THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 Mrs, Edwin Grabhorn 
 
v //Y 
 
 TH F. ' ^ 
 
 .1? A B L E S 
 
 
 
 OF O^i 
 
 SOP, 
 
 WITH HIS 
 
 El F F. 
 
 TO WHICH IS , DBED, 
 
 MORALS AK R E M A E K S, 
 
 ACCOMMODATED TO THK YOUNGEST CA?A<-, 
 
 Bv ROBERT BURTON OF LONDON 
 
 ** The little knowledge I have f 
 
 O *r> 
 
 Was all from simple nature drain 
 
 ISC 
 
L I F E OF 2E S O P. 
 
 WHAT JEfep was by birth, 
 don't agree; but that he was in a 
 mearf condition, and his perfon deformed 
 to the highest degree, is what many affirm: 
 he was flat- faced, hunch -back'd, blfcbbeiv 
 lip'd, jolt- headed; his body crooked all ever 5 , 
 big-bellied, baker Jegged, and of a fwarthy 
 complexion. But the excellency and beau 
 ty of his mind made a fufficient atonement 
 for the outward appearance of his perfon: 
 for, the firft account we have of him in hif- 
 tory, is, lhat bfing fent to Ephefus, in 
 company with other Haves to be fold, hie, 
 mailer had a great many burdens to carry ji 
 and .ZEfop begged of his companions not to 
 overload him: they found him a weakling, 
 and bid him pleafe himfelf . 1 he parcel that 
 he pitched upon- -was a pannier of bread, 
 twice as heavy as any of the reft: they call 
 ed him a thoufand fools for his pains, and 
 10 took up their baggage, and away they 
 About noon, .they had their dinner 
 fifrp's bafket, which made his bur 
 one half lighter in. the afternoon thanic 
 beea in the morning, and after the 
 
4 THE LIFE OF M S O R 
 
 hiea! he had nothing to carry b.-it an emptv 
 balket, which made .his fellow- fhvfcs know- 
 that he had more wit than themiel ves I 'p. 
 on the maker's arrival at *phe.l, he foon. 
 ail his fhves but Mfnp. and the 
 pthir two, whom he carried toSamos as the 
 Jifeeheft place for a chapman. He ihewed 
 them in the opea market, and there they 
 were viewed by one Xanthm an .eminent 
 p.ulofopher in the city, who was mightily 
 p^eafed with the two youths, and afked then- 
 what they could do. '1 he one faid, he could 
 do every thing, which fet ^E% a 'laughing, 
 which t!)e philofopher perceiving, afked 
 ?vhut he could do ? Nothing at all, fays he 
 v comes that, fays the philofopher? My 
 companion, i.y* h e> u -dertakes every thina 
 fu the-e is nothing left for me to do. Which 
 th: philufopher to underftand he wa^ 
 Oj^&l: io he afked the merchant his Icwit 
 pncc for thr.t ill favoured fellow? Why, 
 %, he if vr-u'll give me my price for the 
 other two you may have hup in the ba-^r.in. 
 The phiiofopher in s! .-.ed' vs :,').- mo - 
 
 n^y.anjrak, mh him.. \Vhi! e 
 
 ne was in this phi!ofwpher' i feveral 
 
 things h.i r p, a .-ij ei.vivt them tou l,-- n -r to 
 beMUHo.'.dnert; on! 1 cannot omh to 
 Mop's ingenious invention, to 
 
THE LIFE OF ye S OP. 
 
 bring his miftrefs back again, After ,Xan* 
 thus r s Pock of patience was quite fpent in 
 bearing with her, he was refolyeS to ufe fe- 
 verity, fince nothing could be done by kind- 
 nefs: but this made her worfe, and away {he 
 went. *Pad as Hie was he would havte been 
 glad to have her back again} but nothing 
 would do. /Efop 'feting his ma(to.r quite 
 out of humour, Come matter, lays he, 1*11 
 bring my miftrefs back to you with as much 
 good will as everfliewentfrom you. JEfqp Ira 
 indiately goes to market, am! ipeaks for what 
 was beft in the fealon, and telis eve y I 
 that his matter was going to be married again, 
 and this was to be the wedding feaft. I he 
 new? flew like lightning, and coming t 
 miftrefs's ears, away fhe potted baclftq 
 hufband. No, Xanthus, fays (he* d 
 think that you (hall have another wife' - 
 Hive; and fo kept thehoufe clofe afterwards. 
 After this there happened a ftrang6 thing at 
 bamos; for *&i\ eagle had fuatched up the 
 townfeal, and dropt it into the bofom of a 
 flave. i hey conluited all ihe wife men about 
 it, arvd tfpccially Xanthus. \v 
 what to think of it ^Bfi. : ; tj 
 
 WLIU- before the town couucu, a 
 
 uieaniniT of it was. 
 - defigned to take away ti,. 
 
THE L I F E OF ^ S O P. 
 
 this fatisfied them fo well, that they pro- 
 claimed ^fop a freeman. Shortly after, as 
 he had foretold, there came ambrffadors 
 from Crcefus king of Lydia, demanding tri 
 bute, and threatening them with war in cafe 
 of a refufal. Moft part of them was for 
 paying the tribute ; but ^fop's advice put 
 them off on't. I he king came afterwards 
 to underftand how /Efop/by the power of a 
 few xvords, diverted them; he fent them 
 word that HQ would put a flop to the war, 
 if they would deliver up JEfop to him. They 
 would not, but he would needs go himfeU. 
 "When he -came before the king, he looked 
 upon him with difdain; but whsn he heard 
 him fpeak, he was fo moved with the mo- 
 defty arid wifdom of the man, that he not 
 only pardoned him, but alio, for his fake, 
 forgave the Samiai$ the tribute he demand 
 ed. After this returning to bamos, h^ was 
 joyfully received by the citizens, whoereSt- 
 cd a liatue to him ^fop, after thi?, tra- 
 
 cd. to Babylon and Egypt, where he was 
 kindly entertained, and gained great reputa- 
 
 n by his wifdom. /r:fter this he wenc to. 
 (irt?:ccc, and he had the curiofity to 
 Ddphos, for the oracle's fake; when he came 
 
 ie, he found matters to be quite oHiervu ; c 
 
 iii he cAptclcu; and having giv^n his 
 
THE L I F E OF JR S O P, $ 
 
 nion of them, the magiftrates took great of 
 fence at his freedom; and fearing left he 
 ftiould give the fame character of them elfe- 
 where, and to lofe the reputation they had 
 in the world for piety and wifdom, entered 
 Into a confpiracy to take away his life; fo 
 they caufed a golden cup to be fecretly con 
 veyed into his baggage, when he was going 
 to depart. He was no fooner out of the 
 town, but purfaed, taken up ajfid charged 
 with facrilege, and fo hurried him away to 
 prifon. He was next day brought into court, 
 and condemned to die. His fentence was 
 t4 be thrown headlong from si high rock. 
 
P R E FACE. 
 
 E ufual vvay of teaching by tales, arid 
 j|_ fables is To plea fant and ^inftrudive t 
 and is fo many times over and over recom* 
 mended by the g'&ateft and wifeft men of all 
 ages, as (hat which makes the deepeft im- 
 preffioh on the mind, and ccmes moft lively 
 to the understanding, net only of men, but 
 csve.n of children, iharit would be loft labour 
 to infill on its commendation. ]Ul the pre 
 cepts and counlels of the antierus^ for or 
 dering our lives and manners, have been 
 handed down to us under fuch veils and fi 
 gures; and every one knows the frequent 
 and edifying ufe of them in fcripture. Chrift 
 himfelf has recommended this way of teach 
 ing by parables., both in his do&riiid and 
 praftice, well- knowing that the images 
 , would much more affect men's minds, than 
 the ftrongeft and moft perluading way of 
 reafoning. Befides, we have a convincing 
 proof of this in ancient hifto^y. For when 
 the common people of Rome were in a direft 
 ^.muOr-y againil their magiftrates, that they 
 I would neither pay taxes nor bear arms, the 
 
THE LIFE w & S O P. 9 
 
 fedltion run fo high, that all the arguments 
 the fenators made ufe of could not reclaim 
 them until Menenius grippa did it by this 
 fable, 
 
 *i he haads and feet were in a defperate 
 mutiny once againft the belly* They knew 
 no reafon, they faid, that the one fliould lie 
 idle and pampering itfelf with the fruit of 
 the others labour; and if the belly would 
 not fhare in the work, they would be no 
 longer at the charge of maintaining it. Up 
 on this mutiny they kept the belly too long 
 without nourishment, and all the other parts 
 fuffered for it; in fo much that the hands 
 and feet carre at laft to find their miftake* 
 and would have been willing to have done 
 their office, but it was then too late; for t! e 
 belly was fo pined with overfafting, that it 
 was quite out of conditon to receive the be* 
 nefit of relief; which gave th< m to uncier- 
 ftand, that the body and members aie to live 
 ind die together* 
 
 ^ Now, fays he, if you withdraw your fer- 
 vice, y9u'Il find your tniftake when it is toa 
 late. So by this means he brought them, 
 to their wits again. 
 
 B 
 
FABLES 
 
 OF 
 
 s o P, 
 
 EAGLE and FOX 
 
 THE eagle and fox refolding to ftand by t 
 and comfort and relieve each other in 
 the courfe of their lives, whatever fhould 
 befal them; they agreed to be neighbours, 
 whereby the bond of friendfhip they had 
 lately entered into, might be the more lad 
 ing and firm, fo as never to be violated or 
 broken. The eagle thereupon made choice 
 of a tall tree for its abode; the Fox, his fickle 
 friend and ally, of a thicket of brambles 
 hard by, to enjoy the friendfhip and fociety 
 of his good neighbour and confederate. The 
 fox being abroad, fearching after prey to 
 Hiaintain herfelf and young; in the mean 
 while the eagle being hungry, flew down 
 from her neft to the thicket, where finding 
 the cubs upguarded by Uieir dam, laying 
 
F A B L E S OF M S O P. i * 
 
 |er talons upon them, flic ftraightway car 
 ried them away to her ndt, where not long 
 after, fbe and her young ones feafted upon, 
 them. The fox returning, quickly difcoveix 
 ed the guilty offender; the grief arifing from 
 her not being able to revenge the injury,, 
 more affli&ing her than, the lofs and untime 
 ly death of her cubs* For being unfurnifh- 
 ed with, wiags, fhe knew not how to come 
 at her avowed enemy and robber. In this 
 cafe, not; being able to be even with her 
 treacherous friend, fhe fell to curfing and 
 banning her* the only return fhe then could 
 make, borne tims after a goat being facri- 
 ficing in the open field, down flies the eagle*, 
 and fnatches away apiece with the live coals 
 that "hung to it^ and thua carried the burnt- 
 facrifice to her hungry eagles. A high wind 
 chanced at that initant to blow the coals, 
 fet fire to the neft, and down fell the young 
 ones fin ged with the flames; which the fox 
 efpying, and hafteniflg to the place, inftantly 
 buried them in her guts, to the no little grie 
 ot the dam that beheld the at v 
 
 The MORAL*, 
 
 The foregoing tale may (land us inftead 
 occafion, viz.. when injured 
 
i% F ABLES of MS OP. 
 
 are upable to deal with them that wronged 
 them divine juftice will be even with theu^ 
 3iid right the fuflerers. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 Friendship i$ a large jubjed, ami a very ctpiou.s 
 theme, had one a mind to enlarge and dwell thereon. 
 Many, and many are they, whose stridt and inviolable 
 amity has kept their memorials alive to thi? clay, and 
 preserved their fame and renown from being buried in 
 the silent grave of oblivion with them* Antient histories 
 aooimJ with examples of this kind. And the truth of it 
 is, when all is said that can be said about it, it will prove 
 scanty, and fall very far short of the due esteem of the 
 thing they, between which jt is found, enjoy* 'Tig 
 therefore one of the greatest blessings heaven can be- 
 jstow upon mortals. Wherefore, in speaKing of it I 
 'shall be brief: He that broke his word, and clisregaid* 
 d the obligation he lay under, was, from the beginning 
 of the creation, looked upon as a heinous criminal, and 
 grievous offender. The instance here befoie us of the 
 insincerity of the eagle, is so odious and abominable, 
 that scarce one circumstance is wanting to aggravate 
 and inhance it. 'Tis painted to the life by JEsop's ad- 
 jnirable pen, ami the foul misdeed is, in all respects, quite 
 contrary to cordial friendship and fair dealing. He, in 
 whose heart unfeigned love and kindness iodces, will 
 expose himself to any dangc-r^ if thereby he hope* 
 to fhid ar\d save his friend from the jeopardy and iuis- 
 chief that threatens him; which is agreeable to the 
 doctrine oJ .ie Paul, who tells us, "That for ii 
 
 rsuii owe would even dare to elk," 
 
FABLES OF ^E 8 O F. 
 FABLE II. 
 
 7h* FOX and 
 
 \FOX and a goat being thirfty, go 
 down to a well to allay it; which 
 done, the goat being at a lofs how to get 
 out, t^e fox to comfort her, faid, Be of 
 good cheer, and nothing difmayed ; for I 
 have thought upon a way and means how 
 thou (halt get up again, and efcape the dan- 
 iger thou fo much drcadeft. For if thou 
 ftandeft upright, leaning thy forefeet againft 
 the wall, and bending thy horns that way 
 'too, by means of this new dcvifed ladder, I 
 getting firftoutj will afterwards Hall thee out 
 hence. The goat readily confented to do 
 what (he was advifed to* The fox by this 
 machine fkipping out, danced about the 
 mouth of the well, fporting and merry. But 
 the goat blamed her for not performing her 
 promife, and not being as good as her word. 
 To whom the fox replied, Had your head 
 been as long as your beard, thou wouldft 
 not have ventured into the well before thou 
 hadlt thought of a way to climb cut of it 
 
i 4 F A B L E S OF JE S O P. 
 
 The 
 
 The ufe and profit arifing from the tale 
 fhews thus, that it is the part of a wife man 
 ferioufly and naturally tQ confide? and weigh 
 the means of attaining the enterprife, as well 
 as the e$d a,nd iffue of it, before; be goes 
 about it. 
 
 Rash and unadvised, attempts usually 
 ry. What is blindly undertaken, the end seldom 
 answers the hopes conceived of it, unless chance 3 . 
 which seldom falls out to second and favour the design.. 
 The experience of all ages has set its seal to this truth,. 
 and will, as long as time lasts, ratify and establish 
 it. 
 
 * 
 
 FABLE III. 
 
 v The SWAN and GOOSE. 
 
 A MAN ftored with riches, and the* 
 goods of this world, bred up a goofe 
 and (wan in his yard, but aot for the fame 
 end. 'I he fwan he fed to pleafe his ear, 
 the other his palate, whenever he (hould 
 think fit to feed upon her. When the time 
 came that the goofe was deftined tc die, and 
 be upon the fpit^ in the evening the owner 
 
FABLES OF ^SOR 15 
 
 intended to kill his gooie; but delaying it 
 too long, he could not difcern which was 
 which, and miftaok the one for the other. 
 Death approaching the fwan by misfortune, 
 fhe falls to ilngixig a melodious fong,as a pre 
 paratory to her latter end, and by her har 
 mony undeceived her mafter, whereby fhe 
 cfcaped the imminent danger, and the ter 
 rible fear flie was in quickly vanished. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 The life of a creature is that which is 
 deareft to it, tnd which is ufually valued 
 above all it enjoys befides; and therefore a 
 man cannot be too tender and backward in 
 taking it away, when it ii in his power to 
 doit. 
 
 Ihe REMARK. 
 
 Melody is often very useful, because it prolongs life 
 ^vhen death is ready to put an end to it. 'Tis higk 
 time to look abont when death is ready to seize us: 
 .All thoughts are at "work to devise a way how we may 
 escape. Any shift, though ever so pitiful, if like to 
 succeed, \vill serve the turn. By this we may see the 
 subtlest contrivances miscarry; when others, a graat 
 deal more shallow,, efie^ the busings, an4 lead ta safety 
 aad content 
 
FABLES OF ^SSOP- 
 
 FABLE IV. 
 A CUCKOO and a HAWK. 
 
 i Y the beak and claw of a Cuckoo, ona. 
 would take her for a kind of hawkj; 
 only the one lives upon worms, and the other 
 upon flefh; infomuch that a hawk twitted a 
 cuckoo on a time with her coarfe way of 
 feeding. If you would look like a hawk, 
 why do you not live like a hawk? The 
 cuckoo took this a little ill> But flying by 
 a dove-houfe fome time after, (he efpied the 
 Ikin of this very hawk upon a pole planted 
 upon the top of the pigeonJioufe. Well* 
 fays the cuckoo within herlelf to the hawk, 
 And had not you as good hare been eating 
 worms as pigeons? 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 Pride is an abomination in the fight ol 
 God, and judgment is juft upon us whet) 
 the fubjeft of our vanity becomes the occa- 
 fion of our ruin. 
 
