
, ordered to get Supper ready as fafi as he could. So
away he runs to light a Candle, in order to kiadle
bis Firc} and the Weather bains wacm, and it
wanting a prettv deal of Night, ne went up and
down to^veral Hsufes, before he could fpeed. Ac
laA, however, he Ibund what he wanted ; and, being
«B Hade, he nade no Scruple oT returning direSly
over the Market-place, which was his neareft Way
Home. Bat, aa he went along, an impeninent Fel-
low among the Crowd, caught him by tbe Sleeve,
and woula faio have been arch upon him. Q rare
£.fopf fays be; whit OccaTuMi for a Candle^ old-
Boy; wliit, are you going to Jigfat the Sun to Boi i
Let nte alone, ^y^ Mf*^ Van loDlunk For» Man.
And having laid this, awayfae'ie«tlwlMOBe,as fiift
M be couU^
fl88 -«50P'3 FABLES.
Tht APPLICATION.
Ic is not every one who calls himrdf a Mao, or bean.
the Apjjearance of one, ihat iruly defervei the Name.
jr Man be a reafanable Creature, and none ought to be
allowed for fuch, but cho(e who full/ come up to that
Definition, it is ceriain one would have Occafion for
more Light thap that of the -Kun, to find them out by.
And it is plain that our old Pfailofopher did not take the
impertinent Fellow in the Fableforone: Nor, indeed,
fliould [uch be looked upon as reafonable Creatures,
who, with empty Nonfenfe, which they, call Wk, un-
feafonably interrupt Men of Thougit and Bufincfs.
When one is difpofed to be merry, one may, bear with
sny Ihnllow, flalhy BofFoonery; at Muiic that is not the
bioft elegant, will keep up the" Spirits, when once they
are raifed: Biit when the Mind happens to beiiia (erxui
Call, and is wholly intent upon any Matter of Impor*
tance, nothing \i fo oifenJive as a Fool or a Fiddle.
FAB. CLXXI. TbeUiTtandihsYiM,
A HART being.pwrfutfd Jiard by'rtic. Hunters, hid
himftlf utider the hroad Leayci of ft (hady jpread^
ingVine. When the Hunters weiegg^ie hVriPo^
hai
JSSOP's FABLES. 289
had given him over for loft» he, thinking himfelf
vexy fecore^ began to crdp: and- eat the Leaves of the
Vine. By this Means the Branches being put into
a ruftling Motion, drew the Eyes of the Hunters
that Way; who, feeing the Vine ftir, and fancying
feme wild Bead had taken Covert there, fhot their
Arrows at a Venture, and; killed the Hart'j who, be-
fore he expired, tittered hi$ dying Words to this
Purpofe: Ah! I fuffer joftly for my Ingratitude ;
who cojuld not forbear doing an Injury to the Vine
that fo kindly concealed me in Time of Danger,
n/ A P P L I C A T I O N.
ingratitude has^ always been ef^eemcd the biggefl of
Crimes, and what, as it were, comprehends all other
Vices withia it. Nor can we fay, that this Eilimation
is rafhly or anadyifedly made; for he that is capable of
injuring his Eenefadtors, what will he fcruple towards
another ? If his Confcience cannot be felt with the
We^ht of an Obligation added to it, much leA will'^it
lave any. Influence where there is none. So that^ upoa,
|he whole, we may conclude, that the Man who has
been once guilty of Ingratitude, will not ftick at any
other Crime of an inferior Nature. Since there are no
human Laws to punifh this infamous prevailing Mifchief,
it would be a great I'lece of human Prudence to mark
and obferre this Kind of Criminals, in order to avoid all
Manner of Communication with them.- And if this
were ftridly put in Execution, it coiiid be looked upon
as no other than a J4ift and proper Punifhment.
F A B.
45© ^ so P's F AhLKS,
FAB. CI XXII. ne Drunken Huftand*
A Crr^a-n Woman had a Drunken Hufband, whom
^^ when (he had endtavoiircd to reclaim feveral
Ways, lo MO Fiirpofe, fhe tried this Stiatagcm.
WtK-n he was bi.-ught Home one Night, dead drunk,
as it feems he frequently uCed to be, flip ordered
him to be caniid to a Kuiial-place, and there laid
in a Vault, as if he had been dead indeed. Thus
the left him, and went away, till {he thought he
might be come to hitnfelf, and grown fober again.
When flie returned and knocked at the Dnor of the
Vault, the Man cried out, Who's there ? I am the
Perfon, fays fhe, in a difmal Tone, that waits upon
the dead Folksy and I ^m come to bring you fome
Viauals., Ah ! good Waiter, fays he, let the Vic-
tuals alone, and bring me a little Drink, 1 befeech
thee. The Woman hearing this, fell a tearing her
Hair, and beating her Biealt in a woeful Manner:
Unhappy Wretch that I .am, fays file ; this was the
*nly Way that 1 could think |of lo reform the
beaflly
jBSOP's fables. 191
t>eaftly Sot : BtU Inftead of gaining my Point, I am
only convinced that this Drunkennefs is an jocuffii.-
ble Habit, wl\ich he intends to carry with hiooi into
the other World. ^
Tht APPLICATION.
This Fable is intended to ikew as the Prevalence of
Caftom ; and how, by u/ing pttrfelves much to any evil
Pra£lice^ we may let it grow into fuch a Habit as we
may be never able to divelt ourfclves of. Jn any Thing
that we are feniible may be prejudicial to either our
Health or Fortunes, we ihould take Care not to let our
Inclinations run up into a Habit : For though the for-
mer may be eafily checked, at oar firft fetting put, and
direded which Way we pkafe ; yet the latter, like a
headftrong un|u]y Horfe in his full Career, will have
its own Courfe, and we are harried impetuoafly on,
without the Power of controulifig it. As the Paifions of
young Men are warm, and their Imaginations lively, it
would be wiong to endeavour to tie them up from the
Purfuit of innocent Pleafures. But thofe among them,
that tbiak ai all, can neVer form a more ufeful and
happy Refolution, than not to fuffer themfelves to bft
drawn into a Habit, even in indifferent and trifling
Things. He that keeps himfelf free from the Slavery
*of Habit, will always be at Leifure to diftinguiih what
is good for. him, -from that which is otherwife : And
then there is no Fear, but his cool unbiafTed Judgment
will dired hint to fuch Purfuits, as will be le«ft iiujrtfiU^
if not moft ufeful to him.
O % P A B.
292 MSOP^i FABLES.
FAB. CLXXIII.- The Blackamoor.
A Certain Man having bought a Blackamoor, was
•**■ fo fimple as to think, that die Colour of his
Skin was only Dirt and Filth, which he had con-
trailed for want of due Care, under his former Maf-
tcr. ThiiFauU he fancied might cafily be removed.
So hciordfrsd the'poof Blacic 10 be put into a Tub,
and. was at a confiderable Charge in providing
Afltes, Soap, and Sciubbing-BrHQies for the Upe-
Tation, To vrotk. tbey went, rubbing and fcour-
ing bis Skin- all over, but to no Manner of Pur-
pofc : Far when tbey had repeated their WaOiines
ftvcral Times, and were grown quite weary, M
they got bv it wa^, that the wretched Blackamoor
caught Cold and died.
Tbt APPLICATION.
r Matly People attempt loipolBbilities, for want cf con*
fideriag the Natare ot Things aright. For, as palpa-
ble a Blunder as this Man in the Fable committed, there
«re Aoft who are guiUy of ts great iAi&akei ; efpe-
ciall/
^SO P'% FABLES. ,293
ciall/ when the/ endeavour, by fruitlef) Caldvation%.
10 raife Graces from the Mind or Body, of which nei-
ther is capable. When any one went to meddle with
■Arts .tnd Sciences, for which hij Geni_us was not well
and prppcrly adapted, the Grttks had a Proverb to turti
ii into RiJiLu^e, by faying, he was no more fit for the
Bufiiiefs, th..n an Afi to play upoi the Harp. In fhort,
when People lenrn to dance wiihout Shape and Mien, M»
Jing, or play on Mufic, wiihout a Voice or an Enr,
Painting or Poetry without a Genius, it is attempting'
to waft the Ulackamoor white. They can never actaia
ihcir End, bui ai the fame Time expoC; themfelvei to
the jocofe Hjmours of thofeih:ic behold them. Inftead
of a Grace, xhey acquire a Deformity ; as fome Boys at
School, whom the MaHer, by endeavouring to whipinta
a Memory »nd bright Paris, coniirma ftupid and invia-
cibla BLockheadi for ever.
F A B. CLXXIV. Thf Travellers. ,
'pWO Men travelling upon the Road, one oT
thm faw an Axe lying upon the Ground, where
fomebody had been hevring Timber: So taking it
up» fays he, I have found an Axe. Do nol fav A,
O 3 i-ays
^94 JESOPU FABL ES^
fajj the other, but JVe have found ; for, as Vfk *iH
.Companions, we ought to fharc it betwixt us : tsut
the firft would not confcnt. However, they had
»ot gone far, before the Owner of the Axe, hearing
what was become of ir, purfued them with a War-
rant ; which, when the Fellow that had it, perceiv-
ed, Alas ! fays he to his Companion, We are un-
done. Nay, fays the other, do not fay Wey but /am
undone ; for, as you would not let me (bare th«
Frize, neither will 1 (hare the .Danger with you.
The APPLICATION.
This Fable hints to os the Convenieney, if rot tlf«
KcceJSty, of makiog our Friend ihips firm and hfting.
And to ihis Farpofe, nothin? is fo requiiite as a flri^
Obfervance of the Rules of Honour and Generoiity;
for the very Life and Soul of Fnendihip fubiifts upon
mutual Benevolence, upon conferring and receiving Ob*
ligations on either Hand. A ftingy leferved Beha*
viour ilarves it;<it ought to be open, free, and commu-
iiicative, without the leaft Tincture of Sofpicioh or
DiftruH. For Jealottfy/'in Friendfhip, is a certain In*
dication of a faife Heart,' though in iidve it may be the
difttnguifliing Mark of a % true one* Nor is there'any
Thing merely chimerical or. romantic in tHi& Notiop ;
for, if we examine, we (tia]| £nd, that Reafon will con*
firm the Trnth, and Experience eviilcethe Utility of it.
He that hopes for Aififtancey or Accommodation iii &ny
Exigency, or Time of Mitfortune, muft liay in' a Prbvi-
fion for it, by watching the Neceflities of his Acquaint-
ance, and relieving the. Ihoft defervirig of them in
their Straits, by a ready and a; willing Contribution. By
this Means, Gratitude, which is never wanting- to an
honell Mind, will Tec ore us a reafonable Fund in Re-
Terfion.; and all the Favpurs we bellow, witl,^ like the
Tide of A kiveri in du« Seufon flow back again upon u<.
¥ KB.
jSSO F'% FABLES, a?5
FAR, Cr.XXV. r/'.- Fifherman.
A Certain Fiflierman having laid his Nets fn the
River, aiid encompaiTed the whole SccaTi from
9neSi(}etatheother,tbokaInngPole, atidfc'l a beat-
ing the .Water, to mslte the Fifli ftrike into hjs Nets'.
One of the Neighbours that lived thereabout, iielng
hin? do To, wondered. what he meant; and going up
to him. Friend, fays he, what are you doing here f
Dn'you think it is to be Tuffered, that you fli;il) ftand
fplalhingandjaftiingthe Water, and make It fomifdd/^
that it i* not fit for Ufe ? Who do you think can 1 1 ve-
st this Rite .^ — He was ««iflg on in a great Fury,
when the other interrupted hirr', and replied, I donor
much troublemyfelf howyouarc to live with my doing,
this, but I aflure you, that I cannot live without it. f
Tht A P.P L I C A T I O N.. :
This FaWe is h-velled at thofe, who, as thfe Proverb fays,
love/i- ,^j* in trr'uhkdWatirs. There are fome Men nffuch
execrable Principles, that they do not care what Mifchief
or what CoMfsfina ihey or.caiir,n in the World, provj.kd
thevniav but gratify fomcH-tie fe'Klh Appetite. A Thief
will fet a whole Street on Fire, to get an Opportunity r^f
O 4 robbing
^9^ jESO P'i F A B L E Sv
rubbing cne Houfr ; an il]-na:ured Peribn will kindle the
■ Flame of Difcord aindng Friends and Neighbours, purely
to liitigfy hii own malicious Temper. And iim»ng the
Great OHM, there are ihofe, who, toTurceedin chctr am>
bilious Dcfiens, will mike Ho Scruple of inTOlvins tUeir
Counir)' iri Divifionrand ADimofinesaiHome, ^nofonM*
times in War and Bloodfhed Abroad-: Provided they do
I'ui mainriin fhemfelves in Power, tbeji care not *bat
H.i'vock and DefolatioD they bring upon thctdt -of Man-
kind. Thoyfee all arotind them confounded withf itAion
and Party Rage, wiihftutthe IeeilRemorfeorGo9ip»Son.
The Widow's Te^J. the Orphan V Cries, and theSlghi
of Defpairiilel^ cannot affeft them. Like tha FilberroaD
in the Fable, they boldly purfue cbe.gport, and onl^ re-
ply. It muft be To, becaufe we cannot litfe, ai we would
du, without it. - What bruiilh nnrociableScdtimenttare
ihefe ; fueh as a ipere Sra'ie'of Nsture wosld CcarCE fag-
geft ! Thofe tiat have any Traces of Equity in their Breaft,
or any Regard for the Rights ef M^kind, fliould- enter
their Protell aeaiiill fucli NDtions as the&, and oppofe
tbe rra£lice of them, with all their Might and Strengthk
FAB. CLXXyi, Mercury <j«rf /iff Carvfl-*
M
ERCURY\iiv'in^ a Mind to know how much
he was efleemed airiong Men, transformed him-
. ' - m
£&,OI^'% FAB1.es, 297
fe]f into the Shape of one of them ; and, gO'ng "^^Q
a Carver's Shop, where Ijttsle Injagcs were to.be^
/old, he {zw'ytipiter^ J^*^ bwnfeliF, and moft of the
other Gods and God^efies: j&o, prerendii^ that fee
wanted \o buy, fay« lie <rb CaiVcr, Whlw flo you
alk for &ii% I and pointed to the t^lgure of 'Jupiitr.
A Oroat, fays tlte ^<!rtfeef. A^3 wh#tfor that? -ftieaV
ing 'jum, 1 niibift have ibrhething more for that^ fays
he. <vAl, and What^ ttre fVicfe of this ? fays JM!*r-
r«r)^ *fod<img his Mead 111: himfelf. Why, fays the
Main, if you are ineariieft, and wtfl huy the other.
twd, 1 will^ throw you that into the Bargain.
jfe A P P L i C A T I O N.
Nothi))g ib>fe^ a Man fp cheap and little iii the £je#
of difcerhiug People, tts his enquiring after his own
Worth, and wanttrtg torknowwhat Valtre others fet apoa
kim. He that often hufies iiimfejr in ftating the AcV
count of his own Merit, wiil probably empioy hir
Thoughts upon a very barren SubjeQ ; thofe who are
full of themfelves, being generally the emptieft Fellows*
«>ome are fo vain as to Kunc for Praife, and lay Trapf
for Commeadation ; which when they do, it is Pity but
they ihould meet with the fame iDifappointment as Mrr-
€ury in the Fable. He' that behaves himfelf as hefhould.
do, need not feaf procuring a good Share of Refpc^t, or
railing a fail* fiourifhihg Reputation. Thefe are the in*
feparable Attendants of thofe that do^ well, an-d ia^
Courfe follow the Man that acquits himfelf handfoaely.
But theti they (houtd never be the £nd or Motive of our
Purfoits : Our principal Aim filonld be the Well^ire -
Eftd Happinefs of our Country, our Friends^ and ouft*^
/(^Iv^s $ and tkat ikoi^d be dirq(6ted by die Rnie^ of Ho»
nour and Virtue. As long a& we do this^ we need not
l>e concerned what the World thinks of us: For a Ca*-
riofity of that Kind does bat pre^enc what it moii deiireB^
CO obtain. Fame in thisRefpcd^ is like awhimficalt
Miftreis ; ihe- flits ^om thofe who ptirfite her moki ^nidL
ioUows fack as fcew the leaA Regard to kcr*
IK ^> . '' \llt *j^ 99
19« j^SOP'i FABLKS.
FAB. CLXXVII. ne-VhKvnandtbeZi^ck.
C OlVJE Itiieves, «n«ring a Houfc with a Ilcfiga ■
^ to rob it, when they were got in, found nothing
worth taking, but a Cock j fo they took and carried
him off'. But as ihey were about to kill him, he
Wgged hatd for his Life, putting them in Mind, howr
oWiil he was to Mankind, by crowing and calling
ftcm up betimes to their Work. ; You Villain, rc-
I>licd they, it is for that very Reafon we will wring
your Neck off; for you alarm and keep People wak-
ing, fo that we cannot rob at (juiet for you. -
Tie APPLICATION.
' The fam9 Thing which recommendi ui to the Efteem
v( gdsd I'eople,' will make thoie that are bad have but
«n. i It- Opinion of as. It i* in vain far. innocent Men,
under Gpprcflion, to complain to thofe who sre the Oc-
«a&on of It; all they can urge, will but make again ft
tb«m ! and «vsn their Acry Innocence, cho' tbey Ihould
ifiiy nothing, would render tbem fufficienily fufpeAed;
'The .Advice, therefore, that this Fable brings along with
it, is 10 infbnn M,. that there,!] do- trulting, nor. any
Hope) of living well with wicked unjuft Mem When
.VkerirfurilhesaAdisiaPDwflrj wcreiipoiLblcforagood
Man
yESOP's FABLES. 499
M>nto liveijuieEly Jn the Neighbouihoodof it, and pre-^.
ferte bis Integrity, it might be fometimw convenient for
bim 10 do fo, rather than qaarrel with, and prorojce it
agninll hini. But as it is certain that Rogae» are irre*:
conrilcaiilc Enemies to Men of Wcrtli, if the Jatwr,
wnuld he fecure, they mull take a Method to free them-
feli'es from the Power and Society>f the former.
FAB. CLXXVni. rhf Fox a/i4 ibi Afs.
AN Afs, litiding a Lisn's Skin, difguifed himleli'
■'*■ with it, diid rangedaboutihe Forelt, putting;all
(he Beafis that faw him into a bodily Fear, After he
hud diverted himfelf thus for fome Time, he met a
Fox J and being dcfirous to fright him too, as W.-ll ■
as the reil, he leapt at him- with fome Fiercenefs,
and endeavoured to imitate the Roaring of the Lion.
Y^ur humble Sen-ant, fays ihc Fox ; if you had held
your TongOf, I migtt have taken you for" a Lion, as
others did ; but now you bray, I know who you arc.
r:&« A P P L I C A T I O N.
Thi* i) fo trite and common a Subjefl, that there 's
fcarce any onewho is ignorant of it. A Man is kmw i -
by his Wordi, Bi a Tree ii by the Fruit { and, U <ve
KOuld b« apprized of the Nature and Qualiticj of ty
O 6 Oj:,
3O0 jSSOP'i FAB LES.
cne, let him but dircourfr, and he himfclf will Tpeak
tkcm to at, better than another can defcribe them. We
my therefbiv perceive from this Fable, how ptoper it
ii for thofe to nold their Tongues, who would not dif-
COTcr the Shallownefs of their UndcHUndiags.