 The REMARK* 
 
 ' A safe mediocrity is much better than an envied afti 
 iangerous pr<*&edncy. Th<^ that in thmr pi.-ttueritf 
 
FABLES ? ;ESO P. 17 
 
 c others, shall be sure in adversity to be despised 
 themselves. It is much the san*e case v/ith wiert of 
 prey, that it is with* birds of prey ; they look 
 on it as a disparageiLent to sort themselves 
 with any other than the ecemie-s of thef public 
 peace ; but those that live upon rapine are set a mark 
 iipoh as the common enemy, and all heads and hands 
 are busy about their destruction* 
 
 FABLE V. 
 
 A FLEA.anda MAN. 
 
 niPRERE was a fellow, that upon a lea 
 J biting called to Hercules for help, 
 The flea made her eft: ape, and the nan is 
 angry upon the matter. "Well, . t'erculesj. 
 fays he, you that would not take my part 
 agavnft a ferry flea, will never be my fecond 
 In a time of need, agaifttt a more powerful 
 enemy* 
 
 7 he MORAL. 
 
 We flight' God in matters and concerns of 
 great moment, and petition him for toys ; 
 and are in a pet, at l<ealt > if we cannot obtain 
 oin deiire* 
 
 7 he REMARK^ 
 
 ' ris an argument of a naughty disposition of r.iii-rfy 
 
 c 
 
i8- FABLES oy M S O P. 
 
 TO turn offices and duties of piety into matters and wrvcs 
 only ot course, and to squander sway our wishes a;ul 
 prayers upon what amounts to little more than downright 
 rvoleries, when life and death, heaven and hell, and the 
 iike weighty matters take not up our thoughts, nor busy 
 our minds, we being wfiolly unconcerned about them* By 
 tii is impertinent and foolish way ot proceeding towards 
 the Almighty, men slide by little and little into some 
 f-'ort ot doubt, if notadiredi disbelief and contempt of 
 his power. And then, with the country fellow here, if 
 we canoot obtain every vain thing we ask for, we arc in a 
 pet at the refusal, and in revenge give ever praying foi 
 god^ and all, and so part with heaven for a, fiea-sraarU 
 
 FABLE VI. 
 
 A FOX and GRAPES. 
 
 UPON a time, when a fox would have 
 ventured as far for a bunch of grapes 
 as for a fhoulder of mutton there was a fox 
 of thofe days, and of that place, that ftood 
 gaping under a vine, and licking his lips at 
 a mod delicious clufter of grapes that he ef- 
 pied hanging there. He fetched a hundred 
 rmd a hundred leaps at it, till at hit 
 was as weary as a dog, and found 
 he availed nothing by it ; Hang 'em t 
 (lays he, thty are as four as crabs. And fo 
 away he went, turning off the difappoint- 
 with a jeft. 
 
 'he MORAL,. 
 When man cannot, indue manner, attain 
 
F ABLES OF MB OR 19 
 
 what he longs for, and aims at, it is a token 
 he is endowed with prudence and found dii 
 creticn, in giving over ftrivmg for it. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 'Tis a point of g<xxl discretion to make a virtue n 
 necessity,- and to conunt ourselves with ** we 
 coinpuss in an honest way, though we eagerly cove to 
 Turn : somewhat else. For it is a notable piece ot trait and 
 worldly wisdom, to *em to despite what we a 
 to obtain, and to put off a miscarriage win a J- . Ue- 
 sids it is much mare commendable to have people ebipV: 
 a man could gain such and .such a pomt, .t n- wov, 
 >han that he would, but cannot. 1 his table afio la u 
 a noble piece of dotVme and instruaion that may prov 
 very useful to us, if we need it, in governing cur 1 '^, 
 managing our affairs, and direfting our conversation 
 Injr our pilgrimage in this, world. A prudent person, 
 -vhora -we should ahvays strive to imitate, cannot, a-, 
 least will not. change bis countenance at the trov-n: 
 imi'.es of giddy and inconstant fortune : He goes 
 f,,lly on his way, whatever rubs and holes he resets **li 
 ink: Disappointments, that mo.t of aj! ruffle us, : 
 exercise our patience and constancy, afflict _him yer 
 .le : lie kuoivi the wrjd, and expects nothtog t 
 
 FABLE VII. 
 
 A WOLF and KID. 
 
 A KID being in a place where no harm 
 could reach her, efpied a woit as he 
 ed by, at whom Ihe prefsatly fell a. rail- 
 
ao F A B L E S OF ! S O P. 
 
 ing and fcofHng to which the wolf replied, 
 f us wel! you are out of my reach, otherwife 
 I'd make you give better words* 
 
 ke MORAL. 
 
 Hence we lear,n this notable truth, that 
 place and opportunty embolden many to do 
 what*otherwife they would fooner eat thefc 
 nails than do, 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 There is nothing more bokl and saucy that a coward 
 whe 7 * he dreads no danger. This wav of reviling arcl 
 clamour i? such an arrant mask of a dastardly \vretd\ 
 that he dues as good as call hi uself so that uses it. 
 
 FABLE V1IL 
 
 A COCK and PRECIOUS STONE. 
 
 ACOCK feeking for food upon a dung; 
 hi'l, lighted up a precious ftone^ lo 
 called and efteemed by the foolifh world. 
 After he had viewed and confidered it a 
 while, thus thought with himfelf: Charley- 
 corn would have f rvecl my turn better, and 
 n^urifne i me, which the fightof this glitter 
 ing itone cannot do. 
 
 ^ he r vToRAL. 
 
 Monefl induflry and pains never gp unre- 
 warded. Virtue itielf is its, own reward, if 
 
F ABLE 8 o* .dS SOB. n * 
 
 it meet with no other from an ungrateful age. 
 The REMARK. 
 
 The use and benefit this fable affords us is this, viz. 
 That necessary things should direct and command c 
 choice, before thfcigs that are not so, which tend to no 
 thing ebe but disappointment arid vanity, and to please 
 and gratify an idle misled passion,. 
 
 FABLE IX. 
 
 The WOLF, KID, and GOAT. 
 
 A GO AT having occafbn to go abroad, 
 ordered hei kid to let nobody in that 
 come to the door that had not a beard, 
 tilt her return. Soon after, a wolf, 
 that was hard by when the charge 
 was given, approached the door, and de 
 manded admittance, ufmg a counterfeit voice 
 for that purpote- The kid, appaehenfive of 
 the danger that was ready to overtake her, 
 bid the wolf (hew his beard, and his requeft 
 fhould be granted. 
 
 "The MORAL. 
 
 Hypocracy, as cunning and deceiving as 
 it Is, cannot conceal all ways of difcovering 
 it. A little attention and trial-will difcover 
 the cheat, aud remove the difguife. 
 
 - This fahle should serve a:; a caution to 
 net to admit any persons as meniben with 
 'ind chara&fr tiiev are not uincjcntly ac^ 
 
22 FABLES OF IE SO P. 
 
 designing men will sacrifice the interest of the. society to 
 their own private views ; And all is not gold tha: glis 
 ters ; One may have a very specious appearance, and yet 
 be an arrant knave at bottom. But wise regulations will 
 <io much to prevent this imposition ; and we slull find it 
 easier to deny access to persons who are suspected this 
 way, than, when once they are admitted., to exclude- 
 them. 
 
 FABLE X. 
 
 A SPIDER and SWALLOW. 
 
 A SPIDER feeing a fwallow catch flies, a 
 foolifh fancy or whimfy fet her to 
 work how to contrive a net that would catch 
 f wallows* as ihtuders upon her right, and 
 mere interlopers. But the net proved too 
 weak to h~Id the prey and fo the bird flew 
 away with it ; by \vhich the fpider was unde 
 ceived, and fo fell to her old trade again. 
 
 The Mo HAL. 
 
 He that follows a calling he has no genius 
 or fitnefs for, will loon grow weary of it, and 
 lay it down. 
 
 fk? R.SM VRK. 
 
 It is both sz{* anil pruibnt tor t-very one to make tnai 
 oi' hij abiluy, and of the- . . . . .ry he is v^ 
 
 contend \v-rh, Ltjibr': lu: enters ;-^ iisc wi:; hi 
 
 my b.j stronger, the: otlacr vvill crrtainiy 
 ai ;i f.is rt-pi.;t':itiO!) ;U once. I'rif 
 
 / taoti^i, ani the wr j-.r.r :,' 
 
FABLES OF & S O P. 23 
 
 us to understand and explain in juries aright. It is hurt 
 ful and injurious to look upon a thing as injury^ wh ch 
 is not so. It was a ridiculous proje<tt to think of catch 
 ing a swallow in a cob. web ; and as much was the spider 
 mistaken in vainly imagining to ingress the air to its 
 own use. Thgse men, in short, deserve to be accounted 
 great fools that me fretful and angry, first fr nothing, 
 secondly to no manner of purpose. How many are more 
 foolsh than the spider, who seeing their fruitless endea 
 vours a:*d attempts, return to their eld trade again ? 
 "Whereas, many men are so obstinate, that they will 
 never own that they have committed any mistakes, or 
 be/en gtiilty of any errors; and so, like Pharoah, harden 
 their own' hearts, and use violence to their own con*. 
 sciences, rather than it should be said that they wera 
 guilty of the least mistake ; and so run on, till, at last, 
 they. are drowned in the sea of obstinacy and stnbborn- 
 . ness. - 
 
 FABLE XL 
 
 A FOX and a COCK. 
 
 A FOX fpied a cock at rooft upon a tree 
 vith his hens ; the unufual fight where 
 of made him aik the cock, why he chofe a 
 tree for his rooft, being no fit place for that 
 purpofe. But, continues Reynard, you do 
 not hear the news perhaps, which is certain 
 ly true : There is a general peace and con 
 cord agreed en between all living creatures, 
 fo that hence-forward not one will dare annoy, 
 much lefs prey upon his fellow- creature. 
 
i| FABLES OF JE so P. 
 
 r i his is good news indeed, feys the cock 
 ar the fame ftretcbing out his neck, as if Jie 
 had a mind to fee fcrrsething afar off. At 
 which the fox afked the cock what he gazed 
 at ? Nothing, fays the other, but a couple 
 of great dogs yonder,, that are coming this 
 way open ittofcrhed, ?s faft as they can run. 
 If it be ib, fays the fox, it is time for me to 
 depart i>.b. no ; replied the ceck^ the gene 
 ral peace will feci.re you. rh, fays the 
 fox 5 io it will ; but if the found of the 
 proclamation has not yet reached their ears, 
 rtiey may facrifice.me ID their hunger and 
 hatred they bear me : and fo betook himfelf 
 to his heels, 
 
 The MORAL* 
 
 Amongft over-reaching, jind fuch as trick 
 others out of the r right, due refpeft ought 
 to be had to honour and jultice. 
 The REMARK. 
 
 This is to tell us, trnt in a ->rne cases one nail i:n:.>t 
 be driven out by another ; and the dec'eiving of the 
 dc-ceivcr doubles tl.e plfasurt-. 'Tis a hard matter to 
 ar, agreement ix ,\vcen a forger and his forgery ; 
 they ar- :n a manner irrecoffcifajbl^ j so that it requires* 
 great c:.re and skill iu a slanin*er, to see that he con- 
 iradidt not fciwsrlf. "V s ,' he reform flatterers and Jiary need 
 have .ries. A general truce \vould hav 
 
 the: } :r as well as viie cock j but if the 
 
 ft-x v> . the ^^ 
 
 to tiuMilt fax, All - 
 
.FABLES cur S OP. 35 
 
 their kind, are narrowly to be su^Sed, ^vhen things 
 I that concern their own interest ; and when 
 tftey can urake nothing else out, they cbuse to put it off 
 "With a j?st. 
 
 FABLE jtn. 
 
 JUPITER and the BE2. 
 
 A BEE prefented Jupiter with a pot of ho. 
 
 ti, I* y V-^ h L lch Was fo acce Ptable to him, 
 that he bid her afk what (he would from 
 him, and fhefhould have her will. The bee 
 replied, that the wound made by her 
 *mg whenever it happened might prove 
 mortal. . Jupiter bid her be content without 
 her wifh and be rather inclined to f^ e life 
 han to deftroy it ; telling her fauher, that 
 tt ihe ftung any, and left her fting behind 
 her, it would become fatal to her. 
 
 ?/><? MORAL. 
 
 He that longs to fee mifchief* fall on aho- 
 er, andpiays to the Almighty i 
 
 7&e REMARK, 
 
 D 
 
t* FABLES o* ^ISOP. 
 
 gin. Many in the world, how mischievous would they 
 be, had they power equal to their ill-nature, which so 
 much abounds in this land ! So it fares with the bee 
 here ; she had mischief in her heart already, and want- 
 d only some mischievous power answerable to her mali 
 cious wish. 
 
 FABLE XIII. 
 
 Of the MAN and the SFRPENT. 
 
 A SERPENT haunted a country-cottage* 
 and bit a child that ftruck it, which 
 foon after occafioned his death The chikTs 
 parent being much grieved at it, with a billet 
 he had in his hand, deprived the fnake of 
 his tail: this done, though the utmoft he 
 intended was not done, to conceal what he 
 propofed to do further, which was to retail- 
 ate and pay him in his own coin, he refoived 
 to endeavour to be friends with him. But 
 the fnake refufed it, telling him, it was mo 
 rally impoffible a firm and fate league could 
 be made betwixt them, till he had forgot the 
 untimely death of his child, and the other , 
 the lofs of his tail. 
 
 7 he MORAL- 
 
 Perfons that have injured each other can 
 not prefently forget hoitilities and outrages 
 done to one another, and forgive them j 
 
FABLES OF M S O P. 27 
 
 injuries ufually leaving a fmart behind them, 
 that continue long after. 
 
 ?he REMARK. 
 
 Friendship is of that nature, that if not entire and 
 complete, is dangerous, and proves rather a soare than 
 a safeguard, 'Tis rarely seen that two, Svho'were once 
 enemies, ever .after return to a perfect amity and con 
 cord. And no wonder iris that so it falls out, real 
 friendship being in all ages so rare and unconVmon^ 
 
 FABLE XIV. 
 
 A FOX and HED&E tiOG. "" 
 
 A FOX meeting a porcupine* or hedge* 
 hog, wondered to fee him fo armed cap- 
 a-pee, every part having on its armour of 
 defence ; afterwards fell into talk with him, 
 and among other things perfuaded him to 
 lay afide that hoftile garb, as not being ap- 
 prehenfive of any danger that threatened it. 
 After the porcupine had liftened a while to ; 
 his deceitful arguments, he made this reply 
 to theenfnaring beguiler : Methinks I fmell 
 a fox, Keep at a diftance ; your eloquent 
 fiourifhes have made no impreffion upon me. 
 Be packing therefore, left you feel the keen- 
 nefs of my anger, and the fmart of prickles. 
 
 7 be MORAL. 
 
 He that ftrips himfelf of the fence that 
 Mture has beftowed upon him for his fafe-. 
 
fc8 FABLES OF JESOP, 
 
 guard, is mife^ably foolifh and if he fmarie 
 for it, deferyes no compallion. 
 
 Evf ry thing that has not a mimi to perish, is provid 
 ed with means to avoid it. Hares arc- stored with way* 
 tc escape the. d-igs that pursue them. Fatrld^cn know 
 how to save themselves from the claw* of their merciler,: 
 enemies the liawks, Tlie s nailer fry have their several 
 tricks and devices to keep out cf harm's way ; self-pre 
 servation being implanted in every thing that has a 
 being* 
 
 BLE XV. J 
 
 The WOLF and CARVED HEAD. 
 
 *.-\ 
 
 A WOLF entering a carver's (hop, found 
 a man's head 9 after a little gazing and 
 thinking thereon, imagined it had no (enfe, 
 and then faid, O pretty head, finely wrought, 
 but void utterly of brains. 
 
 'The MORAL. 
 