Jffti tmJ OimU, unffnnlitjn/tli!ti betray,
Wblnth^t attempt to beat, er tbefe. ta irof. Garth.
Thedeepeft Rivers are moft filent; the greaieR Noife
is 'ever found where there is the leafl Depth of Waier.
And it it a true Obfervatisn, tliat thole who are the
wcakell in Underftaading, and moll flow of Apprrhen-
£oD, are generally the flrongcil in Opinion, and molt
precipiiatr in uttering theircrude Conceptions. When,
Vith a. feeret Awe, we regard the gtAveDrefs aixl im-
portant Mien of fome Senatorian P*rfon, whom we have
chanced to meet in a Coffee Houft, what a Speaker do
we often think he muft be, befoK.we he:ir him fpeak !
Nii Air breathes the Serioufncfsofa Privy Counfeilor,
■od hii ertfl Afpefl the D'gniry of an emiBeni Patriot :
But he utters himfelf, and undeceives us ( be brays, md
tells the whole Company what he is.
FAB. CLXXIX. STv Hen d«i/,tf Swallow.:
A HEN finding fome Serpents £^ in a Du«£«
**■ hil]> At upon dicin, with a ^^figa to faauH
^iS OP'S FABLES. 301
them. A Swallow perceiving it, flew towards her,
and with fotne Warmth and raffion : Are you mad^
fays fhe, to fit hovering over a Brood of fiich. per-
nicious Creatures, as you do ? Be aiTured, the Mo«>
ment you bring them to Light, you arc the firft they
will attack, and wreak their venomovs Spile upon*
n/ A P P L I C A T I O N.
This Fable is only to |)Ht bs is iD^Mind^ ones molie, of
what we have already, more than once, met with in
the Courfe of thefe Fables, That we (hoold never have
ai)y Thng to do with ill IVIen ; no, aot even to do
thetn KindnefTes. Slen of iil Principles are a Genera^
tion of Vipers, thai ought to be crnfiied vnder our
Feet, apd dcftroyed the lirft Opportotiity. Every
Rogue ihoald be looked upon ' by hon«fl Men as a poi-
ibnotts Serpent : It is not fufiicient that they avoid and
keep clear of him ; but, if they have any Value for
their own Safety, they ihould proiec«te and maul him^
and render him incapable of ever doing Mifchief. The
Man who tsoccaiionally, or by Accident,- one's £nemy»
may be mollified by Kindoefs, and reclaimed by good
Ufage : Such a Behaviour, Reafon and Morality both
expert from as« But we fliould ever refolve, if not to
fupprefs, at lead to have no Dealings with thoie, whofc;
BlooQ is tindured with hereditary, habitual Villainy,
and their Nature leavened with Evil, to fuch a Degree^
as to be incapable of a Reformation.
J ABi
302 ^SOP'& FABLES.
FAB. CLXXX. nc Dog; mvited to Supper.
A Gentleman having invited an extraordinary
■'*' J-ricnd to fup with him, ordered a handfotne
Entertainment to be prepared. His Dog, obferving
thiK, iboughc with himrdf, that ndw' would be ii
good Opportunity for him to inviie another Dog,
a Friend of his, to partake of the good Cheer. Ac-
cordingly, he did fo; and the ftrange Dog was con-
duced into the Kitchen, where he faw mighty Pre-
parations going foiwaril. Thought he tohimfclf.
This is rare ! 1 ftia;i till rry Belly charmingly by
and by, with fome of thefe Daintier 1 I'll cat enough
to laft me a Week; Oh, how nicely and dclici-
oiifly fliaJl I feed ! While he fiood and thought thus
with hiriifelf, his Tail wagged, and his Chops wa-
tered exceedingly; and i his drew the. Obfervation
of the Cook towards him; who, feeing a ftrange
Cur, with his Eyes intent upcn the ViSuals, ftole
. fofdy behind him, and, taking him op by ihe two
hinJ Leg), threw him out of a Window into the
< Strcey
jESOP'i FABLES. 303
Street. The hard Stones gave him « very fever^
Reception, and he was almoft ftunned with the
Fall) but recovering, himfelf, he ran yelping and
crying half the Length of a Street j the Noife of
which brought feveral other Dogs about him ; who^
knowing of the Invitation, began to enquire how
he had fared? O, fays he, admirably well ; I ne-
ver was better entertained in my Life : But, in 7 roth,
we drank a little too hard ; for my Part, I vras/fo
over^ken, that I fcarce know which Way I got
out of the Houfe.
' 7J/ A P P L I C A T I O N.
There IS no depending open a fecond-^jand Tntercft;
unlefs we know ourfclves to be well with the Principal,
and are afiared of his Favour and Prcnedion, we Itaad
but upon a ilippery Foundation. Thtry are Strangets
to the Worlds who are fo vain as to thiqk they can be
well with any one by Proxy ; they may» by this Means,
be cajoled, bubbled, and impofed upon, but are under
great Uncertainty as to gaining their Point, and may
probably be treated with Scorn and Deri/ion in the End. .
Yet there are not wanting, among the feveral Species
of Fops, li!ly People of this Sort, whopHde themfelvei
in an imaginary Happinefs, from being in the goftd
Graces of a Great Man^s Fi^iend's Friend. Alas 1 th<*
Great Men themfelves are but too apt to deceive and
fail in making good their Fromifes ; how then can ^wo
expei£t any Good from thofe who do but promife and
vow in their Names ! To place a Con/idence in fuel)
Sparks, is indeed fo falfe a Reliance, that we ihouid be
Aihamed to be deteded in it ; and, like the Cur in tli^
Fable, rather own we had been well treated, than let
the World fee how juftly we had beett punifhed for oar
ridiculous Credulity.
TAB,
304 ^50P*i FABLES.
FAB. CLXXXI. Jupiter flW the HerdfriiMi;
A Herdfman mifling a young Bcifcr that belonged-
^^ to his Herd, went up and down the Foreft ro
feck it. And having walked a great deal of Ground
to no Purpofe, he fell a praying to Jufiter for Re-
lief j promifingto facrifice-a Kid to him, if he would
help him to a Pifrovery of the Thief. After this,
he went on a little farther, and came near a Grove
of Oaks, where he found the Carcafe of his Heifer«
and a Lion grumbling over it, and feeding upon it.
This Sight almoft feared him out of his -Wits; fo
down he fell upon his Knees once more, and ad*
drcffing himfelf to yupiter; O yupiter / fays he, I
promiled thee a Kid to (hew me the Thief, but nov#
I promife thee a Bull, if thou wilt be fo merciful at
to deliver me out his Clutches.
Ti* APPLICATION.
How ignorant and ftupid are fome People, who for'tn
their Notions of the Sapreme Being from their own poor
fliatlow Conceptions ; and then, like fro ward Children
with their Nurfes, think it conSftent with infinite Wif.
dom, and DBerring Juftice, to comply with all thor
wbiAficU. Pcution». LMMMbutlive u ju&ly aa tbejr
jE SOP'S FAB.LES. 305
can, and joft ProTldenoe will give them what ihey oaghC
to have. Of all the invo'unwiy Sins which Men com-
mir, fcarce any ate laoFC frequent, than that of their
praying abAirdly and improperly, as well as unfeafon-
ably, when their Time mighf have been- empioycd fo
mu^h belter. The many private CoUeftions fold up and
down the Nation, do not a little contribute to this inju-
dicious Praflice : Which is the more to be condemned,
in that we have fo incomparable a public Liturgy; one
fingle Addrefs whereof (except the Lord'e Prayer) majf
be pronounced to be the beft that ever was compiled;
and alone preferable to all the various Manuals of Oc-
cafional Devotioh, which are vended by Hawfccrs and
Pedlars about our Streetf. It is as fottows :
Alatigbly GfJ, tit Faailaiit ef ail iVi/dam, v>b« iatmtfi
»ttr NtctffitUt btftr* vm ^, and eur Jgnaramrt in ttfeiMg\
ive i*/ei(b tilt /■ iavi Ctmf^am upen «ur Ittfirmitiut
and tbefa Tbingt, 'wbitb far Mrr Un-wcrtbint/i wt'Jafi
ml, tmdfer Mr Blindn*/i tvt tannet afi, vtucbfaft la givt
mi. far tbt Wartbiiuft af thj. S»n Jefus Chrlft titr L«rd,
FAB. CLJCXXII. rif Fighting CockK .
PWO Cucks were lighting for the Sovereignty
of tbc punghill. And ont of them hxving got
the
3o6 JESOP'% FABLES.
the better of the other, he that was vanquiihf i crept
into a Hole, and hid hin'ifelf for ftniC 1 ime ; but
the V'iiSor flew up to an eminent Pla€e, ciapt his
Wing'<, and crowed out ViBory. An Ea^le wha
Was watching for his Piey near the Place, faw Wm,
and m kin^ a -Stoop, truiied him in his Talons, aiuf
carried him ofF. The Cock that had been beaten
pnc iving t i^, foon quitted his Hole, and /baking
oiFall R' membr;«nct' (^f his late Difgrace gallanted
the Hens wtth all tb« Intrepidiiy imaginable.
Tbi APPLICATION,
This Fable fhews the Impropriety amf Irvcdnvenienet
ti running into £xcremes. Much of cor Bappinefsde^
pends upon keeping an even Balance in our Words ami
Addons; in not fu/Fering the Scale of our Reaibn to
mount us coo high in Time of Profperity, nor to iink m
too low with the Weight of adverfe Fortune.
Jt is a QuellioQ, Which ihews People in the moft con-
temptible Light, exttltw^lra moderately upon a freih
Acceffion of Good» or being too abje^iy caft down at
the fudden Approach of Evil? We are apt to form our
Notions of the Man from the Srabiliry oi his Temper,
in this Refpto^; and account him a brave or a wife
Man 9 accordiag to the Proportion of Equanimity,
which he exerts upon any 'Change of bb Condition*
But tho' oar Reputation were iio Ways concerned^ ia
the Cafe, and a Man were no^ to be reckoned a Cox-
comb for being elated, or a Coward for being dejedled
with the VicilGtudes of Life, yet the true Regard of
our own private Sati&faftton fhould incline us to play
the Phi)o(opber, and karn to keep our Sptriis <5alm and
even; becaufe Life would be a Lab>iiBih of Perplexi*
ties without it. One fudden 1 urn would come fo thick
upomthe Back of ahother, that we fhould be bewildered
in the quick SacctlDon of Joys and Terrors, without
having fo much as a quiet Moment to ourrelve5.
FAB.
jESop'% fables.
FAB. CLXXXin.
the Youns Men ^W the Cook.
'T' WO young Men wenc iino a Cook's bhop, un"
■*■ der Pretence of buying Meatj and while th«
Cook's Back was turned, one of them fnatched up a
Piece of httS^ and cave it to his Companion, who
prefcntly clapt it under his Cloak. The Cook turn-
ing about again, and mifling his Beef, beean' to
f:har|!e ihem wiih it ; upon which he that firir took
it fwore bitterly he hsd none of it. He ihat had it,
fwore as heartily that he had taken up none of his
Meat. Why, look ye. Gentlemen, fays the Cook, I
fee your Equivocation } and tho' I cannot tell which
of you has taken my Meat, I am fure between you
both, there is a Thief, and a Couple of Rafcals.
7ht APPLICATION.
An loDcA Man'» Word is as good ai his Oath ; and Co
is ■ Rogue's Coo; for heihat will cheat aod lye, why lliould
he fcrnple to forfwrar himfelfj Ii the latter more cnrni-
ral than either of the former i An honeft Man needs nQ
Oath le oblige him ; and a Rogue only deceives you the
more certainly by it; becaole you think you havr tied him
Bp, and k< it fore you kavc not. io Truth, it is not eaiy
w;th
3o8 ^SOP'a FABLES.
withlheBycofRcaron, to difccrn, that there is any Good
in Swearing at all. We need not fcruple to takeao honeft
Man') bare AITeveration ; and we ftiall do wrong if w^
believe^ Rogue, though he fwears by ih* moft folemn
Oathi that can be invented. Tlicre are, brfides, a Sort
of People who are Rogues, and jel do not know that ihey
trcfoch; who, when they have lalcen an Oath, make a
Scrapie of breakiiig it; but rnck their Invention to evade
it by Ibme Equrvocacion or other; by which, if ihey can
but fatiify their Acquaintance, and ferve theirown Scheme,
they think all is »vell, and never once confider tho black
and heinous Giili which moil attend fuch a Behavioor.
They folemnly call the Supreme Being towitnefs; lo.
wh:it?ToaShatD, *nEva&on,aLye. Thusihele unthink-
ing pieraricating Wretches, at the fame Time that t^ey
believe there is a God, ad as if there were none ; or,
what ia worfe, Aart tlFront him in thebighcft Degree.
They, who by fwearing would clear themfekei of s
Crime of which (hey are -Malty ^ailty, need -not be st
nach Pain> about wording their Oath ; fbr, exprefs them.
ftlTTt how they will, they are fnre to be forfwom.
FAB. CLXXXIV. 5>f Jackdaw tf»i/A*Sheep,
A JackdavrIatch<)[Uriitgu|>oRtheBackof a Sheep.
'*■ PcBce,yotuioiryThing,J'afStlie&Ja«epiif Iwerea
X>Og,
^SOP's FABLES. 309
:I7bg, you ivrd not fervc me fo^ That is true enough,
replies the Jacfcdiw, i know very well who- 1 have to
do with } 1 never meddle with the furly and revenge-
ful : but I love to p'ague fuch poo; helplefs Creatures
as you are, that cannot du me any Harm again.
T?;*- ' A P P L I C A T I O N.
Many People in (he World are of ibe Temper of this
Jackdaw in the fable, who do Mifchief for MifchieP*
Sake i and, at the fame Time, are never fo well pleafed,
aiwhen they doit to the Innocent and Undeferving. They
love ihemfelves too well to offer an Irjury [o one tif their
own inalkious Principlei, for fear of a faicable Reiurn ;
but delire no better Grounds, at any Time, for being hart-
al, than the Prufpefl of being lb with Imponlty. Hour
inconiiftent are fuch Proceedings as tbefe, with Honour'
and Generolity ! Howoppofice lotbe Charafterof agreat
and a good Man 1 and how diredly contrary to the Rulea
pf efcr&ftd for the BelKkviour of noble and hcrtnc Spiriti.
FAB. CLXXXV. -The Plov/mzn and Fortune,
'T'HE Plowman, as he was plowing the Ground,
■*■ (ootid a Trcafurc . Tranfporied with Joy, he
immediately
Sio ^^OP's FABLES.
immediately began to return Thanks to the Ground,
w^ich had been (o liberal and kind to hioa. Pyr*
tune obferved what he did, and could not forbear
difcovering her Refentment of it. She inftantly
appeared to hixn, and, You^Foo}, fays fhe, what a
Blockhead are you to lie thanking the Qround thus,
and take no Notice of Me ! You Sot, you ! if you
had loft fuch a Treafure, inftead of finding it, I
fhould have been the firft you would have laid the
Blame upon.
7J/ A P P L I C A T I O N.
If our AiFajTS fucceed and go wel1» we ought to let
them have the Credit of it, to whofe Intereil it i$ chiefly
oaring, and whom upoa any Mifcarriage» or ill Ma«
vagesnent, we iliould have found Fault with. That juft
Rule of £qui(y« /« <^o as nue tuouU he done itntOt fhould,
as near as we can, be obferved in every Adlion of our
Lives. But Vanity and Peevifhnefs dlfpofe us too of?
ten to break ic^ one .makes us afcribe that to our ow«
good Addrcfs, which perhaps is, owing to fome Acci-
dent ; theoth^r puts us upon Charging Fortune, or fome-
body beiidesourfclves, with that ill Succcfs, for which
we may probably be indebted to our own Stupidity and
Negligence only. What Titles of Honour, what Sta-
tions of Dignity, what Places of Profit in Church and
State, are now and then pofTelTed by dull ufelefs
Wretches! who never once dreamt ' that they were
obliged to Fortune alone for their Happinefs in obtain-
ing them. Yet, if the Cafe were quite otherwife, if
thofe Places had been filled with Men of known Abili-
ties, and thefe Creatures left low and undiflinguifhed as
their own Merit, it is ten to one but they^ would have
curfed their Stars, fretted at their ill Luck, and flormeil
at the barbarous Treatment of'th^ir capricioUd /er/^wr.
F A B^
j£ so P'i FABLES,
FAB. CLXXXVl.
The Ape and her izvo Vouo!^ On
A N Ape, having two Young Ones, was dotingly
fond of one, but difregatded and fliehted the
Other. One Day flje chanced to be furpriled by the
Hunters, and bad much ado to get off. However, fhe
did not forget her favourite Young One, which flie
took up in her Arms, that it might be the more
fecurc: The other, which fhe neglefled, by .natural
Inftinia, leapt upon her Back, and fo away they
fcampered together. But it unluckily fell out, that
the Dam, in her precipitate Flight, blinded with
Hafte, daflied her Favourite's Head againft a Stone,
and killed it. The hated one, clinging clofe to htr
rough Back, cfcaped all the Danger of the Purfuit.
The APPLICATION.
This Fable is defigned to ejcpofe the Folly of fome
ParenCf, who by indulging and humouring their fa-
vourite Children, fpoil and ruin ibem ; while thofe, of
whom they have been the leall fond, have done very
well. The Child that knows it can coniinand its Pa^
renti Afleftions, will haraly be brought lo knowJiow
to obey. The Fondnefi of iodifcrect Pvcots to fa-
312 ^SOPU FABLES,
Touriw Children, is blind as Love ufelf; they are fa
far from feeiog any Blemiihei or. Imperfeftions in them,
that their very Deformity is Beiuty, and all their ugly
■fritki Gr*ees. Tbua. witbqnt «Ter bei»g checked
u\i correAed for their Faults, but raiiier applauded
and careffed for them.- when they come Abroad uport the
Thsaire of tlK Wo:ld, what Rock wiU i>ey aot fplit
upon? While the Child wlio is 9> happy as' tocfeape
thffe very i«a(ter Rr'garil^tt ihefe peratcioui Indurgence.s
is obiigeii to be good aad honell in iu own Dafaoce.
The Pwenj logic? ,upon it with a» Eye clear from the
Ntilb of Faa<i)aer>. HeWno Regard to ittDii^ke or
Appraba^kM ; hot ibr his oivn C/edU, puts it inGD fuck
X Way of Education as R^afon diflates ; and foifcet it
tO'iie ai accompliftiet}, as its Cajtacity wiU adotit.
FAB. CLXXXVII,
?iff Shephercd turned Merchant.
A Shepherd that kept his Sheep near the Sea, one
clear Summer's Day» drove them clofe to the
Shore, and fat d&wn upon a Piece of a Rock to en-
joy the cool Breeze that came from the Water. Xhe
green Element appeared calm and fmooth ; and Thetis
wiih herTrain of Smiling bcautifulNyinphs, teemed
/gSOP'a FABLES. ^1^
to dance upon the floating Surface? of the Deep.