 Outward comelinefs is fo much the more 
 graceful, if the inward be anfwerablc and a- 
 gi eeable to it j and a handforne outward 
 lhape is fo far from decking a foo!, that it 
 renders him the more hateful and contempt 
 ible. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 Outward beauty, no doubt, very much sets off afu} 
 a person ; but the aunJ is ail in all, that vastly 
 
FABLES OF M S O P. 29 
 
 exceeds every thing else he possesses and enjoys : All 
 besides this is ot no esteem ; and without it he. is very 
 nich beneath a brute, who, when he dies, leaves no 
 thing behind him to preserve and perpetuate his memory. 
 W T -hat a happy world should we live in, if mankind 
 would but bestow the half, nay, the twentieth part of 
 their precious time to adorn and trim their insi.des 
 (which is the great thing necessary) Which they lavishly 
 Avaste in painting and setting off the outside ? Let 
 them remember the wees pronounced by our Saviour, 
 against these that cleansed the outside of the cup and 
 platter, but neglected the inside ; and then, no douht, 
 they won't take o much pains on their mortal bodies, 
 are oiten like the painted sepulchre* 
 
 The OX and DOG in the MANGER. 
 
 A CHURLISH cur got into a manger, 
 and there fnarled to keep the oxen from 
 their provender and food,' brought thither 
 for them by their careful owner ; the meat 
 r.-ed not the dog, who, to ftarve others, 
 cared not what became of himfelf. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 people's mifery is the proper food 
 ad ill nature, which had rather 
 v tat ,i If, than fee others enjoy what is 
 eouvenrciu and necefCiry for them, 
 7 he RPMA <K. 
 
 There are but too many in the woilal of this dog's 
 
30 F A B L E S OF ; S O P. 
 
 temper, that will rather punish themselves than not be 
 troublesome and vexatious to others. If some men 
 might have their wish, the very sun in the firmament 
 should \vithdraw his light, and they would submit to 
 live in perpetual darkness, themselves, upon condition 
 that the rest oi* the world; might do so too tor company. 
 Whatsoever their neighbour gets, they lose ; and the ve 
 ry bread the one eati, makes the other lean and meagre ; 
 which is the natural meaning and intent of the tale. 
 
 FABLE XVII. 
 
 A DOG and SHADOW. 
 
 A DOG eroding a river with a morfel of 
 meat in his mouth, faw, as he thought, 
 another dog under the water, with fuch a 
 piece of meat in his mouth, as he had in his. 
 He never confidered, that what he faw was 
 reflection only, and that the water did the 
 office of a looking-glafs ; wherefore greedily 
 chopping at it, he loft both fubftance and 
 fhadow, to his great regret aad difappoint- 
 ment. 
 
 the MORAL. 
 
 Fxceffive greedinefs moftly intheendmifles 
 what it aims at ; diforderly appetites feldom 
 obtain what they would have ; paffions mif- 
 legd men, and often bring them into great 
 ftraits and incooveniencies, through heed* 
 leffnefs and nc&ligeace. 
 
FABLES o* ^E S Oh 31 
 
 ?he REMARK. 
 
 This fable shews people the great danger and mischief 
 they may fall into by suffering themselves to be diverted 
 by conceit only, and fancy that is its own guide. How 
 wretched is the man \vho does net know when he is 
 well, but passes away the peace and enjoyment of his 
 life for the humouring a whimsical appetite ? He is ne 
 ver well till he is atnhe top, and when he can go no high 
 er, he must either bang in the air, or fall. What can 
 be vainer rrow, than to lavish out our lives and fortunes 
 in the search and purchase of trifles, and at the same 
 time to ly carking for the needless goods of this \vorld> 
 and in a restless disquiet of thought for what is to come, 
 which is, at the same time, as uncertain as, uncertainty 
 itself ? 
 
 FABLE XVIII. 
 
 The VIPER and FILE. 
 
 A VIPER meeting with a file, fell to 
 
 ^ gnawing it. What ails the fool r fays 
 
 the file. Doft thou go about to fret me, 
 
 ^ r ho am wont to gnaw the hardelt of metals ? 
 
 *' be MORAL. 
 
 Splenetic fools neither regard their own 
 interdt, nor that of any body elfe. Fall a- 
 bout it they L will, whatever tetide them, 
 whatfoever niifchief or calamity they thereby 
 run into. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 Unadvised rashness hurries men unawares into mam- 
 
32 FABLESoFJESOP. 
 
 fold n:ischiefs. The attempt here of the viper was 
 exceeding foolish, and no less ridiculous ; tor the softer 
 and weaker gnawer, to bite and gnaw the harder anJ 
 stronger, looks odd and very wild. 
 
 FABLE XIX. 
 
 A WOLF and LAMB. 
 
 fc 5 - 
 
 A WOLF quenching his third at a foim- 
 T* tain*head, perceived at a good diftance 
 below him., a lamb ftanding at the brink of 
 the faid rivulet ; upon which the wolf haftens 
 to her. Wretch, as thou art, fays he, how 
 didft thou dare to mud the ftream ? To 
 which the lamb replied, that fhe thought that 
 her drinking at fuch a diftance below him 
 could not have given any diflurbance. Nay, 
 fays the other, you will remember what your 
 mother's faucinefs coft her a while ago ; if 
 you have not a care, you'll fare as (lie did* 
 If you'll believe me, fays the lamb, in a, 
 trembling pofture. I was not then in being. 
 Well, well, impudence, fays the wolf, you 
 talk at this rate out ot hatred to our kind and 
 family ; but now I have you in a convenient 
 place, I will be even with ycu ; and To im 
 mediately facrificed her to his hunger and 
 
 revenge. 
 
CABLES * JESl>P. 35 
 
 7he MORAL. 
 
 'Tis an eafy matter to find an occafion to 
 mifufe one that is below us. Innocence is 
 no armour againft tyrannical power ; no 
 pleas avail againft a power and a defire of in 
 juring, if they meet together. 
 ?he REMARK. 
 
 Pride and cruelty never want a pretence to do mis- 
 thief ; the plea of not guilty signifies nothing wl ere 
 arbitrary power is. When innocence is to be born J 
 down by might, arguments are foolish things j nay, i 
 the very merit, virtues, and good offices of the person 
 accused^ are improved to his condemnation ; nay, suck 
 is the boldness of spiteful cruelty, that people shall be 
 charged with things utterly impossible, and wholly fo 
 reign to the matter in question ; the lamb itself shall be 
 made malicious. Thus the Jews treated the L?mb of 
 God, and such treatment must all men expect, \vh > en 
 deavour to follow the Lamb ; for so great is the corrup 
 tion of men, that interest and self-love are foisted in, 
 and pass at present for true religion and piety ; and 'l 
 tinder this false mask of godliness, perfedlit.n is r 
 *ried with zeal, and fury for religion and Christian 
 
 FABLE JGL 
 
 An EAGLE and TORTOISE. 
 
 A TORTOISE being weary of liring in 
 at hole and carrying his houfe about. 
 
 
$1 FABLES OF JESOR 
 
 Xnade a requeft to the eagle to learn him to 
 fly. The eagle feemed unwilling to grant it, 
 telling him it was againft nature's courfe and 
 appointment, and common fenfe too. But 
 fuch was the freakiflinefs of the tortoife, that 
 the more the one was againft it, the more 
 the other was for it. The eagle perceiving 
 the tirefome importunity of the tortoife, 
 heaved him up in the air, fteeple high, and 
 then let him fall ; the firft thing that he met 
 with at his return was a rock, which dafhed 
 him to pieces. 
 
 7 be MORAL. 
 
 Whatever is unnatural, and goes topfy- 
 turvey, cannot but be dangerous, and of ill 
 confequence. 
 
 7hc REMARK. 
 
 This hints to ui, how unsafe a vanity it is for a crea 
 ture that was destined for one condition of life to affccT 
 another, no way agreeable to it. The tortoise's place 
 was upon the sands, not among the stars ; and if he had 
 kept his wonted habitation, he would then have been out 
 of danger of a fall) lor then he could never have catched 
 one. Many a fool is well advised, that has not either 
 the grace or the wit to follow and profit by it, and thus 
 tys stubborn wilfulness often proves his ruin. 
 
 F * B L E XXL 
 
 The WIDOW and her HEN. 
 
 ACFR r AM widow had a hen that every 
 day laid one egg. t^pon this Ihe vain- 
 
F A B L E S OF M S O P. 33 
 
 ly thought within herfelf, that if (he gave 
 her hea more to eat, fhe would lay two eggs 
 a day. She tried the experiment upon it, 
 till the hen was waxed fat, and by that means 
 gave over laying. 
 
 v he MORAL. 
 
 This fable is a-kin to that of the dog and 
 fhadow foregoing. Striving after a great 
 deal, which is both unlikely and uncertain, 
 we worft ourfelves, not at all mending our 
 condition. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 To be discontented with ptescnt comforts and enjoy 
 ments, is no hopeful way of attaining either more or 
 greater. What a happiness would it be to mankind, s 
 did they but know when they were well ! Nature has 
 bestowed upon every one his share,, were a discreet use 
 made of her bounty. But now a-days many people 
 seek out ways and means to disquiet themselves ; and* 
 what they will be, they will be, whatsoever hinders 
 them, or stands in, their way: Hence no wonder if, 
 disappointment attend them and disquiet their hopes, 
 thus deceived and brought to nought.. If mortals would 
 endeavour to acl: and move svery one within his own 
 sphere, we should not see so many sad and fatal exam 
 ples, as we often do, of the ruin and overthrow of many, 
 whose ambitious designs lifted them up, and made them 
 <soarfor a while as it were with th& wings of the eagle, 
 nly that their fall might be the greater. 
 
 FABLE XXII. 
 
 A SPIDER and the GOUT. 
 
 A SPIDER walking abroad to recreate? 
 ** hiimfelf, lighted upon the gout, and 
 
3$ FABLES OF ^SSOF. 
 
 walked with him till even tide, and after- 
 ward 1 * took up his lodging in a fine palace, 
 gnd fell to fpinning cob-webs, which were 
 as fail fwept away ; but the gout had his 
 quarters in a very nafty place, having no 
 thing fit to entertain him. Meeting again 
 the next morning, each gave his fellow an 
 accc unt how it fared with him the night pafh 
 The fpider began his relation firft, which 
 was a complaint of the nicenefs of his land 
 lord ; afterwards the gout requited him with 
 fuch another ftory of ill-ufage : Whereupon 
 the next night they took quite the contrary 
 courfi. The fpider got into a hovel, and 
 the gout into a hall, where the lord of the 
 manor had his abode. 5 he gout met with 
 every thing he defired, and the fpider was as 
 well pleafed on the other hand. Upon this 
 the gout refolved henceforward to get into 
 fome rich man's houfe, and the fpider into 
 fome needy perfon's, 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 An induftrious poverty in a cell, with 
 qu?et thoughts and found fleep, is infinitely 
 to be preferred before a lazy life of pomp and 
 pleafure. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 One may be very uneasy with a plentiful fortune, and 
 
FABLES or M S O P. 37 
 
 as happy in a mean condition ; for it is the mind that 
 makes us either one or ihe other : A plain honest and 
 temperate condition contents itself with a little. Where 
 gluttony and idleness rule and bear sway, something is 
 still wanting. How many foojish longings and wild de- 
 aires, possess and unquiet the fancy in such a state ! We 
 see a sailor sleep quietly in a hammock, without any 
 cares in his head, cr indignation in his stomach ; where 
 persons of quality lie lurking upon a bei of state, with 
 ' the qualms and twinges that accompany riot and excess, 
 
 FABLE XXIII. 
 
 The OLD MAN and DEATH. 
 
 AN old man carrying a burden of wood 
 *"* from the place where it grew, to his 
 duelling; by that time he had carried it 
 half way, grew tired with it, and fo laid it 
 down, wifhin^ deith would approach and 
 convey him from this life tea better. Death 
 was prefently a* hi ; elbow, and demanded 
 why he implored his h^lp? 1 he old man's 
 reply was, he had at prcfent no other need 
 of him than to lack him afrcfh, by helping 
 him up with his burden , 
 
 j he MORAL. 
 
 ^Life, be it as miferable and wretched as it 
 will be, is ftill preferable to death, though 
 it have none of its frightful companions a- 
 bowt it. 
 
FABLES OF ^ESO P. 
 
 REMARK. 
 
 One ot the chiefest Jessons Christianity teaches it* 
 professors, is cheerfully and courageously to bear and 
 undergo all the cr-.sses and temptations they may meet 
 -with, daring their pilgi image in this lower and toilsome 
 \vorld. Death is always the conclusion and period of 
 lite ; but we must not call ancj hasten it as often as we 
 please: He that gave us our being has ordered us to 
 preserve and keep it, till he thinks death better for 
 us than our longer abode here ; to whose blessed will, as 
 in all things else, so in. this great paint, we : must submit 
 and readily obey. 
 
 FABLE XXIV, 
 
 The OLD WOMAN and PHYSICIAN.. 
 
 A^ old widow having a diftemper fallen 
 into her eyes, fent for a phyfician, teU 
 ling him, if he could cure her, he fliould re 
 ceive a reward from her s otherwife nothing. 
 ! he phyfifiian, under the fore-cited condi 
 tion, undertook the cure. He vifited his pa 
 tient every day, anointing her eyes with an. 
 ointment he bad prepared for the purpofe. 
 ./ fter the anointing was over, away went the 
 phyfician, carrying fomething with him that 
 belonged to his patient, being tempted 
 theieunto, becaufe juftatthe anointing fhe 
 \vas wholly bereft of fight by its means. 
 /I he woman perceiving her fubftanpe by this 
 
FABLES OF ^SOP. 39 
 
 means to decreafe daily, and that, if her 
 fight was reftored, fte mig! t have nothing 
 to look upon, the phyfician demanding the 
 agreed-on reward.-N ay ratherj Iie d 
 
 ' 
 
 m " : 
 
 When I firft fell amifs, I could fee goods of 
 
 my own ; but now at this time thou fayeftl 
 can fee, they are got out of fight. 
 
 ?he MORAL 
 
 Intimates to us-lhac it often falls out, 
 that wicked and unconfcionable men fall un- 
 der the rebukes of their oxvn mifdoings, and 
 vile prances, unwarily and unwillindy. 
 
 , , , ' 2be REMARK. 
 
 I b deeds of unrighteous men at last find them out 
 and betray them to ha me and misery. Whilst t D hl 
 
 FABLE XXV. 
 
 The WOMAN and DRUNKEN HUSBAND. 
 
 T^WAS a woman's misfortune to be 
 i. "ft i m ^ ln matrij ny to a drunken 
 hufband. Being defirous to free him Tom 
 
40 FABLES OF JES OP. 
 
 that abominable vice, (he took this courfe to 
 eff ft it : eemg hirr or.ce very drc wiy, by 
 reafon of the fir ot drunkemiefs he was then 
 in, (lie took him upon her back, and carried 
 him into a vault in the church )ard. whera 
 {he left him, and went her way. When (he 
 thought he was come to himfelf. fhe return 
 ed thither, and he afked who it was that 
 knocked ? His wife made anfwer, it is I, 
 who have brought a meal for a dead perfon I 
 lo which the drunkard repii d -gentle, fir, 
 a bottle or two of ftrong liquor would have 
 been more acceptable than any kick-lhaw of 
 any kind whatfoever ; lam fad at ^ hearing 
 that I muft make a meal without liquor. 
 But (he, (hiking her brer*ft, faid, miierable 
 woman that I am, this device avails me no- 
 nothing ; for thou, hufband, art not amend- 
 ed by it, rather thou art worfe than before : 
 1 he difpofiticn, I fear, being alfo grown a 
 
 habit. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 The tale g^ves us warning of the danger 
 a continu mce in a wicked cowrfe of life may 
 bring us into , for oftentimes, when he that 
 is in it would give over, and forfake it, h* 
 cannot. 
 
FABLES OP -ESOP, 41 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 'Tis well known, custom is a second nature. A bad 
 fcabit steals upon us unawares, before we perceive it ; 
 and once got, is not easy shook off and parted with. 
 Nothing can prevail with us to divorce ourselves from * 
 beloved lust we have some time been wedded to : So 
 strong and powerful are its, charms s that death itself, 
 as terrible as it is, cannot fright us from hugging and 
 caressing it. This poisenous viper we will cherish in 
 our bosom, though we are sure thst ere long his poison 
 null give us a mortal wound, and punish us as we de 
 serve* An old, stubborn, rooted habit, what a difficult 
 task, good God ! what a toil it is, wholly to vanquiih 
 and get an entire vidory over it 1 The cutting of Hy- 
 .dra's head asks the utmost strength and effort of Her 
 cules ; but to tame an inordinate desire that has for 
 aome time ruled us, is past the power of most mortals. 
 
 FABLE XXVI. 
 
 HUSBANDMAN and his SONS. 
 
 A HUSBANDMAN knowing he had not 
 ** long to live, called his fons together, 
 and earneftly exhorted them to follow his 
 calling, commending a hufbandman's life to 
 them further telhng them, th.at if they du 
 ligemly and painfully cultivated his vine 
 yard, they (hould find a treafure of very 
 great value he had in it. Ihis welcome 
 
 
4* FABLES of jSO P. 
 
 news cheered their hearts, ^nd filled them 
 with extraordinary hopes of finding a great 
 deal of treafure ; and without more ado fell 
 to digging the vineyard, not leaving a foot 
 of it untamed. However, after all the ho 
 ped for treafure, they met not with any 
 But neverthelefs, the vineyard being thus 
 well drefled, and ordered, made them an 
 ample fatisfadion for the pains and labour 
 .they had bellowed on it. 
 
 Ihe MORAL. 
 
 The tale fets before us, that by induftry 
 men thrive and grow rich. 
 
 7 he REMARK. 
 
 Honest labour never fails, never misses its due reward 
 and recompence. What else is virtue itself, the iairest 
 and noblest ornament of mankind, but pains married t * 
 ingenuity ? And happy, thrice happy is he in whom 
 they meet and are joined. How sweet does his time 
 pass away ! whatever befalls him, this quiets his mind, 
 and thereby he enpy.s a complete rest, and is out of the 
 reach of all care and trouble. This world, that u most 
 U a sort ot hell, proves to him, by means of it, a real 
 and sensible paradise. 
 
 FABLE xx\n. 
 
 The WEASEL and FILE. 
 
 A WE AS EL running into a brafier's 
 tot>p, got to licking a file that lay 
 
FABLEScFJESOP. 43 
 
 there ; fo that a great deal of bleed ran 
 down his tongue as he licked. But 
 heed'efs weafel thought his blood to be the 
 braiier's filings only, until he 1 ad quite filed 
 away his tongue, and then he fcuhd 
 
 miflake. 
 
 The MORAL 
 
 Is levelled at fuch that, in quarrels *nd 
 brawls, get harm and mifchief before they. 
 
 are aware. 
 
 7 he FEMAPK 
 
 Shews, that tho' nature has ci dewed every creature 
 with a principle of self preservation, yet their unruly 
 appetites hurry them blindly on to their o>vn destroy 
 
 tion 
 
 % 
 
 F ABLE XXVIII. 
 
 The FLIES in the HONLY-POT. 
 
 THE flies having got into a buttery where 
 honey-pots itood, fell a eating of 
 honey. When they had got a good belly- 
 lull, they were going off, but found their feet 
 faft I hey ftruggling to get loofe, fo entan 
 gled themfelves, that being almofl 
 they cried our, What wretches are we to paf 
 fo dear for fuch a fhort banquet ? 
 
44 FABLES o? JB S O P. 
 
 r he MORAL. 
 
 T he fable fhews gluttoay has deflroyed 
 many* 
 
 ?te REMARK. 
 
 Intemperance has always proved fata! anddestralive. 
 Uitly experience confirms the truth. A glutton seldom 
 >mt half his days ; therefore fly from this vice a? 
 irom tne : nost poisonous serpent. How many have 
 been destroyed by a debauch ! It is but just that they 
 who trample upon the laws of nature, and make them. 
 selves worse than the brute beusts, should come to an 
 Untimely end. How many instances does history give 
 us, of such as have been fairly, but were at last mise 
 rably destroyed by this vice ! A famous example we have 
 in the person of Alexander the Great, who soon subdued 
 nations, while he continued moderate and sober, till, at 
 last, t.'.is great conqueror was himself conquered by 
 drunkenness, and so put an end at once both to his life 
 and cor.qutsr . What a dismal spectacle is a drunlTard, 
 or ^UUGII, cast upon his sick-bed, under the heavy load 
 of li.ihsome distempers I and how wisely does the wisest 
 of men observe, " Who hath wee ? who hath sorrow ? 
 u who ham redness of eyes? but he that tarrieth at the 
 V. wine." 
 
 FABLE 
 
 The MISTRESS and her MAID. 
 
 A MIS T^E^S taking a liking to a girl, 
 was refolved to hire her, to whom the 
 poiaid agreed, and fy became the lervant, 
 
F A B L E S OF JR 3 O P. 45 
 
 The iniftrefs did her part, being rather too 
 kind, t he maid, after a while, grew weary 
 of her fervice, and by that means the mif- 
 trefs wa* no le& lired with her. ^fterfeveral 
 (harp rebukes, fhc reioived to be eren with 
 her miftrefs, and ufed this device. She 
 ftrewcd the rtairs with peafe, thinking there 
 by to give her milhefs a fall ; but forgetting 
 what (he had done the next morning, catch- 
 ed a fad fall herlelf. 
 
 ^ Harm watch, harm catch ; knavss and 
 Lillians often contrive their own ruin. 
 
 , 
 
 Ingrttitude seldona goes uapunisned too much gen 
 tleness isoften more hurtful and fatal than too much 
 seventy. Ease and plenty makes servants often negli 
 gent of their ddty. If they are reproved by mister or 
 Distress, they maliciously study their ruai. Wicked 
 ^contrivances often fill heavy on the contrivers ; and 
 -inen are usually caught in the snare they have laid 
 br others. 
 
 FABLE XXX. 
 
 The GRASHOPPER and PISMIRES. 
 
 IN the winter feafon the pifmires grew 
 cold, by reafjj of the moiftnefs of their 
 food j however, an hungry grafhopper alk- 
 
4 F A B L E S OF IE S O P. 
 
 t\ alms of them ; they anfwered, Why da 
 you not in fammer lay up for the winter ? 
 The gr Chopper re jlied , I am not at letfure 
 for Gaging to the country-fwaim all th? fea- 
 ion. N f ay, then, faid the frovrning ptfmires, 
 fmce in fammer thpu piped, thou mult even 
 dance in winter, 
 
 Teaches us to be careful and diligent in 
 all our affairs, on all occafions, left reproach, 
 grief, and ihame overtake us. 
 the REMARK, 
 
 We were sent into the world to toil, and thereby to 
 earn our daily bread. It is no wonder to see him fall 
 in danger, who will not foresee it, and feel misery who 
 will not prevent it. To provide against a wet day is 
 both commendable and necessary. Who can tell what 
 may happen ? Wh.it we little think of may befal us. 
 "We cannot sufficiently fence again su tha ca' a ma ties 
 which abound every where in this world. The more 
 careful w? are 10 prevent tribulation, the less grievous 
 and irksome will it prove. Solomon sends the sluggard 
 to the ant to learn industry ; and it is a shame to find 
 men endued with reasonable souls come sa far short of 
 beasts : For certainly, if men were in m.iny things as 
 provident as brute beasts, we should see fewer go to the 
 gallows. 
 
f A B L E S OF JK S O P. 47 
 FABLE -XXXI. 
 
 The LYING MOLE. 
 
 OST people think that a mole is 
 . blind. He, on a time, faid to his 
 
 dame, I fee a fycamore tree lie laid to her 
 another time, there muft be fome frankin- 
 cenfe hereabouts, foi I fmell it. Fe faid to 
 her a third time, 1 hear the noife of a brafen 
 ball. His mother taking him up, anfwered 
 thus : Son, I now plainly perceive, thouart 
 as void of hearing and fcieillng as of fight. 
 
 *< he ..Mo&AL 
 
 Plainly (hews that many boafters promife 
 great and .wonderful things, who. when put 
 to the trial, tan hardly perform fmail ones. 
 1'he REMARK. 
 
 Great boast and huic roast ; *s it is with the dogs, 
 so it is with crackers, and vain braggers. The loudest 
 boasters are ^cutraiiy the least performers. Saying ai,d 
 doing arc di&feut things ; talking is not periorming. 
 If words aione could do, a ladder had been found out 
 before this tini<?, which would have reached the moon ; 
 so that fiom thence ii neaier })rospe<St had been taken of 
 the stars. Noise can oi'ly :.Elc\ the ear, prattle mil. 
 
 never 
 
4 F ABLES OF JE3OP. 
 F A B L F XX;I. 
 
 The MISTRESS and her MAIDENS. 
 
 A I ABOPIOUS and thrifty widow uft- 
 ally called her maidens to their work at 
 the crowing of the cock. The toil at laft 
 growing iikfome and grievous to them, made 
 them think bf this device for their cafe* 
 .They imputed (heir early rifing every morn 
 ing to the noife the cock made ; and there 
 fore, to make fure work, at once put an end 
 to his noife and his life. l?ut the remedy 
 proved worfe than the difeafe ; for the old 
 \ddow, deprived of her watchman, called 
 them up, for the inoft part, fooner than be-* 
 fere. 
 
 ?he MORAL 
 
 Tells us in very plain terms, that many, 
 and too many, deviie and contrive their own 
 harm and mifchief. 
 
 7 he REMARK. 
 
 Many know not when they are well, and are therefore 
 often altering their condition and way of living. They 
 ccn turn weary of what is present, and alwa) s restless ; 
 sucn are their own disiiubers, who often seek their ease 
 stjid quiet by such indirect practices, that they often 
 have cause to repent of them* Men should think before 
 
FABLES OF jSOP. 4 j 
 
 they change, lest they change for the worse. The 
 foolish wenches in the fable must kill the csck for 
 wakening them, too soon, and so by thinking ther 
 should have much more sleep, it happened they had 
 annost no sleep at all. 
 
 FABLE XXXIir. 
 
 MEIICURY and the CARVER. 
 
 MERCURY, defirous to know what 
 repute he had in the world, went int 
 a Carver's (hop in the fliape of a man. Look- 
 ing about him, he efpied Jupiter's image; 
 and cheapened it : The Carver afted a 
 groat. Afterward he cheapened Juno's, for 
 which he aflced more. At laft, leeing his 
 own image, not doubting but the Carver 
 would value it at a great rate, as being mef- 
 fenger to the gods, and patron of tradesmen, 
 afkedthe price of it: Why truly, fays the 
 Carver, give me but my price for the other 
 two, and you (hall have that into the bar- 
 m. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 This Fable reproves fuch, who, fettmg too 
 high a value upon themfelves, appear by fa 
 much the more defpicable to others. 
 G 
 
5 * F A B L E S OF JE S O P. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 A fond conceit where it prevails, is of bad conse 
 quences, and commonly meets with contempt and scorn. 
 A country girl dressed up for a fair or a wedding, 
 fancies herself presently to be some dutchess. What a 
 fair creature does a Peacock think himself while I 
 gazes on his fine painted tail, not considering his ugly 
 Saw, and frightful cry? They who think themselves no 
 fools, are apt to fancy that others have the same opinion 
 of them that they have of themselves. 
 
 FABLE XXXiV. 
 
 The FOWEER and SNAKE. 
 
 A FOWLER having provided twigs, and 
 birdlime, went on to try his art ; hav 
 ing efpied a ttirufh fitting on a high tree hard 
 by, he prefently made all things ready to 
 catch her as his prey ; but had the misfor 
 tune to tread upon a Snake fleeping at the 
 root of a tree, which ptefently fwelled with 
 anger, bit him mortally: So the unhappy 
 Fowler finifhed his life with this fad com 
 plaint : Poor wretch that I am ! whilft I 
 feek and thirft after onother' s life, alas 1 1 fall 
 a prey to a poifonous Viper. 
 
ft* 
 
 F ABLES ^^ES O P. 51 
 
 The MORAL 
 
 This Fable teaches us, that many, whilft 
 they go about to enfnare their neighbours, 
 meet with the fame fate from others, who $r$ 
 no lefs bufy to entrap them, 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 Contrivers of mischief often meet with mischief : * 
 They who think to catch oihers are often prevented in 
 their malicious designs, and lose their lives by acci 
 dents, which they cannot foresee. Though daily ex 
 perience shews this to be true ; yet so great is the 
 devil's power over wicked men, that they will still plot 
 and seek the ruin eyen of the harmless and innocent. 
 Would mankind but think seriously on the laws of na 
 ture, which teach us. to do to others what we would 
 have done te ourselves, we should not End so many in- 
 stances of cruelty and malice among Christians, which 
 even the very Heathens are incapable of. 
 
 FABLE XXXV. 
 
 The WITCH. 
 
 A "WITCH profeffing a great (kill in pa 
 cifying the angry-gods, when provoked 
 againft a wicked people, grew fo fuccefsful, 
 that (lie became a great gainer thereby ; but 
 indifted for witchcraft^ was found 
 
0* 
 52 FABLE4;* MS OP. 
 
 guilty, condemned, and afterwards carried 
 to the place of execution* Whereupon one 
 feeing her pafs by, gave her this fharp taunt, 
 How couldft thou fhew others the way to ap-. 
 peafe God's wrath, and not now help aud 
 relieve thyfelf, when under the fame dreacU 
 ful judgment and calamity, 
 
 7 he MORAL 
 
 Shews us the folly and madncfs of too 
 many, who, after great promifes and brags, 
 can really perform nothing. 
 
 The REMARK, 
 
 To teach others to get out of the briers, whilst we 
 are ourselves so far entangled, that we cannot get out, 
 is both sad and ridiculous. Hence we may learn and 
 remember this useful lesson, viz. How unsafe and dan* 
 gerous it is to believe, and much more to rely upon the 
 vain promises and idle vapours of mere pretenders, ancl 
 bare faced cheats, 
 
 FABLE JXXVI, 
 
 The MULE, 
 
 A MOLE over-fed, turned wanton and 
 ^fldttifh, fell a kicking and braying j-- 
 
O V DJ 
 
 LES^ <I JESOP. 53 
 
 moreover bragged that his father was as 
 fwift 3s any ifarbary courfer, and that he 
 was every way, and in all refpe&s, like him. 
 . v oon after, being obliged to run a little, way, 
 foon grew weary, remembered that an afs 
 begat him. 
 
 ihe MORAL 
 
 This Fable teaches this plain leffon, that 
 though men may rife ccnfiderably in the 
 wrld; however they (lioutd not forget what 
 they are, and from whence they came ; 
 /nd feeing earthly things are uncertain, the 
 higher they Hand, the fooner their fall may 
 be. 
 
 Write REMARK., f>>^>^ 
 
 An ancient poet left behind him that wholesome ad 
 vice, Avoid a high station : For he that stands there, 
 should take heed that he fall not. What a world of 
 examples are to be seen every day of this kind I No 
 journals, no annals are without plenty of such dismal 
 instances ; To day a Prince, to-morrow a beggar, and 
 much more miserable and wretched. St. Paul gives us 
 a wholesome advice, u Let him that thinketh he stands, 
 take heed lest he tali.' 1 How many think themselves 
 secure in their riches; high posts, and acquired honours? 
 -but they should remember their days of adversity ; 
 
54 FABLES OF ^SO P. 
 
 for what Solomon says of all earthly enjoyments, is con 
 firmed by daily experience, " Vanity of vanities, all i& 
 vanity." 
 
 FABLE XXXVIL 
 
 A SON and his MOTHER. 
 
 A BOY Dealing a book at fchool, brought 
 it home to his Mother ; She countenan 
 cing her child in that naughty courfe, en* 
 couraged him in procefs of time, to fteal 
 things of greater value. At laft being catch 
 er! in the fad, he was found guilty, and con 
 demned. AS he was going to the place of 
 execution his Mother followed him ? fadly 
 bewailing his cafe. Upon which the: Male- 
 factor defired that his Mother might fpeak 
 to him. She came according to his requeft; 
 and whilft fhe liftened to hear what he would 
 fay. he bit off one of her ears. And being 
 chid by the company, for what he did, he 
 excufed himfelf by telling them, that his 
 Mother, and no body elfe, was the caufe of 
 his deftruftion ; for had fhe chaftifed me 
 (faid he^ for my foul offence, I had no lon 
 ger followed the trade of {tealing, but might 
 have lived honeftly, and by th$t means have 
 efcaped this fhameful death* 
 
FABLES OF -E SOP. 55 
 Ibe MORAL, 
 
 Plainly declares to us, that wickednefs, of 
 what kind foever, if not fpeedily curbed will 
 quickly bring people to an untimely end. 
 
 7be REMARK 
 
 That parent that bas perused Solomon's admirable 
 proverbs, vail there perceive bow much wicked childr 
 Lnd in need of corrcftion : Which must be applied as 
 soon as it is needful. No distemper of body and mind 
 can effe&ually be removed, without a proper and suita 
 ble remedy. A vice let alone becomes stronger, and 
 rakes daily a deeper root, until, at length, it turns na~ 
 tural and becomes remediless. What a remarkable ex 
 ample doth the scripture give of this in Eli, and 
 tsons? How fatal was his fondness, and too gen 
 humour, not only to his children, but to all Israeli-- 
 So that parents ought to consider,- that in- the bad 
 education they give to their children, they not only do 
 them harm, but their country. 
 