The Shepherd'sf Heart thrilled with fecret Plea ftire^
and he began to wifh for the Life of a Merchant^
Q how happ,y, fays he,.(h6uld I be, to plow thisi
liquid Plain, in a pretty light Veftel of my own t.
and to viftt the remote Parts of the World ,^ inftea4
of fitting idly^hece, to look upon 4 Parcel of fenfe^
lefs Sheep, while they are grazing ! then what am-t
pie Returns fhould I make in the Way of Traffick I
and what a ihort and ceH^ifi Path would this be to
Riches and Honour 1 In ihort, this Thought was^
improved into a Refolution; away he pofted with all
Expedition, fold his Flock, and all that he hadi
then he bought a Bark, and fitted it out fojr a
Voyage | he loaded it with a Cargo of Dates^ a^i
ibt Sail for a Mart (hat was held upon the Qgiaft of
j^j five hundred Leagues off^ lie had not loQg
been at Sea, before the Wind began to hiow tcm**
peftuoufly, and the Waves to rage and fwell ; the Yiot
lence of the Weather increafed upon him, his Ship
was- in Danger of finking, and he was obliged to
lighten her, by throwing all his Dates overboard s
After thiSy his Vef&l was driven upon a Rock near
the Shore, and fplit to Pieces } he himfelf hardly eft
caping with Life. Popr, and deftitute of Subfift^nce,
he applied himfelf to the Man who had bought his
Flock, and was adoiitted to tend it as a (lirelirig* He
fat in the fame Place as before, and the Qcean again
looked calm and fmooth. Ah! fays he, djeceitfu), tempt-;
ing Element, in vain you try to engage me a fecond
Time ; my Misfortunes have left me top poor to be
again deluded the fsinfe Way ; and Experience has
made me fo wife as to refol ve« whatever my Condltioii
may be^ never to truft thy faithlefs Bofom morp,
Ti^ A P P L I C A T I O N.
. Bwfbt Wit h hefi : And the more Variety of Oiikpf
pomtmcnts w« meet with^ the greater will be our ILr^^^
P rienceji
It \
314 JS SOP'S FABLES.
rience, and the better we fhall be qaallfied to rub thro'
the World . Mankind has a ftrange Propenfity for Things
chat are new and untried : and lb ftrong a Bias inclines
them to fhifting and changing, that every one difre-
Jifhes his own Profeffion, and wiflies he had been of ft>m«
other Employment. The yt»ung Academic, defigned
to the mon grave of all ProfclEons, hates to think of his*
peculiar Habits of that formal referred Deportment by
which he is to feparate himfelf from what he counts the
Pleafnres of the World, and bid adieu to that Irregu-
larity which Youth ib much delights in. He longs for
a Commiffion in the Army» that he may be fa(hionably
licentious, aad indulge himfelf unqueftioncd in the
wanton Sallies of a briik youthful Appetite. Tn the
mean Time^ the old Soldier, harralTed out with labo-
rious Campaigns abroad, and vexed with the flow Re^
turns of his Half- pay at Home, repines at the happy
Condition of the EcclefialHc, battening in Eafe and
Plenty, and fleeping untnolefled in one of the upper
iitalls of a Cathedral. With Remorfe he calls to Mind
his former Perverienefs it quitting a College Life, and
defeating the Purpofe of his Relations, who had pur-
chafed the next Keverfion of a fat Benefice for him. He
ihakes his Head, and rt&t&s, that> if it had not been
: for his Folly, inflead of aching Limbs, and an empty
Purfe, he might have enjoyed as much Leifure and
Luxury, as any Pried in the Land.
Thus, fomctimes with, fometimes without Reafbn^ we
are difguiled at our Station, and even thofe who are
embarked in another Way : Which, however it may
feem to be a Misfortune entailed upon us, yet carries
this Advantage wi^ it, that, as we arecaimoft fare of
being difappointed by a Change, we ace as certain like*
wife of gaining fome ExperieAce bylhe^Bargain, aad
Jbeing wifer for the future.
F A B.
^JOP's FABLES. 315
FAB. CLXXXVIIL
The Young Man and- the Lion.
'T'H
rH ERE was a ccrtEin old Man, who w« Loi4
of a very great Eftate ; and had only one Child)
'a Son, of whom he was exceeding tender and fond f .
he was likewiCe one very apt to be influenced by
Omens, Dreadis, and Prognoftics. The young Man,
his Son, w^s mightily addi£ted to Hunting, and ufed
to be up early every Morning to follow the Chace.
But the Father happining to dream, one Night,- that
his Son was killed by a Liooi took it ffo to Heart*
Aat he would not fuiFer him to go Into the Foreft-
any more. He built a Ane Caftle for his Recep*
tion, in which he kept him clofe conlinei], left ha
fliould flep out privately a hunting, and meet hi>
Fate. Yet, as this was purely the EfFe£t of hia
Xove and Fondnefs for him, he (Vudied to make his
Confinement as agreeable to him as poSible ; and, in
Order to it, ftirliifhed the Caftle with Variety of fine
Figures, in which were all Sorts of wila Beaftf,
fHch. asthe .Son ufed to take Delight in hunting {
and, among the red, the Portrait of a Lion. This
the young Man viewed one Day rasre attentively
P than
3i6 JESOF'% FABLES.
than ordinary; and being vexed in his Mind »t the
vnreafonable Confinement which his Father's Dream
kad ocafioned, he broke out inro a violent Paffiont
and looking fiernly at the Lion» Thou cruel Savage,.
fays he, it is to thy grm and. tenibie Fofm thati
0we my IcnprifonBient ; if I had a Svtrord in my
Hand, I would thus run it thro' thy Heart. Saying
this, he ftruck his Fift at the Lbn'& Brcaft, »nd un-
fortunately tore his Hand with a Point of a Nail
which ftuck in the Wainfcot, and was hid under the
Canvas. The Wound feftered, and turned to a Gan-
grci>e; this threw the young Man into a Fever, and
be died. So that the Father's Dream was fnlfiUed
by the very Caution that he took to prevent it.
The APPLICATION.
This Fable, though it may fcem to favour and ea-
courage the Notion^of Dreams, atid fuch fancied Difco-
Teries of future Events, U however intended to ridicule
and explode them. What can be more abfurd than the
Pi^Aice of thofe o^ ulcus Fools^ who» having Faith
enoagh lo believe the Veracity of Oracles, had the Im-
pudence r Stupidity to try to defeat <h cm afterwards ?
^his was makine a God with one Hand, and throwing
him away with the other. Firft they afk the Almighty
what he intends to do ? When he has told them, they
believe him and tremble, but are refolyed to difappoint
bim if they csn : Nay, they think they ca»,aBd fet about
it accordingly. Thefe low inconfiftent Notions of God,
gave the firft Birth to Atheifm : And were they not too
common in the World ftill, that pernicious- Principle,
if there be any fuch Principle in Reality, would be ei-
ther entirely rooted out, or grow fo thin, as not to hin-
der the Jncreafe of Virtue. When the Deity, which
the Generality of the World acknowledge, is ufed as if
he were a Deity of Irrefolution, inllablity, Mutability
and Padion* Men of any Difcernment immediately re-
nounce fuch a Deity as that; aad, for Want of due
Confideration, remain Atheifts. It being indeed leis ab*
furd of the two, -not to believe a Supreme Bein^ at all,
than to believe he is Aibje^ to tlie Frailties of us wretched
Mortals, and governed by Whim and Fancy*
MSOP'% FABLES. 317
FAB. CLXXXIX. rbe Hen and the fo-n.
A FOXhavingcreptintoan Out-hmife, looked up
■**■ and down, Teeking what lie might devouri and
«t laft fpied a Hen fitting upnn the uppcrmoft Perch,
io hi^h, that he could by no Means come at her.
He then had Recourfe to his old Stratagem j Dear
Coufui, lays he, addrelBnghimfelf to the'Htin, hotr
do you do? 1 hearf- thar you were ill, and kept
within ; at which I- was fo concerned, that I could
not refrtill I c4me to fee you. Pray hftw Is it Wich
you rd.v? Let me fee! your Pulfe a littje ; indeed
you do not look well at all. He was running on af-
ter this impudeor fulTome Manner, when the Hen
anfwered him from-the Rooft, Truly, Conlin Rt-y- -
tiarj, you are in the right on't; I never was in more
Pain in my Life : I mirft bt-g your Pardon for being
fo free as to tell.yoii, that 1 fee no Company 5 and
-you muft ejicuff me too for not coming down to you j
ifor, to fay the Truth, my Condition is fuch, that I
fear 1 fhould catch n>y Death if 1 Jhould do it.
n* A P .P L I C A T I O N.
TkeM arc fome People in the World, whofe Addrela
P 3 «i
Si3 ^50 J»*s FABLES.
and Coovcrfation are fo impertinent, fo fhockin^, and
ttira^recable, that it is doing Penance, and fufiering a
Kind cf hodily Paia, to be in their Company. Whru
thofe familiar Fools with their repeated Ot^ciourners.aQc
ui how we do, no Wonder ir we arc really Sick ; far how -
can we be well when they are near us? They eiihv mean
nothing, and are vain, filly Imperrincncs, whom wesbhor;
or cover fomt evil FurpoJe under a Di^uiJe of nauTeoui
palpable Flattery, and therefore ar« to be treated with
Refen-e and Caution. A Man who fees thro' Flattery, is
indeed free riom the Danger of it; But he fhould not be
Atislied with that. If he is a public-fpiriiedMaa.heeoght
lo difceuntenakce aikd expofe the Pcifbn that |>ȣtire3 it,
to prcvsBt it from flourilliing abroad, and hurting thofe
whomay noibewaryeMongh to difcern, or ftauach enough
to refill ita Attack). The Menof Flattery, as they are, in
fome Degree or ether, a commou MilEhief, ought to be
treated as common Enemies: Aad, as it it generally their
Defign to delude and impoTe upon others, if we can be
before-hand with, &n<l difappoint thein, wc fliall aA, if
not generoufly, yet, however, fairly and difcreetl^.
FAB. CXC. Tbs Mitt Md ibi Gaa.t.