 FABLE XXXVIIL 
 
 The BRAGGER. 
 
 A GREAT traveller returning home to* 
 native country, bragged of fundry no. 
 table exploits which he had performed in 
 
56 F ABLES OF ^SOP. 
 
 foreign parts Particularly he told how he 
 had jumped fuch a jump in the ifland of 
 Rhodes, that none living couM do the like ; 
 and that a great many of the Rhodians (if * 
 they were prefent) could bear witnefs that 
 what he faid was true. One of the ftanders- 
 by anfwering, faid, fir, if what you fay is 
 true, there is no need of vouchers, only fan 
 cy this place is Rhodes, and let us fee luch 
 a jump here. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 1 his fable (hews us, that if the proof of 
 a thing be not ready and at hand, whatever 
 elfecan be produced in its. behalf is of no 
 force, and altogether impertinent. 
 The RFMARK, 
 
 Boasting is but very seldom excusable. Yet what 
 abundance of foolish tops doth this "age produce, who, 
 by their boasting and bragging, teaze every compary 
 they sit in. Wise men are, for their own part, sparing 
 of their own adieus ; ior they who dwell most on that 
 subjed, are commonly looked on to oe guilty of parti 
 ality and sometimes of untruth. 
 
 FABLK xxxix. 
 
 The DCGS. 
 
 A CERTAIN perfon kept two dogs, the 
 J -~* one for the houfe, the other for game.' 
 When the game-dog catched any thing, 
 
F A 8 L E S F jESOP. 57 
 
 the houfe-doghad a (hare, at which the 
 game-dog grudged, and upbraiding the 
 other, told him, he lived by his labour, but 
 you are at no pains to get your livelihood; 
 The hoiife-dog, vexed with this (harp taunt, 
 excufed himfelf, faying, you fliould blame 
 my matter, not me, whom he never tattght 
 lo do any thing* 
 
 The MdiiAL 
 
 Informs lis, that fuch as linderftahd little* 
 are not fo much to be found fault with as 
 their parents, who took no care of their edu 
 cation. 
 
 ?he REMARK, 
 
 Better iint>ofn than untaught. Good education is 
 the most Valuable thing a parent can bestow upon hia 
 Child. The great advantage that attends an early and 
 good education, is what every one is so sensible of, that 
 ihere is no need to speak any more about it. How 
 inany b p rn of mean parents have raised themselves and 
 friends by their virtuous education, to great honour 
 and much wealth ? A little cost and charge this way 
 has often made 21 vast rettfrsu 
 
 H 
 
5 S CABLES OF ^SOR 
 FABLE XL. 
 
 The CAMEL. 
 
 AT the camel's firft appearance in the 
 world, mod creatures were afraid to 
 come near it, by reafon of its unnatural 
 bulk, and odd Ihape. But in procefs of 
 time^ they perceiving his gentlenefs, ventu 
 red to come near him. Boon after, finding 
 that he was a harmlefs creature, they bi idled 
 him 1 , and caufed the very children to lead 
 him up and down, and made him their 
 game* 
 
 MORAL 
 
 Cuftom and ufe makes things eafy which 
 at fit ft view appeared hard, and that con 
 temptible which at firft was dreadful. 
 
 The REMARK 
 
 Use and custom are (I may say) a second nature.- 
 They make things 'easy and delightful, which at first 
 vtew seemed strange, hard, and even frightful. Good 
 nature is often abused : Men, as well as children, arc 
 apt to make their game, not only of inferiors, but aha 
 ot superiors. Good nature has made subjects turn to* 
 lauiiliar even with their sovereigns. 
 
F A B L E S OF M S O P. 
 FABLE XLI. 
 
 A HUNTED BEAVER. 
 
 Beaver (as people fay > can flay Ion* 
 Jl g er * n the water than any four-footed 
 beaft. Eis ftones are reckoned to be good 
 in phyfic ; When he finds himfelf purfue4 
 by the 1 unter, he bites them off, and leaves 
 them, & by this means faves his life, 
 
 . "he MORAL 
 
 This Fable fhews, that all men ought tQ 
 part with their moft valuable things to lave 
 their lives, when in danger. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 Nature hath endued all creatures with self-preserva 
 tion. Nor should men take care of themselves only. 
 but also of their country. For when government is in 
 danger, every good subject, without grudging and mur 
 muring, oughjc to part with goods and estates to prevent 
 its ruin. 
 
 FABLE XLII. 
 
 The DAW HUNG by the FOOT. 
 
 COUNTRY-fellow catched a daw, and 
 tied a ftring to his leg, and fo gave him 
 
4o F A B L E S of JE S O P. 
 
 to a child to play withal ; butthe daw turned 
 foon weary of his play-fellow, and gave him, 
 the flip as foon as he found his opportunity, 
 and went off to the woods with the firing, 
 which (hackled him fo that he ftaryed But 
 as he was dying, he fore repented his folly, 
 \n going back to ftarve in the woods, rather 
 than to lead an eafy life among men. 
 
 Tke MORAL. 
 
 Mens* humour and fancy are often the 
 caufe of their uneafinefs ; but where content 
 Is, there is happineis. 
 
 REMARK, 
 
 How many are impatient let their condition be eve* 
 so easy, and will still be changing, thpugh commonly 
 they change for the worse, as the Daw did, who brought 
 himself to a starving condition, seeking after liberty^ 
 whereas he might have lived easily and plentifully 
 Under a small confinement I How many are to be seen 
 daily, who, after a loose and idle life, which bring them 
 to misery, and often to ruin and disgrace, see their folly 
 when it is too late ? Liberty, 'tis true, is a very desira 
 ble thing, but some people mistake it much, who sup 
 pose that they want liberty if they are confined to an. 
 tionest trade or employment, whereby they may do 
 their duty in that state ; whereas, to be wholly given 
 to a lazy and sluggish temper, which they falsely call 
 liberty, is the worst of slaveries 
 
CABLES o* .ffiSOp. 6r 
 FABLE XLHI. 
 
 The CROW and PIGEON. 
 
 A PIGEON that was brought up in a 
 dove-houfe, meeting with a crow, told 
 him in a vain *nd bragging way, how 
 fruitful {he was, and what a number of 
 young ones (he had. Nerer value yourfeif 
 too much upon that (fays the crow) for the 
 more children, the more forrow. 
 
 the MORAL 
 
 Many children, when they prove good, 
 ^re a great blefling ; but if b<id they are as 
 great a carfe. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 Parents are often puffed up, and too vain, if they have 
 a number of children ; but they are seldom taken up 
 with the care of their education. Wherefore it comes 
 to pass, that they often prove crosses rather than com 
 forts. How many instances of this have we heard of in 
 ail ages, and see but too many in this we live in ? 
 
 FABLE XLIV/ 
 
 The FOX and GRAB. 
 
 AN hungry fox efpied a crab lying on the 
 farid by the lea* fide* ran, and fnatche4 
 
62 FABLES OF ^ESO P. 
 
 it up. The crab finding that he was to be 
 eaten, faid thus, no better could come of it, 
 I had nothing to do here, tor my bufmefs was, 
 at fea, not upon the land. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 Nobody pities a man for any misfortune 
 that befals him, for meddling with thinga 
 out of his way. 
 
 The REMARK* 
 
 Some men are so very curious in prying into the af 
 fairs and concerns of others, that they often get a great 
 deal of ill will. Others there are, who can never be at 
 rest, but love to be shifting and changing, and when 
 well, cannot hold themselves well. A third sort ther& 
 are, who by meddling with things above their reach, of 
 ten bring themselves and friends to utter ruin, fo% 
 which they may thank themselves. 
 
 FABLE XLV. 
 
 The REED and OLIVE. 
 
 THERE was a difpute between the reed 
 and the olive, which was the luftieffy 
 ftiongeft, and firmeft Ihe olive upbraid 
 ed the reed as frail, and yielding to every 
 
FABLES OF & SO P. 63 
 
 wind. The reed was for fome time without 
 returning an anfwer, but not long -For a 
 violent wind arifmg, the reed was fkakea 
 and tofied by its fury, which the olive en 
 deavouring to refift, was broken. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 This fable (hews, that thofe who on occa- 
 fion give way to fuch as are ftronger, obtain 
 their ends fooner than thofe who cbftinately 
 refift. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 It is folly, we y commonly say, to stnve against the 
 tide. We often see the proud and lofty brought down 
 and humbled ; whereas they that are mean and lowly 
 in their own conceit, frequently come either to honour 
 or renown, or at least they escape these checks and turns 
 of adversity, that the high and mighty ones are subject 
 to. Thunder oftener breaks on high mountains than on 
 low values ; and tall oaks and ceders are split topieces 
 whew the low shrubs go free. How often do we see 
 those that use all arts and contrivances, to come to the 
 highest of honours and preferments, (from whence, as 
 from a high tower, they look down with contempt and 
 neglect on those they thought their inferiors), struck 
 down on a sudden from the height of their grandeur ardi 
 become as mean and contemptible in the sight of those 
 theydesp-sed, as the poorest country fellow, who COB- 
 
64 F ABLES OF ^SOP. 
 
 tent with Vis homely condition, never aims at any othet 
 advantage than to secure himself and family from poverty 
 and hunger ? 
 
 FABLE XLVI. 
 
 A wicked Wretch undertakes to beguile APOLLO* 
 
 AWICKFD Wretch went to Belphos, 
 with a defign to trick Apollo, thus ; 
 He held a living Sparrow in his hand under 
 his cloak, and approaching the altar put this 
 queflion to the God , O Apollo ! may it pleafe 
 thee, tell me, whether this which I hold in 
 my hand be living or dead ? Intending to 
 Ihew the Sparrow alive, if Apollo fhould fay 
 it was dead ; or to fqueeze it to death in his 
 hand, under i is cloak, fliould Apollo fay it 
 was alive. But Apollo knowing the cun 
 ning of the man, anfwered, You need not 
 afk my advice on that head ; for it being in 
 your power, you may fliew it dead or alive, 
 as you think fit* 
 
 The MORAI/. 
 
 This Fable {hews, that 'tis vain for us to 
 think that we can hide any thing from God, 
 who fees and knows ail things* 
 
OP -rfESl. (?5 
 REMARK, 
 
 Men at waj's deceive themselves when they think to., 
 deceive God, They must have very weak thoughts of 
 God -ttho think to juggle with him as with their fellow, 
 creatures, who are liable to ignorance and mistakes, and 
 therefore can be easily imposed upon. 
 
 FABLE XLVIL 
 
 The UNSKILFUL HARPER- 
 
 CF&TAW Harper playing, as he iiOiaf- 
 iy did upon his harp in a large hall, 
 i made a mighty found and echo fan 
 cied himfelf to be no mean aftift. Puffed 
 tip with this vain conceit, he muft needs be 
 one^ofthe mufic in tHe playhoiife; where 
 having appeared, he begaii to pl^y ; but f6 
 harfh and unpteafaht wa& his niufic, that he 
 was hifled out ofthehoiife. 
 
 This Fable fiiewg, that many, who thiiik 
 thetofelves to be no fmall perfons, art, upoa 
 ' $ found to be very weak and ignorant. 
 
FABLES OF &SO P. 
 
 REMARK. 
 
 The world abounds with more pretenders to learning^, 
 than truly learned. How many do we see daily, wh* 
 having for some time ranged about the streets with a 
 Mountebank, and learned a little of his quacking, set 
 tip for able Physicians, and give out (with a great 
 st">ck of impudence) that they can cure all diseases, 
 when they really kndw nothing of the matter ? I have 
 known a fellow, who having served his apprenticeship 
 to a Gipsy, immediately set up for a great Fortune tel- 
 ler and Astrologer, wh;n he knew no more of it than 
 Serjeant Kite in the play. Ami so it is in all other 
 sciences and trader There can be no greater sign of 
 folly, than for any one to be wise in his own conceit; 
 and they that are thus fond of their silly performance, 
 seldom come better off than this unskilful Harper, w_ho 
 thought that he could as sufficiently please the learned, 
 by his music,* as he pleased himself. 
 
 F ABLE* XLVIIL 
 
 THIEVES breaking into a HOUSE. 
 
 AS a gang of Thieves were bufy breaking 
 into a houfe, a Maftiffthat lay within, 
 fell a barking. One cf the I hieves fpoke to 
 him fair, and offered him a piece of bread 
 to ftop .his mouth > to whom the dog an- 
 fwered, I fmell your wicked defign^ Do 
 you take me to be fuch a fool as to be bribed, 
 
F A B L E S o; JE S O P. $7 
 
 and betray my mafter ? You offer me a 
 piece of bread, tut 1 fcorn your offer, for 
 fhould I take it, you would rifle the hcufe s 
 and get off while 1 am eating. 
 
 The MORAL 
 ' 
 
 This Fable fliews that neither fair promi- 
 ies, nor prefents, fhould tempt any one to 
 betray his trufh 
 
 Ths REMARK. 
 
 There are a great many servants not half so true to 
 their masters as this Dog 'was to his; for a loaf of 
 bread was as great a temptation to him, as a bag of 
 money to a man. Yet very few are proof agair.st such 
 an cffeu So that this dog is a great reproach to all 
 false trustees ; for the greater the trust is, the grtatej 
 the treachery. 
 
 FABLE XLIX: 
 
 The DOG and the WCLF. 
 
 A DOG and a Wolf met accidently toge* 
 "^ ther upon the highway. 1 he we li toid 
 the Dog, that he \vas glad to fee him, id 
 wanted to know how-it came to paft that he 
 looked fo fat and jolly ? What ! lays the 
 
68 FABLES or JESO P. 
 
 <2og, I keep my matter's houfe from thieves, 
 and I have very good meat, drink and lodg! 
 ing for mv pains. I wifh, fays the wolf. I 
 were as well provided for. Truly, fays tht* 
 Dog, if you will go along with me, I'll fpeak 
 to my matter in your favour, and I doubt not 
 but you will fareas well, if you will be as 
 good a fervant as I am. f he Wolf wns vsry' 
 well pleaied, promifing fairly; and away 
 they trot together, and were very pleafcnt 
 company on the way. At length, as fhey 
 came nigh the houfe, the Wolf fpied a bare 
 place about the Jog's neck, where the hair 
 was worn off, brother, fays he, How comes 
 thh I pray thte ? oh ! tha.ts nothing, %ys the 
 Dog, but the fretting of my collar a little. 
 > ay, %s the Wolf, if there be a collar in 
 the cafe, I know better things than to fell ray 
 liberty for a cruft. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Fable fhews, how valuable a thing 
 liberty is and that all other things without 
 jt can give ao comfort. 
 ' he 
 
 All creatures have a desire alter liberty, which they 
 yilluo; exchange for any thing else. The Wolf you 
 
FABLES or ^E S O P. 6> 
 
 $ee here in this fable was well enough pleased with the 
 good plight the Dog was in ; he thought it a good 
 thing to have meat, drink, and lodging, at his command; 
 but had no fancy at all. for his collar : And truly he that 
 sells freedom for the' cramming of his gut,, ma-kes at 
 best but a bad bargain ; for though such a nne looketh 
 well in the eyes of the silly and ignorant people, who 
 have no further view than line cioaths, plenty of provi 
 sions, ae4 money ; yet he will appear but mean and 
 servile tv> such as consider him with a more considering 
 eye, as the Wolf did the Dog's neck. 
 
 FABLE L. 
 
 4* 
 
 A MAN bit by a DOG. 
 
 ONE that was bitten by a Dog, was ad- 
 vifed (as the beft remedy in the world) 
 to dip a piece of bread in the blood of the 
 wound, and give the Dog to eat* Pray hold 
 there, fays the man j I have no irind to 
 draw all the Dogs in the town upon me ;~- 
 for that will certainly be the end on't, when 
 they fhall find themfelves rewarded inftead of 
 jwnijthed, 
 
 The MORAL 
 
 natyre is a great misfortune, whea 
 t s not raajwged with prudence. 
 
70 F A B L E S OF JE S O P. 
 
 the REMARK, 
 
 Wicked and ill-natured men can never be obliged by 
 kindnesses, which oftentimes make them more insolent; 
 and it is a great temptation to go on in their course, 
 when they Lre the better for evil doing. Christian 
 charity, 'tis true, bids us return good for evil ; but it 
 does not oblige us 10 reward where we shouUl punish. 
 This way oi proceeding is dangerous in public, as well 
 as in private affairs; for bad mcj],when they find the in- 
 sejves treated with too much tenderness? are thereby 
 encouraged to be worse and worse. Quarrelsome men, 
 as well as quarrelsome ciirs^are worse tor fair usage. 
 We h<ive many examples of this nature at home and 
 abroad. How many kingdoms, as well as private fa- 
 milies, have not only been in great danger, but brought 
 to utter ruin, by bold, insolent, and designing villains, 
 when their superiors were but too good n am red, and 
 thought to reclaim them by gentle and' 'kindly' means, 
 which is the wrong way of managing such obstinate anc^ 
 perverse tempers* 
 
 FABLE LI. 
 
 A SOW and a DOG. 
 
 A SOW and Dog fell a fcolding, an<$ 
 the Sow, in a great wrath a fwore by 
 Venus, that ihe would tear him to pieces if 
 he did not hold his peace : A h !* fays the Dog, 
 you do well to fwear by Venus indeed, who 
 
FABLES OF t JE S O P. 71 
 
 cannot abide any creature about her that 
 eats Swine's fledi. You fool, fays the Sow, 
 do not you know this is a great token of her 
 love to me, not to endure any thing that 
 hurts me? But as tor Dog's fiefti, it is good for 
 nothing^ either dead or 
 
 ?he MORAL, 
 
 This F^ble (hews us, how prudent it is, 
 when a quyrel or difpute arifeth, to break. 
 itoffwithaje/t. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 'Tis a common thing for men to boast and value 
 themselves upon their interest and familiarity with 
 great meiv whom, it IT > a Y b^ tne y never spoke to, 
 Others, upon slender acquaintance, intrude so much into 
 the company of their betters, that they become botU 
 uneasy and impertinent. Even when they think them 
 selves favourites, cannot but expose them to the scorn 
 of such as know how matters stand with them ; as the; 
 Sow here in the Fable appeals to Venus t as jier pa 
 troness, before the Dog, when she might easily have 
 foreseen, that the Dog could not miss of reproaching 
 her as a liar. However, when people have overshot 
 themselves, the beat way is to turu off tlie scandal with 
 a jest. 
 
;2 F ABLES OF JESO& 
 FABLE LIL 
 
 A STAG and LION. 
 
 A STAG that was clofely ptirfued by the 
 rv huntfmen, fled for fafety into a deir 
 where a Lion chan ed to be, and before he 
 was aware, the Lion immediately got hold of 
 him ; aid as he was expiring tinder his 
 paws, Miferable creature that I am, fays he, 
 endeavouring to efcape the hands of men, I 
 have unluckily run into the paws of the 
 fierceftof beafts. 
 
 The MORAJU 
 
 Ths Fable Ihews, that many, while they 
 think to get rid offmall danger, run them* 
 felves headtong into greater mifchief. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 Men in this world are threatened with danger on 
 H hands, some of which they cannot easily avoid, 
 But vvhen men are brought to this pass, that they 
 koow not wjudi way . t</ turn, they should fol 
 low the advice '& the prc verb, Of two evils,' the lesser 
 is to be chosen,^ How unaccountable is the conduct 
 of some, who, endeavouring to avoid pressing difficul 
 ties, fly for refuse to thieves and murderers* and so, by 
 
FABLES OF JE S O P, 73 
 
 ngageing in their wicked ways, bring themselves unto 
 a shameful end. The proverb holds good here, viz. 
 That men should always look before 'they leap; for 
 they that aft without consideration, must needs repent 
 them of their rash engagements, whereby they often ruin 
 riot only themselves, but alsa their whole family, as 
 well in their estates, as their reputation. 
 
 FABLE LIIL 
 
 The PIDGEON and WATERPOT. 
 
 APIDGEON, that was extremely thirf- 
 ty, found a Pitcher with a little water 
 in it, but it lay fo low, that he could not 
 come at it : He tried firft to break the Pot> 
 but it was to ftrong for him j he trie! then 
 to overturn it, but it was too heavy for him, 
 at laft he bethought himfelf of a device that 
 did his bufinefsj which was this : He went 
 and brought little pebbles, and dropt them 
 in -the water, and fo railed it till he had it 
 within his reach. 
 
 7 be MORAL 
 
 What we cannot compa& by force, we 
 may by art and invention, 
 
 K 
 
74 FABLES OF M S P. 
 
 REMARK.' 
 
 Necessity is very oft the mother of invention ; and 
 we find that some when they are put to their wit's end^ 
 have presently fallen upon a shift, which otherwise 
 would never entered into their heads. We commonly 
 say, that wiles help weak folks ;. as we see in this fa- 
 ble 5 that the Pidgeon came nearer :o his purpose by his. 
 cunning device, than by his force and strength, which 
 before he had spent in vain. 
 
 FABLE LIV. 
 
 THIEVES and a COCK. 
 
 AB&ND of thieves broke into a houfe 
 once, and found nothing to carry a- 
 way but one poor Cock : The Cock faid as 
 mush for himfelf as a Cock could fay ; 
 but he chiefly fpoke of the fervices which 
 be did by calling people up to their work, 
 when it was time to rife. Sirrah fays one 
 of the thieves, you had better fpoke nothing 
 of that, for your waking the family fpoiU 
 all our trade, and your bawling very oft 
 makes us run the hazard of hanging* 
 
F A B L E S OF JE S O P. 
 
 The 
 
 This Fable (hews, that many a man, by 
 his fooliih talk, is the occafion of his own 
 
 ruin. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 The government of the tongue is a notable thing ; 
 and it is a great sign of a prudent and sober man, n 
 to let any thing drop from his mouth which may t 
 made use of against himself; for it has often happen- 
 ed, that one fcolish word has spoiled a good cause. 
 Had the silly cock been so wise as to keep his o\yn 
 counsel, the thieves would hardly have thought it worth 
 their while to carry him off. Seldom comes any gooc 
 of too much prating. Though goo4 men are consciou 
 to themselves, that they discharge their duty with h 
 nesty and care towards their neighbours ; yet they 
 ought well to know in what company they are, be 
 they presume to let their virtues be known ; be'causc 
 virtue is always despised by the wicked, and they that 
 delight in darkness, and love not that their adieus 
 should come to light, hate those whose deeds are coil 
 trary to their own. 
 
 F ABLE LV. 
 
 The SHEPHERD and FOX. 
 
 AS a Shepherd was one day playing on 
 his pipe, up comes the Fox, charmed 
 with his nwfic, and told him what great de- 
 
>6 FABLES OF JE S O P. 
 
 fire he had to become one of his family,' 
 that he might have the pleafure always of 
 hearing his fweet pipe, \erily friend Key- 
 nard, fay? the fhepherd, you ftJl be very 
 welcome into my family, providing that you 
 leave your teeth and nails behind you. 
 
 7&e MORAL. 
 
 There is no trufting of fair words from a 
 known and profeSed enemy, without the 
 beft fecurity that can be had. 
 
 fie REMARK. 
 
 One can never be too wary -who to trust. It is the 
 interest of all men to know well those whom they enter 
 into friendship with ; for there are some men, let them 
 speak ever so fair, that are knaves at the bottom ; and 
 there are some sharpers in the world, that IT- en -'must 
 ^tand upon their guard for fear of being tricked. 
 
 FABLE LVL 
 
 The COCKLES ROASTED. 
 
 AS a country boy- was roaftirig Cockles, 
 he heard them hifs with the great heat of 
 ihe fire : "What fill) wretches are ye-, Jays he* 
 
FABLES cr .ESC P. 77 
 
 thus to ling, ^'hl!e ycur hcufe is burning a- 
 bout your ears ? 
 
 The MORAL 
 
 This Fable .fhewe, that every thing done 
 qwt of feafcn, looks ridiculous. 
 
 The RBMASK. 
 
 Many a good advice has been lost for not timing it 
 right; and many have been thought tedious and im 
 pertinent, who had they taken a fit opportunity y wr,uld 
 have been looked upon as \vise arid prudent counsellors* 
 Solomon says very wisely, that there is a time to laugh, 
 and a time to mourn ; so that -people should suit thfebf 
 behaviour with' the present occasion. 
 
 FABLE LVH. 
 
 The SICK KITE. 
 
 "B^N the Kite lay fick and like to 
 d ; e, he fends to his mother and de- 
 fires her to pray to the -gods for his recove 
 ry. Alas, my child, fays the mother, how 
 en? ym c^ueft that they fhould fend you 
 any relief, feeing you have robbed their al 
 tars fo often ? 
 
78 F A B LES o* ; S O P* 
 
 The MORAL, 
 
 We ought to have a great reverence for 
 God, and every thing th^l belongs to his 
 worfhip, if we expeft that he fliouid hear us 
 when we call upon, him, 
 
 the RBMARK* 
 
 This Fable shews u^ that nothing but a gcod and 
 truly Christian life can make death easy to us. Can 
 we expect -that God should beams on our death bedj 
 when in all cur life we are at no pains to please him, 
 cr hearken to his precepts ? This shews us also the fol 
 Jy and great madness oFsuch as trust to a death bed re- 
 pentence ; when they 1 ve lived a wicked life, and can 
 serve the devil no lonr- - . 4 u ue supposed, that such 
 3 short time vviii be < '-:ugh for the great work of re 
 conciling ourselves to Gol ? The best way to secure 
 God's favour 'ni the time of adversity, is to be mindful 
 of him in our prosperity. The preacher's advice, who 
 tiesircs us to remember cur creator in the days of our 
 youth, is now of little weight with those that from their 
 infancy think of nothing but roguery and rapine ; who 
 to satisfy their boundless lust, spare nothing eijther sa- 
 c.reci or profane. Little do suck people think, that they 
 must 'one day answer for all their violences that at pre- 
 ihey glory in e 
 
FABLES OF' -E SOP. 79 
 FABLE LVIIL 
 
 The SHEPHERD and bis FLOCK. 
 
 AS a certain Countryman was feeding 
 his fheep in a fine day by the fea fidej 
 and feeing the fea fo calm and fmopth, he 
 thought to fet up for a merchant, and ven 
 ture fomething. Away he goes in all hafte 
 fells feme of his fheep, buys a bargain of 
 figs, and to fea he goes. It happened that 
 there arofe fuch a tempeft, that the feamea 
 were fain to calt their loading over board y 
 to fave their own lives. So our new mer 
 chant came home very foon, and betook 
 himfelf to his old trade again. It happened, 
 as he was feeding his fheep upon the fame 
 coaih that there was fuch a fine day> and 
 caim fea, as had tempted him before. Yea* 
 faid he ta the fea, you think to flatter me 
 once more, but 1 am not fuch a fool as to be 
 fo gulled out of the reft of my fheep. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 Experience teaches fools, as we fay in 
 the proverb, to be wife ; and if that cio it 
 not, nothing will. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 How happy may many persons be in al! estates, if 
 they cun but suit thtir nuad to their condiuon 1 A 
 
8b F ABLE S OF -ffiS.OP. 
 
 Shepherd may be as easy in a cottage as a Prince in 2 
 palace. But every man living has his weak sid- ; 
 and we seldom see people so easy, but that they are dis- 
 contented about something-, and fancy they may be bet 
 ter in another station, ever Lllowiflg some -trade or bu 
 siness, that they don't per taps understand ; and so when 
 they meet with disapp ..laments, it shews them how 
 well they were at first, 'f th--y ' would have kept so. ~ 
 The reason" of this restless temper is, because people do 
 not look upon the station they are in, as that wherein 
 God is well pleased to , place thena ; which makes them 
 hanker and greedily pursue after something else, with 
 out considering whether they can serve God in that 
 condition, better than in that state whajre providence has 
 fceexi pleased to call them, 
 
 FABLE LIX. 
 
 The -WOLF and CRANE. 
 
 THERE was a Wolf that had got a 
 bone in his throat, and being like to 
 be choaked, he intreated all the beafts to 
 help him ; but when none came to his af- 
 fiftance, he promifed a considerable reward 
 to the Crane, if (he would put her long bill 
 down his throat, and draw, out the bone. 
 He prevails with the Crane, and when fhe 
 had done him that good office, claimed his 
 promife* Why now impudence, fays the 
 
FABLES OF- JE SOP. gi 
 
 Wolf, when you put your .bead into my 
 mouth,, and then brought it out again fair 
 and round, I think that*s a reward enough - 
 Could not I have bit off your head ? So 
 I think, you owe me your life, and that's a 
 very good recompense. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 Tjs Foft kindnefs that's done to an un- 
 grateful perfon. 
 
 Tho it be commonly said, that one good turn re- 
 <ju.res mother ; it. ^.different wljen people have to do 
 
 a kindness so f ar , that he would not take -away the 
 life of that creature who preserved his own. But we 
 have many instances of those who have been their 
 
 ruin 
 
 een te 
 
 raised them from the dunghill. Nay, too 
 do we**, who ,et their parenfs starve, who 
 their substance to put them in a way . of HviJ Bu 
 to be sure , vengeanc e w ,il overtake such 
 
 ciuelty 
 
S3 ' FABLES OF JE S O E 
 FABLE LI. 
 
 The HUSBANDMAN and SERPENT. 
 
 A CO r J Ml RYM AN happened, in a hard 
 winter, to efpy a ferpent uader a hedge, 
 that was half frozen to death: The good 
 natured man took it up, and kept it in his 
 bofom till waravth brought it to life again ; 
 aridfofoonas i:' was. in a condition to do 
 an/ thing, it bit the very man that faved the 
 life on't. Ah ! thou ungrateful wretch, fays 
 he, can thy ill-nature be fatisfied with no. 
 thing lefs than the ruin of thy preferver ? 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 'Tis natural for fome men, like the Ser 
 pent, to do more mifchief, the more kind- 
 uefs one does them. 
 
 <fhe REMARK. 
 
 >Tis an excellent saying of the prophet, " Can any 
 man take fire " in his bosom, and not be burned ? 
 So he that takes an ungrateful man into his bosom, 
 must exped to be betrayed. But it is no new thing 
 with good natured men to meet with ungrateful 
 turns : Therefore friendship and kindness ought 1 
 mil weighed and considered before they are bestowed- 
 
FABLES OF M S O P. 83 
 
 For 'tis very true, as the proverb says, save a thief from 
 the gallows, and he will cut your throat. This Fable 
 also strikes at such as indulge their base vices ; those 
 are so many Snakes, who \vill certainly destroy bot,h 
 scul and body at last ; if they be kept in the service ot 
 sin, they will meet with no better reward than the Coun 
 tryman did from the Serpent. 
 
 A 
 
 FA,BLE 
 
 A LION grown OLD. 
 
 LION, who in his younger days had 
 got a great many enemies by his fierce- 
 liefs and cruelty, came at laft to be reduced^ 
 in his old age f to a great deal' of miftry and 
 contempt ; fo that mod of thebeafts cut of 
 tev-nge, came and fell upon him* Among/t 
 the reft the ^fs comes and kicks him with 
 her foot ; then the Lion groaning, faid, I am 
 a miserable creature indeed ! ^nd, I confefs 
 I deferve no kind ufagefrom. fome to whom, 
 I have been flo friend ; but that others fhoulct 
 ferve me fo, to whom I have been very 
 kind, 1 think it is very hard : But there fe 
 nothing goes fo near my heart as to be kick 
 ed by the heel of au /-fs, 
 
84 F A B L E S OF JH S O P. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 No body ought to be haughty in his'prof- 
 perityj for if fortune does but frown upon 
 him, he foon becomes cojitemptible. 
 
 7 he REMARK. 
 
 It is the interest of all persons to secure for them 
 selves something against the time of need. Our Sa 
 viour commends the conduct of the unjust ste ward) who 
 made friends Q himself, who should receive Jrim into 
 their hou-ses, as soon . as he was turned off; and we are 
 desired, in the conclusion of that parable, to make our 
 selves friends with the mornmon of unrighteousness, that 
 we may be received into everlasting habitations. "How 
 miserable is the condition of such, who, to gratify some 
 base vice, such as pride, malice, or for the base lucre of 
 money, lose soul and body, and reputation ! Such leave 
 this wo/Id u nlamented, and unpitied, and enter on the 
 next with a conscience stung with a guilty remembrance, 
 of their wickedness, and full of horror at the prospedV 
 of divine vengeance. Solomon gives a fair warning to 
 such, in the book of Ecclesiastcs, where he says, u Re 
 joice, O young man, in ,thy youth, and let thy heart 
 cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the. 
 ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; 
 but know thou that for ail these things, God will bring. 
 thee unto judgment." 
 
FABLES tit"MSQ.l\ 5 
 
 FABLE LXIL 
 
 The SPANIEL and ASS. 
 