AS a clownifh Fellew was fitting upon a Bank, »
Gnat fetiled upon his Leg, and ftung it. Ho
clapped
yESOP's FABLES. 319
clapped his Hand with great Vehemence upon the
Place, with Intention to kill the Gnat; but the
litcle nimble Infe^S, fkipping lightly between bis
Fingers, efcaped; and every Time he ftruck, he
gave himfelf a fmart Blow upon the Leg, without
being in the lead able to touch the Gnat. This
^ provoked him very much, fo that in the Height of
his Paflion, he fell to invoking Hercules, O mighty
Hercules^ fays he, iince nothing can withftand thy
, Power, aid me, I befeech thee, againft this pernicious
Gnat, and with thy mvlncible Strength, fubdue him,
in Compaffion to me,, miferable Creature, who am
tormented with his venomous Sting.
■ «
Tbt A P P L I C A T 10 N.
•
Many People, like the Clown in the Fable, are apt
^ to invoke the Almighty upon every little trifliag Acci-
dent that beials them. Not in an habitual unmeaning
Escclaination, fuch. as Children and childifh Folks ufe^
but in a ferious deliberate Meditation, conceived' in a
Fit o£ Rapture, and delivered from the Clofet or Ca-
binet^ in the ufual Seafon of Devotion. How many
Things are prayed for with much Earncftnefs, which,
if we were to enquire into them, are mere Vanities, and
fach as we ought to be aihamed af having ! Not that
the Suprenge Being, who is all knowing and piefeM
•very where, can be. fuppofed to be ignorant of every
little Thought of Our t>dnls; or unable to c6mply with
^c Mttkipliaty of our Wiflies: l^at it is contrary to
kia exalted Nature to condeTcend to our paltry lel£(b
Schemes, or to grant any of thofe Petitions^ which w«
euriclvct, if we coikfidered^ ibould be aihaned to put op;
P 4 FAB*
32* JSSOP^s FASLE!^.
FAB. CXCI. The Deer and the Lion*
ft Deer "being liaYd "putrued by the Hounds, foond
'**■ ttCave, into whfch he rufhed Cor Security. Ba*
lie was no fooncr got m, tba*i he faSv Minftlf in the
Power of aLion, who lay couched at the farther End of
thcCaiip, and ipruRg upon him in an Ihftant. Being
at the Pointof Death, he complained thus: Unhappy
^Creature that I am ! I entered this Cave to efcapc the
t'urfuitofMenandD<^s, and am fallen into the Jaws
■of the mdft cfuel and rapacious of all wild Bealls.
?^* A P P L I C A T lO N.
^oltie are fo iiirfortunate, as to be ever ronniog into
troubles -snd Difltcultiei; theitill Luck feeiDs to ride
^hem through a Series erf Misfortanei, and, in themeaa
Time, like ftnmbling Horfes, the oftener they are fpur-
♦ed, the more they Jlounce along io the Dirt, and the
-more Trips they make. But rs moch of this may be-
attributed to Fear and Hurry, which, wherever they
taJce Place, indifpofe and hinder us from acquitting
•ourftlvej as we flioutd do; it is therefore highly necel-
■tuj of fnch as would be thought to beh»e tbemfelv^n
like Man, uever to let Fear -have any Share in their
Words or ASic**. This PaJBon blinds 'Uota difceiit-
^SO P'i FABLES.. 321
Ing our true lotereft : It no fooner point} qui id Evil to
u», but it throws u-s into (he ucmoll ConfuGoo, in our
Manner and Method of flying from it. We Aart from
ihc prrfent Mifchief, before we have pitched upon a
Place of Refuge^ and, in the Hurry, fall into a ihou-
fand worfe Accident!, which we have net Titne to ou-
ferpe and avoid. But aR chii isfar below the Charafter
trf a great and a good Man. He dreads nothing more
Tthah Shame; nor is afhamed of any Thing fo much at
f aar. Not all th« Terrors of ihi!, or any other World, »b
■blind the Eyes Of his Reafon. or difarm his Underftand-
iitg. Honelly diflaics to his Confciencc, and his Ccii«
.fcience is the Rule of his Aaions. And in this happy Si-
toacion of his MiniJ, iho' the World wereio becfiilhcd*
and thundarin Pieces about his Eats, he would be found
without SufprtfeamidH the Ruin) of it." it is peculiar to
iKaavts or F cols to be hurried, -ttu-ough a Senfe of thetr
own Guilt-or Shame^ and co be always l.^ouring undex
.Jealoufies, Doubts, DifiruRs, and Dtfappoiiu meats.
i-'AB. CXCli. The GarQcnfr ^nd bis Ttog
J\ Gardener's Dog, fcifkinj about the Brink of 3
^ * *■ Well in the Garden, happened t© Ail into iu
Tfae Gajdeaw-ver.y readily ran m his Affifianccj .bttt
3M jSSOP's fables.
as he was endeavouring to help- him out^ the Cur
bit him by the Hand. The Man took this ungrate-
ful Treatment fo unkindly^ that he left him to fbift
for himfelf, with this Expoftulation : Wicked
Wretch^ quoth he, are you fo unreafonable as to in-
1*ure the Hand that comes to fave your Life! the
iand of me, your Mafter, who have hitherto fed and
taken Care of you ! Die, as you deferve ; for fo roif-
chievous and ill-natured a Creature is not ^t to live.
Thi APPLICATION.
All the Obligations you lay upon an ungrateful Per-
son are thrown away. And therefore they who would
be efleemed wife, as well as good, ihould ufe fome Ex-
a^nefs in the Diredion of their Favours, as well as Ge«
nerofity in the Difpofal of them. For there are fome
of fuch malevolent Tempers, that they are not only im-
proper Objedts of our Good-nature,* as to themfelves,
in being undeferving ; but of fach vile Difpofitions in
refpeA to us, that we cannot approach tltem, though to
do them a Kindnefs, without endangering our own
Safety. Our Good-nature, therefore, a£ good a Qua-
lity as it is, will not excufe us, if we falf into the Hands
of thefe Kind of People ; fomcthing mull be imputed
to our Eaiinefs and Wane of Attention ; and if we are
fo free as to beilow our .Favours, without coiofidering
where we pkce them, the difcerning F^rt of mankind
will rank us in the Clais of Fools or Madmen, innea4 •
of giving as the Applaufe that is due to Actions truly
liberal.
1^ A fi.
jE^OP's FABLES. 3%3
FAB. CXCIII. ne Cock and the Fok.
^T'HE Fojr, palTing cady one Summer's Morning
-'■ near a ("arm-Yard, was caught in a Spring*
which the Farmer had planted there for that End.
The Cock, at a Diftance, faw what happened;
and, hardly yet daring to truft himfeif too near fo
dangerous a Foe, approached him cauriouOy, an4
peeped at him, not without Tome Horror and Hreid
«f Mind. Rtynard no fuoner perceived it, but be
addrefTed himfeif to him, with all the deHgning Ar-
tifice imaginable. Dear CtiuGn, f.iys he, you fee
what an unfortunate Accident has befallen me hetCy
and all upon your Account, . For, as I was creep-
ing through yonder Hedge,, in my Way homeward,
1 heard you crow, and was refolvcd to aflc you how
you did before I went any further: But by the
Way 1 met with this Difader; and iherefore now
1 muil-become an humble Suitor to you for a Knife
to cut thiii plaguy String;' or, at Icail, that ycu
would conceal my Misfortune, till [ have gnaweit.
it afunder with my Teeth. The Cock, feeing how
P 6 the
3^4 jESOP't ^ABLfeS.
th^ Cafe fto^d, mado lio Reply, but pofted stw^y 'a^
faft as he could, and gave the Farmer an Account
of the whole Matter*^ who, taking a good Weapon
along with him, '^ame and did the Fox's Bufineis.,
^before he^wuld have Time to 'contrive his Efcape.
n^e A P P L I C A T I O N.
^ fTho' there is ho'Quality of the Mind mcJffe gi-aCfeftil
in itfelf, or chat renders it more amiable %o Others, than,
the having a tender Regard tothoie who«re-in Diftrefs;
yet we may err, even in this Point, unlefs we take Caffc
to let our Compaliicn flow out upon proper ObjedW
"Otily. When the Innocent fell into Misfortune, it is the
4*art of a generous brave Spirit to contribute to thehr
•Redemption ; or, if that be impoffiblfe, to admihiftcr
Hbnething to their Comfort and Sqpport. But when
wicked Men, who have been Enemies to tTieir Fellow-
SiibjeAj, are entrapped in^heir own pernicious Schemes^
he^hat labours to deliver them, m<lkes himfelf an Ailb-
ciate -in their Crimes, and becomes as great an Enemy to.
^he Public, as thofewhom he would fcreen and prote^.
'When Highwaymen and HcJUfebrcakers are taken,
Condemned, and g^l'ng (0 fati&fy Juftice, at the Expence .
6f their vile paltry Lives ; who are 'they that grieve fct
•them, and would be glad to fefcDe thedi from thcRopet
Not honeft Men, we may be fure. The reft of the
thieving Fraternity would perhaps commiferate their
"Condit^,- ai:^ be ready to miStiny in their Favours
Kay |he vafcally Solicttor, who had been employed
upon thefr Account, would be vexed that bis Negocia-
'tions^had. fucceeded no 'better^ and be afraid of lofing
')iL$ -Reputation amOng other ^Delinquents for the future.
But every Friend to. Jufticc would have no Reafon to be
'^iflatisfiedatany Thing but a moUriiFul'Refleftion which
lie could not forbear making. That, while thcfe little
^Criminils fwlng for feme trifling inconfiderable Rapine,
others, *fo tranfcendently their Superiors in Fraud and
'Plunder, efcape with a whole Skiiu
iF A S.
MSX>V'% FABLES. 313
.SFAB. CXCIV. ?*i>( Raven jSj/ /fc^ Serpenu
A Hungry Havcn'flying about in Queft of WsPrcy,
"■^*- faw a Serpent bafking liimftlf upon the Side cff
a funny Bank : Down he foufed upon him, and
feized him with his homy Beak, in oider todevour
ifaim : But the Serpent, writhing to and fro with
'the Pain, bit the Raven agam with hts venomous.
Teeth, to fuch s Degree, that he cogld not furvive
'It. The Raven, inttte Agonies of Death, is faid to
have confefTcd that this Judgment happened to him-
^uflly; (ince he Had attempted to Tatisfyhts craving
■Appetite, afthe Expcnce of anothei's Welfare.
.n* APPLICATION.
They who are ftf a raveRous ereedy Teiii|>sr, and tor
•fwallowiiig all that comes in their Way, may chance to
*ieet wjih a Sting in the End. When Pedple ate aauated
by an infaiiahle Avarice, they fiickat nothing j without
•confidenng the Lawfutnafi, or even (he real Emolument
■fif fnapping at all, right or wrong, down it goes ; and.
if it has but the Appeantnceof Gain, they aie for mak-
JBga Seifu/e, let the Confequence b: what it will.
Tbns ihe Covetouj, whom God apd Man abhor, j)u-
'aifhcs himfelf for hit own Iniquity. Being deaf to th«
ja6 jE SOP'S FABLES,
Voice of Conrcicncc, aod the DifUtu of Natural R^aloB,
and blind to every Thin^ but his own vile Telfilh Views;
throwi himfeif ifter Getting, with i precipitate Violence,-'
and often daihes himfeif to Pieces upon an uufeen Rock.
FAB. CXCV. The Fox anJ the Hedgehog.
A Fox was fwimming actofs a River; and, when
■**■ he came to the other Side, he found the Bank
fo fteep and llippery, that he couid not get up it.
But this was not all his Misfortune j for while he
flood in the Water^ deliberating what to do, he was
attacked by a fwarm of Flies, who fettling upon his
Head and Eyes, ftung and plagued him grievoufly.
A Hedgehog, who ftood upon the Shore, beheld and
pitieil his Condition, and, withai, oiFered to driie
away the Flics, which moleOed and leazed him \a
that fad Manner. Friend, replies the Fo;<, I thank
you fof your kind OiFer, but muft defire you by no
Means to difturh thefe honeft iJlood fuckers that are
now quartered upon me, and whofe Bellies are, I
fancy, pretty well filled ; for if they Ihould leave me,
, a frefti Swarm would take their Places, and I fhould
not have a Drop of Blood left in my whole Body.
^SOP^i FABLES. 327
TJ. APPLICATION.
Thu Fable it lecoried by jfrifistU ; who telU us lha£
jE/ep fpotce it to the Saaiaiu, ai an Arguiaeat to dif-
fuade them from depofmg their great MiniAer of State.
And a fbrewd and weighty one it is too. For a Miniller
of State h either an honell pubHc-rpiriced Man, -and la-
bours for the Good of the Commonwealth, or he is chiefly
inieot, by all Waya and Means, upon filling his own
Coffers, and upon aggrandizing and enriching his Re-
lations. N6w, where the Jirft happens, one need not
fay how much it behoves every particular Man, and all
in general, to wifh for the Continuance of fo wiie and
cood a Patriot : Neither fhould they partwith him merely
for being one of the other Stamp j for, however crimi-
nal he may be, in having robbed and plundered the
Public, we fbouldconfidei, that, like the Flies in theFa>
ble, he is pretty near full; and if he were to be re-
moved, would onlv make Way for fome other more
hungry, who Ihould fqueeze out of the poor People the
Remainder of their Property.
FAB. CXCVI. rhe Ua^er and his ^choW.
h S a SchooliDBflcr was -walking upon the Bank
* of a Riycr, not far from his School, he heard a
3 Cry
Cry as of one in Diftrefs | advancing a few Paces
farther, he faw one of his Scholars in the Water-,
hanging by the Bough of a Willow. The Boy
had, it feenas, 'been learning to fwim with' Corks:;
•and now, thinking himfeJf fufRcientfy experienced^
had thrown thofe Implements aiide, and ventured
into the Water without them j but "the 'Force of the
•Stream having hurried him out of his Depth, he
bad certainly been drowned, had not the Branch of
t Willow^ which grew on the Bank, previde^tially
hung in his Ways, The M after took -up fhe Corks,
which lay upon the Ground, and throwing them to
his Scholar, made ufe of this Opportunity to read a
Lcdure to him upon the inconfiderate Rafhnefs of
Youth. Let this be an Example to you, fays he,
in the Conduft of yourfu'ure Lif :, never to throw
ftway your Corks till 'lunve has given you Strength
and Experiemre cjiough to (wim without them.
ITfc A P P L I C A T I O N.
* *Soxne People are fo vaia and ^fe If- conceited^ that fhe^
<will run themfelves into a thoufand Inconveniencies, ra-
ther than bethought to want AiCdance in atiy one Re-
sfpeft. Now there arc many little Helps and Accom-
4nodations in Life, which they who launch out into the
^wide Ocean of the WorW, nought toimakeTJfegf as Sup-
porters to ra>fe and buoy them up till they are grown
ftrong in theKnowIedge of Men, and fufficiently verfed
in Bufinefs, to ftem the Tide by themfelves. Yet many^
like*the Child in the ^'''able, through an A^dlation of
being thought able and experienced, undertake Affairs
•which arc too big for them, and venture out of their
Depth, before they find their q\va Wcaknefs and Inability.
Few are above being advifed : Nor are we ever too
•old tb learn any Thing which we jnay43e the better ibr.
But young Men above alU ihould not difdain to open
etheir Eyes to Example, and their -Bars to Admonition.
They (hould not be afhamed to furnifh themfelves wich
rRules ^or their Behaviour ua -the Warid« iiowe«rer
^meaiL
^^OP*s F ABLES. 329
Wean it may feem to ofe fuck Helps, yet it is r«ally
dan^^roiis ce be withoiU them. As a Man who is lame
with the Gout, had bettel* draw the Obfervations «f
People upon him, by walking with a Crptch, than ex*
joie himfelf to their Ridicule by tumbling down in the
t)irt. It is as unnatural 10 fee a young Man throw
himfelf out in ConVerfation with an afluming Air, «pon
a Subjeft which he knows nothing of, as for a ChiW of
three Months old to be left to go without its Leading-
■'ftrings : They are equally fliocking and painful to the
Spedator. Let them have but Patience till Time and
Experience flrengthen the Mind of the oBe> aiiid the
-Limbs of the other, and they may both make fuch Ex-
curiions as may no^ l}e difagreable or o^eniive to tfate
Eyeqf the Beholder.
And here it may not Tie improper to Tay fomcthing by
Way of Application to the Whole. It is. not expefted
-that they who are verfed aftd hackneyed in the Paths of
Life, fhould trouble themfelvcs to perufe thefe little loofe
fetches of Morality ; fuch-m^ do well enough with*
ottt>them. They are written for the Benefit 4^fihc Ypung,
and the Uoexpcrienced ; if they do but relifti the Con-
tents of this Book, fo as to think it worrh reading over
two or three Time^, it will have attained its End ; and
ihould it«meet with fuch a Reception, the feveral Au-
.thors originally concerned in thefe Fables, and the pre*
fent Compiler of the Whble, may be allowed not atto-
;gethcr to have mifemployed their Time, in pfepacin^
^uch a Collation for their Eatertainment.'
T H E £ N 3>.
-n'
L , IN1>1X.
I •
■^^■^■^^•■■«Ma«a^«w^ii«>BMnp<L^n«Mi«iMia^^>iOTa*Mii4a
I N D E X,
A.
ADVICE, when to be rcjcacd, Pa^e 141* Who
ace unfit to give it^ 177. ConMer who gives it,,
before yoo take it, 44.
Afiedlation, thelnconveniencies.of it» 7^. It is the Bane
ofBeaiUXf 106. Other Inconveniencicsofit, 161 •
Agricolture recommended, 236.
AfluMons enflaved by Pififiratus^ 6.
Attprnex draws the ^Squire into a Mort^^age, 4^.
Avarice, and Ambition, freqaentlj diiappointed, 102.
Unaccountable, 138. That and Envyexpofed and
tnqultoed into, az^ That and Ambi^oft ought. t«K
iuffier, 9^ The Inconveniencies of it, 325.
Aii(h<2fs merits not by writing much, but well, 121.
B.
Beautv, that of the Mind preferable to that of rite
Body, iq6.
Biter bit, xtj.
Brave Men, above being provoked' by Coward»« 26.
Bribe, cannot tempt an honed Man, 1 ^Zm
Britons^ jealous of Strangers, 109,
Bullies, generally Cowards, 122. OveraflLtheirPart, 207,
C.
Captious, not good to be fb, $5.
Change, feldom makes Things better, 290.
Clfangiling Plumfiockt Sir, vies with Lord CaJflehuiUtri 2i«.
Children ought to take their Parents Advice, 196.
Church, thofe that frequent it out of Vanity, their,Reli-
gion not worth a Straw, 49.
Civility,
INDEX*
Civility, overa£led, is fufpicjous, 182.
Coffec-Houfe Politicks,, ridicvilouj, 243. ^
Company (when bad) to be avoided, 262. It concents
us to keep good, 133.
Complaints, better lee aJone, 190.
Condition, feldom pleafqd wiih our own, 314. Unrea-
A^nable to repine at it, 54.. Made worfe by repining
at it, 8:.
Content, makes a poor Man happy^ 104*
Converfation, vh^ <]ifagreeaWe, ^17.
Country, and Country Lifb^ recommended, 63. 'Squire
damns a Court Life, ^2,
Courage, nothing without Condufl, 92.
Court, thofe who frequent it ihould not value them-
felves, 50.
Cowards, cannot impofe upon thofe that kqow them, 1 28*
Craft, repelled by Cunfting, allowable, 216, 238.
CftHc, envkMis, 43.
Cunningj generally filly Fellows who fet op for it^ loB.