 GENFLEM4N had get a pretty Span- 
 lei that -was ftill leaping uponhim,licking 
 his hands, cheeks, and face, and playing a 
 thoufand tricks., wherewith the matter was 
 pleafed. 1 here was an Afs about the houfe 
 who feeing (his, began to think of her own 
 fad fortune, how (he muft fudge $bout with 
 her burden, an<i never be at reft, yet always 
 beat whilft this idle puppy was his matter's 
 favourite, fed with the beft, and careffed by 
 every body. The, fs. finding him fo well 
 treated, muft need? go the fame way to work 
 to curry favour wiih her matter ; -V the firft 
 time fhefW him, fh- ran to ward * him, leaped 
 upon . -hfoi, & dauling him with her nafly 
 hoofs, alaioit beat him down to the ground; 
 whereupon he called to his fervants, and fo 
 the poor afs was foundly cudgelled for he? 
 Jondiiefs. 
 
 , ~'he MORAL 
 
 People iu all ftations ought to know their 
 one dnbnce ; becaufe too much familiarity 
 fereeds contempt. 
 
86 F A B LES- OF 2E S O P. 
 
 REMARK 
 
 Men ought to observe order and decency ifo all' 
 thing's ; for that nitty become one man, which is no ways 
 proper for another ; and .some, by their too much of- 
 ficiousness, do themselves no kindness. They are look 
 ed upon a? fondlings, who seek after something t* 
 themselves, and so by this means they lose both their 
 credit ar.d design. Tins Fable also strikes at such a 
 are discos tented with the station wherein God is pleased 
 to place them : They look upon others with an envious 
 eye, whom they suppose to be in better circumstances; 
 So while they attempt to raise themselves by indirect 
 means, they go out of that road which Providence has 
 allotted them ; and it is no wonder if they meet; with 2 
 scourge to humble them. 
 
 FABLE LXIIL 
 
 The, LION and MOUSE. 
 
 ALIONJ that liad been faint and weary 
 travelling in a hot day ? lay down under 
 a (hade, and fell afleep, but was foon awak 
 ened by a parcel of mice who run over his 
 backbone of which he caught . This poor 
 prifoner pleads, that he was not worthy of 
 his wrath : 'Tis true, fays the Lion, it is not 
 worth my while to meddle with you, and 
 fo let him go, Some tune afterwards it 
 
VA BLES OF IE SOP. S 7 
 
 happened, that this fame Lion was caught in 
 a net, and fell a roaring ; the Mo ufe pre- 
 fently knows the voice, runs out, and fell to 
 work upon the couplings of the net, gnaws 
 the thread to pieees, and ia gratitude deli 
 vered her preserver. 
 
 7/je MORAL 
 
 There is no body fo inconfiderable, but 
 fome time or other there may be oceafion 
 for him. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 In this Fable we see the generosity 'of the Lion,- 
 and the gratitude of the Mouse ; and notwithstanding 
 the power and greatness of the one, who expected no 
 jcturn, (and who would "have thought that the life of 
 the Lion should lie at the mercy of the Mouse r) yet 
 the meanness of the other did not hinder, but jhat he 
 stood in great need of her assistance ; which should 
 teach us not to despise the meanest of creatures, be- 
 cause they may be of use to us ; and so we ought ne 
 ver willfiflllyto disoblige any body ; for if we did by 
 others as we would have others to do by us, this is the 
 best way to do omselves and others a kindness.. 
 
18 F ABLES OF IE 3 P. 
 F ABLE LXIV. 
 
 The ?ROG.S desiring a KING. 
 
 "HEN the Frogs, had grown canton 
 with too much liberty, they petiti 
 oned {upiterfor a King; Jupiter who knew 
 the vanity of their hearts,. refufed them ; . 
 but they were fo importunate, that at laft he 
 threw down a log ior their king, vhio'h, at 
 the firft daflh, made a, mighty flir in the 
 lake, and frightened them fq, that all. fculk- 
 ed in the mud ; this fear kept them in awe 
 for fome time, till one of the Frogs bolder 
 than the reft, put up his head, and loaked 
 about him to fee now matters went with 
 their new king ; afcd finding that he (lirred 
 not, drew near by little and little, till at laft 
 he perceived what it was; upon this he 
 calls his fellow fubjtfits, and difcovers the 
 whole matter to theni^.fo that nothing would 
 ferve them but they muft ride a-top of hinv; 
 infomucfa^ that the fear they were in before 
 is now turned into infoleiice and contempt. 
 Jupiter is intreated a fecond time, for this 
 king was too tame, and they defire one that 
 fome courage ; io Jupiter feiu them a 
 
rftB-LES- OF jSOP. 8 9 
 
 ferpent, which moving ftoutly tip and down 
 the fen, left theoi neither liberty nor pro 
 perty, but devoured all the Frogs that came 
 in his way : J he Togs fend once more tQ 
 Jupiter, complaining of the king's cruelty, 
 ancT drilling they may have another ; but 
 Jupiter anfwers them, that they who petition 
 againft a gracious king, muft now endure 
 one who has no mercy. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 They that will riot be r dohtented when 
 they are well, muft be patient when things 
 are amifs with therm 
 
 The 
 
 It usually befals the common people a<* it did with 
 the Frogs, who if they have, a king a little more mild, 
 they find fault with him thai he is slothful and idle 
 and wish that they may once have a man of valour. 
 On the contrary, if at any time they have a king that 
 hath mettle in him, they condemn this king's cruelty, 
 and commend the , clemency of the former. 'Tis the 
 temper of a great many to be weary of things present; 
 and yet the oftener they change, and the further they 
 go, they fare still the wcrse* Wisely doth Solomon en 
 join us, to fear God and honour the Kin.r, an d not to 
 iheddle with such as are given to change* 
 M 
 
FABLES OF JESOi*? 
 FABLE LXV. 
 
 The KITE, HAWK and PIGEONS. 
 Pigeons once made war 
 
 Kite, and that they might ^be able to 
 beat him, made choice of the Hawk fo : their 
 King. Bat as Io6n as he got the govern- 
 ment, he afted more like a tyrant than a 
 King, making a greater havock among them 
 than the Kite had dc<ne. The Pigeons at 
 laft repented of their choice, faying, we had 
 4one- better to have t &<j>r$ ^itti /the Kite's 
 feverity, than this to .fuffdr the , tyranny of 
 the Hawk. 
 
 7 he MORAL 
 
 'Tis good to follow St Paul's advice, 
 o learns us in every condition therewith 
 to be contented. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 'Tis seldom that people of a fickle temper escape in 
 convenience, which they are constantly exposed to by 
 iTic designs of crafty and' treacherous men, who nndet 
 pretenxe of friendship, prove much more hurtful than 
 an avowed enemy. David complains, how he that wa* 
 
F ABLES 01 2ES O P. 91 
 
 $ familiar friend had lifted up his heel against him, and 
 this was a screr wrui d to him, than if an enemy had 
 done it ; tor says he, 1 ^-Ul- ha\e bcrr.e -with it the 
 bettrr. The pie: sines and \amtu s ot this life are siicli 
 treachercfis friends, who promise great things at a dis 
 tance ; and th< ugh the y seem to be sweet in the mouchj 
 yet they prove bitter in the belly* 
 
 FABLE ixvi. 
 
 The WOKF and SOW, 
 
 '/\ WOI-t came to a Sow jufl ready to 
 A ^ lie down, aud prcnjife'd to take care ot 
 her litter: f !he Sow. tcld him, Ihe did not 
 want his help, and the greater diftance he 
 itpt, be would oblige the more ; for .the 
 Wolf's office, lays fiie, confifts Lot in being 
 nigh, but in being far awzy. 
 
 the MORAL 
 
 ft* any offer their fervre, net cut of love 
 to ihe-per(ori they i^ouldfecm to-feive, iut 
 out of ieltloye. 
 
 ihe REMAK^ 
 
 Many dangerous snares are laid for pe< -pfc 'Cinder ti>c 
 ai.d gocd cfiicc ; Lu; ill n.ui sutuct 
 
92 FABLES OF JESOK 
 
 to be believed or trusted, for some enemies- appear in 
 the shape of friends ; but men should stand upon their 
 guard, as the Sow here did, who had more -wit than to 
 be enticed by the Wolf. Many love their neighbours^ 
 not for theloveof God, but lor the love of then selves ; 
 and this love lasts no longer than they can expect some, 
 benefit by them. There 'is nothing mere hurtful ty 
 mankind than this poisonous principle of self-love ; 
 it destroys all government : For while men do all for 
 private ends, what must become of the pubhc I and it 
 overturns all religion, which strictly enjoins, "Whatso 
 ever ye would that men should do unto you, even do so 
 unto them, for this is the law and the prophets." So 
 that nothing more effectually ruins men, both in this 
 life and that which is to come, than self-love, which, at 
 last, proves rather to be self-hatred. It is the spring 
 of sin and wickedness ; and we may veiy well apply un 
 to it, what the apostle says of the love of money j-r 
 " that it is the root of all evil." 
 
 FAB L E LXTII. 
 
 The MOUNTAIN in LABOUR. 
 
 THERE was oncje a report that a Moun 
 tain was in travail ; all the people ex- 
 pefted fome dreadful monfter to be brought 
 forth, at lad there comes only a fc'ioufe , 
 fo that the people were like to die with 
 laughing. 
 
FABLES OF JESOP. 93 
 
 7 he MORAL. 
 
 There's often much to do about nothing. 
 REMARK. 
 
 /This FrtUe strikes at great braggers, who make a 
 inighty noise and boasting about their performances ; 
 and yet when thry are brought upon trial, behold they 
 can do nothing ^t all; and it is no wonder if such vapoqf- 
 ing Allows become the scoff and game of all that know 
 them: And thougbthey may sometimes impose upon 
 the mob, yet they make themselves ridiculous to * all 
 men of sense. And yet how extravagant and vain arc 
 the attempts of some men? What castles do they build 
 jn tlhe air ? and what fine thi.igs do they promise to 
 tbemsriyrs ? though all end like the Fable, a Mountain 
 b ii.^s forth a Mouse. Such vain and empty fellows 
 may j'istry be compared to a cracker, which mounts into 
 the 'air with a mighty noise and force, to the great 
 yonder of the beholders, but of a sudden it bursts, and 
 "vanishes i to sLiioke, a-id turns the contempt of all 
 present. ' i'is commonly observed, that such as aje 
 gieat braggers, are for the most part, slow performers, 
 and it is a great -si^n of folly and weakness, to keep pr?o- 
 p.e, m expectation of .great matters, when we are con 
 scious to ouj stives that we arc no ways in 2, capacity to 
 put them in ^r^tict. 
 
94 FABLES OF IE SO P. 
 FABLE LXVI1I. 
 
 The HARES and PROGS. 
 
 THE Hares were flrangely frighted at * 
 whirlwind that had happened in a 
 wood, which made a terrible noife among 
 the trees; But after their fear was over, 
 fomeofthem began to be mightily diffatibfied 
 with their mifer able condition. Why, fays 
 one of them, here we live at the mercy of 
 Men, Dogs, Eagles, and I know not how 
 many beafts that prey upon us at pkafure ; 
 we are perpetually in danger ; fo that it is 
 better to die once for all, than live at this 
 rate in a continue! fear, which is worfe thau 
 death iifelf. All were well pleafed with the 
 fancy, and a refolution was taken one and 
 all to drown themfelves ; fo away they went 
 to the next lake. A great many Frogs, who 
 were lying upon the banks, hearing the hur 
 ry of the Hares, leaped for fear into the 
 lake : Nay then, my mafter, fays one of the 
 Hares, pray let us have a little patience, our 
 condition is not, I find, altogether fo bad as, 
 we fancied ; for there are thofe you fee 
 that arc as much afraid of us, as we are of 
 others. 
 
F A 8 L E S OF IE SO?. 95 
 
 r&? MORAL 
 
 The intent of this Fable is to fhew, that 
 if people did well confider their own cafe, - 
 there is not fuch caufe of repining as they 
 imagine* 
 
 The REMARK/ 
 
 It ts the trnhappiness of the greatest part of man- 
 Jdndl that .they always lepk-to persons above themselves, 
 which makes them so ; uneasy, while they ; see some 
 others -in a rnore nourishing condition than tliems'elres: 
 Whe/eas, '(lid ' tiiey bnt consider hoxv it is witii 
 marr,' of tfcHrneighDours, they Would fiiid it their duty 
 to te tliarkful that it \i no worse with thep, J wish I 
 had this, and I wish I hacl that, is the common saying 
 of people ; but did we compare ourselves with 'others, 
 and see how many are in a miscraUIe and wretched con- 
 dition ; some tormented with the most torturing pains 
 ^nd diseases, and others b'it}d and lam*, starving for 
 want of bread; they would be very than k'ftiT to God 
 for what thfcy are, and I what they have, seeing others 
 envy their happiness as much as they do that of 
 others. 
 
96 FABLESbFJESOP. 
 FABLE LXIX. 
 
 The DAW and borrowed FEATHERS. 
 
 A DAW that would fain appear finer thnii 
 her companions, decked herfelf withPeo- 
 eock's Feathers, and all the other gay Fea 
 thers that fhe cauld find ; fo (he would not 
 ftay any longer with birds of her kindj but 
 mult needs go among the Peacocks, and 
 other fine birds : But as foon as they djfco- 
 vered the cheat, they ftll a pulling of her : 
 And when every bird had taken his own 
 Feathers away, the filly Daw was ftnpt to 
 the fkln, and nothing left to cover her na- 
 kednefs, 
 
 *fhe MORAL. 
 
 When pride and beggary meet, people 
 are fore to make themieives ridiculous. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 Pride and ambition has been the ruin of many. 
 LticitVr was turned out of heaven for his arrogance : 
 And we have all the sad experience, how fatal this 
 was to our first parents, who were not satisfied with the 
 wherein God had placed them, but they must at 
 
FAB LES OF ;GSO Pi 97 
 
 tempt such things which were their ruin : And when 
 their eyes were opened, and they found themselves as 
 naked as the Daw stript of her feathers, then they 
 came to understand and repent their folly. And how 
 many of their posterity follow their example ? They 
 still believe Satan's amusements, until they are summon 
 ed by death. Then.it is that their eyes are opened, 
 and find that he that was a liar from the beginning, and 
 will be so to the end, has cheated them. 
 
 This Fable shews Us, moreover, the great mistake of 
 such as place their happiness upon any tjiing that may 
 be taken away. What are all the riches and honours 
 of this world but borrowed feathers. When death 
 comes, we must be stripped of them, and left naked, ac 
 cording to the saying of Job, u Naked came I out of 
 4C my mother's womb, and naked shall I return.*' This 
 Fable strikes at such as make a mig hty show, and have 
 a gay outside at the expence of others, until people be 
 gin to discover how matters are with them, and every 
 one takes away his owii : and so they are left.as naked 
 as the Daw. 
 
 FABLE LXX. 
 
 The FROG and OX. 
 
 AH f JGE Ox was grazing in a meadowy 
 and a Frog feeing him, was defirous to 
 match him in bulk, and fo fell a ftretching 
 herfelf She called out to her little ones to 
 take notice whether (he was not as big- as 
 N 
 
9 * FA BLES OF ^E S O P. 
 
 the Ox. Why, mother, fays they, you a^e 
 nothing to the >*. he then ft ained a- 
 gain, but it would not do: But {he went 
 ftill on and on, till at laft fhe burft* 
 
 The MORTAL. 
 
 Pride and envy will at laft bring a man to 
 dellrucUon. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 This "Fable is a severe lash upon those who fancy 
 themselves to be greater than really they are, and so set 
 up to live above what they can afford : They strive to 
 imitate persons of the highest station and quality, \vho fc 
 have twenty times their estates, till at Vast they bring 1 -, 
 themselves to poverty. What a great unhappiness is it 
 to such whose affections and thoughts run after nothing 
 but high places ? Into how many inconveniences do they 
 bring themselves, till at last they burst ? How contrary 
 is the humour (which prevails too much in our days) to 
 that poverty and humbleness of spirit which our Sa 
 viour lays down as the foundation of the Christian reli 
 gion ? For he begins "the sermon on the mount with 
 these words : Blessed are the poor in spmi, tor tbein 
 is the kingdom ." of heave',." And truly without such 
 a disposition as this, there can be no real happiness ; 
 for whatever condition the humble person is in, he i 
 Content, and prefers sobriety atid rctiredness to the i 
 ry 6t courts and piihces. 
 
FABLES OF 2ES O P. 99 
 FABLE LXXL 
 
 A STAG DRINKING. 
 