D. .
Beatli-bed Repentaocc ceafidered, r^;
B«ath, dreaded by tlu>re who pireteaa to wiih for it«, il8»
Death aiH) Lorn n&accountabk, 243*.
Pecrees of Faite not to be f«fifted» 4#k.
Difcarded Stateihian, difcootented; 41.
Difircfsy croc} to iaftilt PeopW l» it» 104*
Pivifions among the Great Ones, hovt eacoiiniged, ai«
Po as you woald be done by, 222*
Double-tongued People to be avoided, 99* Ncigbboor,
have^ a Care of him, 14Q.
Preams, and fach idle Notions^ die Folly of chcin> 316*
Education, the EffeAs of it, 202.
Enemies, not to be sifGfled or truAed, 6r.
Envy, defcribed, its Inconveniencies, 219.
Evennefs of Temper recommended, 298.
Example, ufeful for Inilrudlion, 245.
Experiments, have a Care how you make them, 2^7.
Faftiioi?
J.N D E X.
F
Vaftiions eddly imroduced, 11 IS.
Fault, not tobefounduith oriiers, if g^aihyoQrreIves,l8$.
Favourite, everyone not fit to be^o, 211. Surprifing
whei& honeA, 47.
Fear, the Inconvenicncfes of it, 320. It is unreafoR-
able, 5J. Vain and in/ignificant, ^142.
Flattery, mifchievoa?, b^it harrd to be avoided, 17^
Foreigners fhould not iKght tlTe Country thcyjire in, 171.
Fortune, often blamed wrongfuSy, 15^. Ought to have
her Due, 310.
Forwardnef5 ihould be difconraged, i^5-.
Foul Means, fometimes beil, 192.
Friend, falfe one, a dc reliable Thing, 154. Them and
Relations norto be depended on, 72. We ihould be
nice in our Choice of them, 252.
Friendfhip, neceflary to our Well-binag, $4> i^Si 294*
Iniecur^ tlFi tjttcd, 84.
Cxaoring Houfes, tbofe ihipid tlut frequent them, 125*
Genealogy, fooliih to in (i ft upon it, 158.
Generefity, a handfome Virtue, 57.
Glafs, a Reafon why^we ihould often confult i^, I32»
Glory, nothing ihottld be (undertaken for •ibe fake of
it, I CO.
God, ierved belter another Way than by Prayer, 100.
Good-oatOFe, oorlntereft to exerciie it., 57.
Government, necefTary to be fupported, i^.
Grealnefs, expofed to Storms, 145.
Great Cry and little Wool, 47.
Great Men, bad Neighbours, 87^
Habit, the Inconvenience of it, 291 •
Jiafte, the more., the wor'fe Speed, 17^.
Hoiieft Man, his Word as good as his Oath, 30^.
'Honc% the btfft Policy, 1 89. Dangerous in bad Timea, 4,
iHumanity, bow far it ought to go^ 267 « U a ^reat
Virtue, 168.
Ule
INDEX.
I.
Idle Fellows, troublefome any where^ 1791,
Jell, kow CO baBle aad defeat it, 85.
il Men, not to be ferved, 15.
mitation, the Rain of many, 2z8«
mpatience, hurtful, 90.
mpertinents, pleafaat to fse them matched, 151,
mpoifibUities, (hould not be attemipted, 2C^2.
ncendiaries, what we ihould think of them, 268»
ndnftry recommended, 206.
nduftry, makes Amends for Want of Parts> 270*
n former, an odious Character, 283;.
ngrateful People, all that you do for them, thrawn
^^vay, 322.
ngratitude, a great Vice, 289. Considered, 46*
nhuman to treat an old Servant ill, 52.
njuries, often burtfal to tho^ that do them, 2i4«
njury, he that does it, never forgives, 265 •
njuHice, a Leflbn againft it, 259^
nnocent People, perfecuted for being ib, 309*
nauiiition, why fevere upon the Jenjus, 111.
niults, to People in diftrefs, inhuman, ia6.
ntereft, at fecond-haod, not to be depended on, ^o^*
nvention and Art recommended, 95.
Juba^ his Addrefs would be ill taken by fome, 107.
Judgment, Want of it makes us unhappy, 59. Tbe
Caaie of its being wrong, 280.
Juftice, irregular, i66«
IL
King, he tjiat breaks his Word, not to be trufted, i^^
How he ought to be qualified, 160. He that is indo-
lent, cruel to his People, 34.
Kite, a King good enough for fome Peoole, 2a.
Knaves, once known, never to be well efteenied, 198*
Law, the Inconveniences of going to if, 239.
Liend with Caution, 19.
Liar, once detected, never to be believed«^263.
Libertm
t
INDEX.
Liberties of the People, not to be trufted without Seca«
Hty, 30.
Life, full of Uficcrtainty, 170.
Little People fafier when Great Ones fall out, 28.
Look before you leap, 136.
Luxury and Intemperance, ihort-ltved, 104.
M.
Man, a true one hard to be found, 288. His Mind like
a Bow, 172.
Mankind, averfe to boiilerous Treatment, 77. Never
know when ihey are well, eoe.
Marriage, fatal when nnequal, 58. When the EfFe^l 6f
. Love oAly> fatal and rafh, 1 19. Young Fellows iin&
done by it, iUJ,
Martyrs, their Blood the Seed of the Church, 77.
Men always Lofers by the Women, 32.
Meneniui Agrippa appeafes a Tumult, 69.
Merit, ari^s from good ^enfe, 88.
lyiiniHer difcarded, how he may clear himfelf^ fir. A
wicked ontf why to be tolerated, 327.
Modeily and Impudence in Extremes, 231,
N. .
Nature, the Force of it, 275,
O.
Offices, good, to be done tQ pro|»cr Obje^, 46;. > •
OfHcioufnefs, to be fufpedled, 261. .
Old Age, an agreeable one, 164.
Opinion, we muft judge according to it, 276.
Opportunity;, the preient not to %e n^leCted, 114, 126k
Oulfideyjiotiotriifted, 268.
p •
Patics, created by ourfelves, 55*
Parents, the Folly of feme, 311. Our Duty to thena
arifes from their .GoodneA, 38. They may be undu-
tiful, ibiJ*
^zny^ no Truth to be expefted^ from Party HiftorianSk
06. Tivy arv.wtcked wtiix ocoa^cm F«rcie8> 295* i
> i'arty.
r '. „
I
I
1 ^ © E X.'
iVsLTty, bafe to de^fert, but vefy common, 213*
:PaiIion» the ill EfFeds of it, 284.
Perfecution- makes Pepple obftinate, 77*
■Phyiician fhould heal himf^lf, 8o.
Pity is but poor Comfort, 281. Not always to be
diewn, 524.
Place, often the Caufe of Infolence, 19.3.
Poverty, thofe that dread it, part with their Liberty, 65*
Power not to be truHed, 1 1. Efpecially anlimited, with
no Man, 30.
Prayers, the Impropriety of them, 100.
Praying, the Manner of it confideredy 304. How often
ufed for Trifles, 319*
Preacher de^rlaims agaiaft Drunkennefs, 8o»
Precaution, a good Thing, 163.
Pr6i^giitive, feldom made a good Ufe of, 6u
Pride, the Inconvenience of it, 234.
Principles not eafily to be counterfeited, 174.
Promife nothing but what is in your Power, 75.
Providence, unfathomable, 209.
Public Spirit, many pretend to it, 286.
'Quality, who are Men of true, 49. ^ *
Raihnefs, the Inconveniencies^f it, 241.
Refped, how to be preferred, 246.
rRevenge, eafy, 113. Its being fo, a ReaA)H agaiafl
doing Injuries, 24.
Revoltiuohs ia Qpwr&aient, -feldom hurt the Poor, izg/i
Rich, thofe who btcome fo . iiojaftly, what they mnft
do, 68.
Riches, when an IncumbrattOf, $32. Too aften ia i)l
liands, 209.
'Ridiculous, how fome People make themftlves fo, 184;
Robber of the Fmblic oU|rht to Hve in Fear, 8.
Rogues moldpUcd by b«u^ fnccefsfnl, : i.$^.
Rulers of a State to be kept up in Grandeur, 69. Not
to be chofen for tbeir Outfide, 255*
Scl/;
INDEX,
s.
Sctfy every Maa fhouM exert himfelfj, aUd aot trufb
others, 72.
Sdf-love, no ill Principle, 278.
Servants negle£l their Mafters* Affairs, 34.
Slavery, Rogues and VilUins who confent tobeartt, ^6^
Spedires, i^c. when they HouriHi moll, 1^2..
Spendthrifts repent too late, 1 25^^
SQQ>icton an ufeful Quality, 15^.
Times deplorable, when Villainy is proteded^ 2a i«
Traitors, hated by thofe that employ them, 251.
Travellers, given to Lying, 130.
Truft, have a Care whom, 273.
Truft, no Injuries (0 bitter as from thole we traftj^ 1811 •
Turn> one good, deferves another, 22^*
Very pretty Fellows, Strangers to Virtue and KncMNw
ledge, a.
Virtue, troublefome to a young Lady, i j.
Vifits, which appear charitable^ not always fb> iq«
VoIgar> not to be followed, 5 a*
W.
Weaknefs in Converfation,' what happens upon it« 8^«
Wicked Men, in Power, eafily find Pretences, 21 9,
{iate thofe that are otherwife, 298. We ihoold avoid
them, 301.
Wife, that loves her Hufband, what ihe ikould do, 32.
Wit, dangerous for Fools to attempt it, 24. Hurtful to
him that afes it to hurtrf>thert, ai.
Words, Men known by them, 299.
Worth, a Man leflens his own by enquiriiig after it, 297.
Young Lady praAiiing at her Glafs, t4«
Young Mea^ ar Piece of Advice to them> $z9.
FINIS.
■fi.t
N
V
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11