 A S a Stag was di inking in a clear fcun 
 ** tain, he faw his image in the water ;. 
 fo fell to admire his fine large and branch 
 ing horns bir quite defpifed his -legs; think 
 ing they were bat imall pitiful ffipnks 
 Jufi as he was upon this thought, he disco 
 vered a pack of clogs coming iullory towards 
 him : riw r ay he fcours acn i^ the fieids, ?nd 
 gets into a wood ; but prefli-ng through a 
 thicket, the bufhes held him by the horns 
 till the hounds came -up to him, and pulled 
 hietidown; and as he was dying he faid, 
 what an unhappy fool was I, to take my 
 friends for my enemies, and enemies for my 
 friends? I trufted to my head that has be 
 trayed me, and I found fault with the If gs 
 that would have othcrwife carried me 
 off. 
 
 ?& MORAL 
 
 Such as do not know themfelves right, 
 cannot chufe but pafs a wrong judgment 
 upon matters that nearly ccncern them* 
 
xoo FABLES or JES OP. 
 
 7 be REMARK 
 
 Many are ready to admire that which they ought to 
 forsake and abhor j while, on the other hand, they des 
 pise and trample upon that which is mostly to be valued 
 and admired. The pomps and vanities of this wicked 
 world is, what all Christians oughtj and are bound by 
 their baptism to deny ; and yet nothing appears so fine 
 and desirable in the eyes of the most part of mankind as 
 these. Is there any thing so beautiful and lovely as 
 virtue ? and yet how much is it neglected and despised I 
 -The reason why men are guilty of such woful mistakes, 
 as to take the worse for the better, and the better for 
 the worse, is because they do not know themselves, nor 
 the end for which they came into the world, which 
 makes them glory in that which is rather their shame, 
 and which if not prevented, will prove to be their de* 
 struftion. But when death comes, the v will find the 
 difference, and say, as the Stag in the 'Fable, What 
 fools they were to take their friends for their enemies, 
 and en emiesf6r their friends ? 
 
 FABLE LXXIL 
 
 The 'HUSBANDMAN and the WOOD, 
 
 COUNTRY-fellow that had got the 
 iron work of an ax, went to the i exc 
 foreft to beg only fo nuich wood as WOK Id 
 make an handle to it, The matter feemecj 
 fo fmall, that it was eafily granted : But 
 
FABLES or M S O P. 101 
 
 \ 
 
 when the trees came to find that the 
 whole wood was to be cut down by the help 
 of this handle ; there's no remedy, fa\fc they 
 but patience, when people aie undone by 
 theii folly. 
 
 7 be MORAL. 
 
 Nothing goes nea r er a man in hi> misfor 
 tune, dun to be undone by his own fault. 
 
 7' be REMAP K. 
 
 How rnaryare there who are enemies*' against them 
 selves ; and wi, ; ti a tunib'e is it f>r a man to fall by 
 that weap m which he has put in ib..- Irind of his foe ? 
 Daily experience discovers how mary are the cause of 
 their own desmiclion. And though sometimes" a man 
 rruiy lose his hfc; or estate Without b^n^ the c*ns of it, 
 yet it is impossible that a man can lose his s<,ui without 
 bcii.g altog-ther the cause and occasion uf it: Which 
 Will make all such inexcus -b;e in the day of judgment. 
 T his Fr.ble st IK^S also' at such who ?re the ruin of 
 their benefactors: The wooden handle cut down the 
 wood whe'ei'.i it grew. How rntny employ that life 
 and strength wiiith God gives them to fi.;ht against 
 himself ? So that in all a^es people may b justly char 
 ged with what God upbraids the Jews: " 1 have n-uiri. 
 ^shed and brought up jeople, but tkey have rebelled a- 
 gair.st me. 
 
F A B L E S OF JE S O P. 
 FABLE LXXIiL 
 
 A HORSE and LION. 
 
 A LION" longed, for a piece of good 
 T^- Horfe^flefh, bu,t not knowing how to 
 come by it, by reafon of his age and want of 
 ftrength, he made ufe of this contrivance : 
 He comes to a Horfe, and gave cut himfelf 
 to be a Farrier, thinking to amufe the horfe 
 with a long itory of his art and experience. 
 1 he Horfe finding his knavery, defigned to 
 be as cunning as he ; therefore pretending 
 to have latejly pricked his foot, he intreats 
 the Phyfician that he would be pieafed to 
 look upon it, to' pull out tbe thorn and give 
 him e<tfe, O, fays the Lion, do but hold up 
 your leg a little, and I will cure you imme 
 diately. But as he was looking to it, the 
 Horfe gave him a terrible blow upon the, 
 forehead with fcis heal, whkh laid him flat, 
 and fo got off. When the Lion hgd reco-' 
 vered a little, well, fays he, I am rightly 
 ferved for my folly, and I fee the Horfe has. 
 repaid knavery with knavery. 
 
FABLES OF ^ESOP. 103 
 
 The Mo SAL 
 
 It often happens, that people are paid 
 home in their own coin, and the deceiver 
 himfelf is deceived. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 Though it be commendable in all men to supply their 
 want of strength by industry and invention, yet they 
 ought to keep their skill within the bounds of justice 
 and honesty ; and when they go beyond it f they may ex 
 pect sometime or other to be served as the Lion was 
 by the Horse ; for what measure we give to others, we 
 shall be served in the same measure again, sooner or lat 
 ter. It would be good for many that they were so sharp 
 sighted as the Horse here was and could distinguish be 
 tween a good Physician and a dissembling quack, ii;d 
 so reward them accordingly ; then 'we should'not see so 
 many wheedled out of their money, as \frell as their lives. 
 
 FABLE LXXiV. 
 
 The BOAR and HORSE. 
 
 TH^RE fell a difpute once betwixt a 
 Boar and a Horfe, and when thev had 
 fotight a pretty while, the Boar got the bet 
 ter of him, and Uat the other out ot the 
 field. 1 he Horfe grieved at this affront, 
 advifed with a man what courfe he Ihould 
 
io4 F ABLES or JESOP. 
 
 take to be revenged on the Boar The man 
 told him, 'hat if he al'owed himfelf to be 
 bri led and fadd'ed, and take one on his 
 back with a Unce in hi>v hand, he ihoul i be 
 fufficiently revenged on him. The Horfe a- 
 grted to ir ; bur chough he got his enemy 
 killed yet he loft his liberty by it, and made 
 himfeif a flave all the days of his life. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 He is a madman, who, to avoid a prefent 
 and lefs evil, runs blindfold into a greater. 
 
 ?he REMARK. 
 
 This Fable discovers to us the folly of such as make 
 .themselves slaves to their. revenge ; for no man should 
 be so angry with another as to 'hurt himself; How ma 
 ny do in haste, what they repent at leisure ; and for the 
 gratifying of a fro ward humour, make themselves slaves 
 all their days, as the Horse in the Fable.? who had bet- 
 tir passed by the affront ; but his stomach was toogreat f ' 
 * d. did, as many others do, ruin himself, that he might 
 but ruin his enemy. We may easily observe, by this, 
 that there is nothing better tor a man's body, as well 
 ss the soul, than the C hristian d-jdrine of the forgiving 
 cnemieb ; thoug, 1 ; the world look upon such as pass by 
 fronts to be nothing else but cowards; and that man 
 that mils himself : upon the sword of smother, whom Lc 
 
F A B L E S OF M S O P, 
 
 *ould kill, is looked upon to be a brave gallant man, 
 though he be such another fool as the Horse in the 
 Fable, -who paid dear for his revenge. 
 
 FABLE LXXV. 
 
 Two YOUNG.MEN and a COOK. 
 
 TWO young fellows flipt into a Cook's 
 fhop. and while the Cook was bufy at 
 his work, one of them ttole a piece of flefli, 
 and conveyed it to the other; the Cook 
 miffed it immediately, and challenged him 
 with the theft. He that took it, fwofe he 
 had none of it, and he that had it, fwore as 
 confidefably that he did not take if. Well 
 my mailers, fays the t..o,:k, diefe tricks may 
 be put upon men, but there is.it eye above 
 that fees through them. * 
 
 ?be MORAL 
 
 When we do any thing amifs, and think 
 ourfelves fecure by hiding it torn men, God 
 who is the fearcher of hearts, fees it. 
 
 O 
 
i o6 FABLES OF JESQ P. 
 The REMARK* 
 
 There is no playing fast rand loose vvlth God ; for 
 double-dealing is what he abhors. And 'suppose this 
 way may succeed for some time among men, who can 
 not discover the secret designs that lurk in a man's 
 heart; yet at last such persons never fail of betraying 
 themselves ; and then how odious do they appear when 
 their knavery is found out ! No t; ust or credit .is^giyeu 
 them, though they back their promises with repeated 
 oaths ; so that the common proverb lioldi 'true, Ho- 
 Besty is tttobest policy. 
 
 FABLE LXX7I. 
 
 A FOX and a sick LION. 
 
 
 ALIGN falling Tick, all the beafts came 
 to vifit him, except 'the Fox ; where 
 upon the Lion fent to tell him that he long 
 ed to fee him. and'that his prefence would 
 be rery acceptable to him. He moreover 
 defired the meff^nger to affure the Fox, that 
 for federal reafons 7 he had no. occafion to be 
 afraid ofhiiri; : becaafe tbe '.ion was one 
 that loved the L ? ox ve^y well, and therefore 
 defired t6 fpeik wi'h him , befides that, he 
 lay fo fick that he could not (\\r to do the 
 Fox any harm, though he had never fa 
 great a mind to it* Ihe * ox returned a 
 
F A B L E S OF JE S 6 $. 1 07 
 
 very obliging anfwer, defiling' the meflenger 
 to acquaint the 1 icn, that he was very defi- 
 ,rous -of his recovery, and that he would pray 
 to the Gods for it ; but at the fame time 
 defired to be exculed for net coming to fee 
 him, as other beafts had done : For, truly 
 fays Reynard, the traces of their fret freigh- 
 ten me> all cf them going towards his Majef- 
 ty's palace,, but none coming back again. 
 
 the MORAL 
 
 Words sre not to be trufled, though ns* 
 ver fo fair ; we muft examine mens .aftions^ 
 as well as their words ard pronufes, an<J 
 judge of the one by the other, -it we would 
 efcape their milchievous invent^uns. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 The proverb holds true, Larks are not to be-catthedl 
 with chaiF: The Lion, by his pietencicd sickness and 
 H'eaknes3> thought th^t the Pox, in point of civility,, 
 ought to pay him a visit ; but sending such a kind 
 invitation, so full of compliirents, was still -a greater 
 obligation on the Fox to pay his respects to him-:; but 
 Reynsrd v/as too sharp sighted not 10 see through his 
 design ; though truly it is a hard matter sometimes to' 
 distinguish between a friendly invitation and An hypo- 
 cr.tical snarej so that a man is often at a loss, not kiiow 
 
ic8 FABLES OF M S O P. 
 
 ing but be may disoblige a friend, whilst he thinks only 
 to save himself from the hands of an enemy Howe 
 ver, while the world is full of tricks, 'tis always the best 
 and wisest method to take particular care wheie pny 
 signs of suspicion appear. 
 
 FABLE LXXVIL 
 
 A STAG and a VINE. 
 
 A STAG that was hard pufhed by the 
 huntfmen, ran into a vineyard, and 
 took fhelter under the root of a Vine. When 
 the huntfmen were gone, and he thought 
 he danger , was over, he fell prefentiy to 
 fcrowfing upon the leaves. r lhe ruftiing of 
 the boughs made fome of the huntfmen ap 
 prehend that he might' be there: So upon 
 a, ftri fearcli, he was discovered, and fhot j 
 and as he was dying, he faid, how juftly am 
 1 puniflied for offering to deftroy my pro- 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 *Tis but juft that fuch who wrong their 
 benefa&or, fliould be punifhed with divine 
 vengeance. 
 
FABLES OF JE S G F 109 
 
 i 
 ?he REMARK. 
 
 There is nothing more jbominable in the sight of 
 God and man than ingratitude ; and such as repay good 
 with evil, in seeking the mm of their protectors, seldom 
 escape the judgements of God. This Fable exposes 
 the baseness of ihis vice., as many other Fables in JEsop, 
 do : but all that God commands, or n.en preact;, or 
 beasts practise, against this sin, will not put a stop to 
 the wicked and ungrateful doinps of malicious spirits ; 
 ar.d a man that can be ungrateful, 'is capable of any 
 manner of wickedness. 
 
 FABLE LXXVIIL 
 
 The GEESE and CRANES. 
 
 fame Gecfe and Cranes were feeding 
 in a countryman's field of corn,"he heard 
 the noile, and came prelently out upon them, 
 The Cranes feeing the countryman, they fled 
 fir it ; but the Geefe tarrying behind, be- 
 caufe of the hcavinefs of their bodies, were 
 catched. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 This Fable figniues, that, in taking of a 
 town, the poor eafily efcape> while the rich, 
 
no FABLES OF & S O P. 
 
 tarrying behind tb fave their riches, ccm 
 monly lose both lives andeftates. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 It is strange how riches alter the tcrrfpers of men,; * 
 Jhofv timorous it makes some who have been brave, and 
 fcow secure it makes others, who trusting to their mo- 
 jiey, an d thinking to escape by its means, make them 
 only the greater prey to their enemies* This Fable is a 
 severe rebuke' to such as take no care to provide for 
 time of danger, but go on in their old courses, until 
 they be suddenly destroyed ; and -though they have ma 
 ny examples to warn them, yet 'their vices and corrupt 
 affections so hang about them, and clog them, that they 
 never will cast them off, until they are brought to de 
 struction. Had the Geese fyeen so wise as to get off 
 with the Cranes, they might have saved themselves ; 
 but the sweetness of the corn whereupon they were 
 feeding, and the weight of tlreir dull "bodies, quite stop t 
 them, until they were catched. 
 
 FABLE LXXIX. 
 
 A TRUMPETER taken PRISONER. 
 
 WHEN an arrriy had been routed, a, 
 Trumpeter was taken prifoner : 
 And as thefoldiers were going to kill him, 
 Gentlemen, fays he ? why fhould you kiil a 
 man that has killed no body ? You fliall die 
 
FABLES OF / S OR m 
 
 the rather for that, %s one of the com- 
 pany ; when, like a rafcal as you are, yoa 
 dou't fight yourfeif, yet fet other people to* 
 gether by the ears. 
 
 The MORAL 
 
 He -that provokes others to mifchlef, is as 
 much , if not more guilty, than the doers 
 themfelves. 
 
 The RBMA&K. 
 
 This- fable reproves- such as take delight in setting 
 people together by the ears,- Which is quite opposite to 
 
 the Christian duty oi being peaceable and meek. 
 
 -' Blessed are the peace-makers, (says ".our Saviour) 5 
 for they shall be called the children of God." For God 
 is a G,od of Peace: and /we. Malice, hatred, and en 
 vy, which makes such difference among people, proceed 
 from Satan the Pnnce of, darkness; but meeknes? 3 jrood- 
 nessj and brotherly kindness, is what Qirist, the Prince 
 of Peace, stri&lyVoimr/anrls. We may eatiiy jud.^e by 
 peoples practice, whose children they are ; for whosoe 
 ver takes pleasure jn divisions, strife, and discord, must 
 be of their father the devil, whose \vorks they do, lc^ 
 {their pretencqs be. never o fair. 
 
rra F ABLES OF JESQP. 
 FABLE LXXX. 
 
 The HUSBANDMAN and STORK. 
 
 A POOR innocent Stork had the ill hap 
 to be taken in a net that was laid for 
 Geefe and Cranes. The Stork's plea for 
 herfelf was fimpiicity, pood-nature, and the 
 love of mankind ; together with the fervice 
 foe did in picking up venomous creatures. 
 This is all rue s fays the Duflbandman ; 
 but they that keep ill company (if they be 
 catched with ill company) imift expeft to 
 faffer with ill company. 
 
 7 he MORAL. 
 
 A man is efteemed according to the com 
 pany he keeps, for it is a common faying, 
 which will be applied in this cafe, that 
 birds of a feather flock together* 
 
 Ibs REMARK. 
 
 There are many inconveniences that attend the keep- 
 Ing of bad company. A lewd and wicked example will 
 be ready to have influence upon the peisotvthat firquents 
 vicious company ; and it he should es4 pe from the 
 plague, which is very rare, yet bis credit, and reputation 
 
F< A B L E S o* JE S O P. 113 
 
 suffers; so that when the good and bad are taken to- 
 gethr r, they mint suffer together ; for it is a common 
 proverb, Shew me the company, and I'll shew you the 
 man. Tis the bad fortune of many a good man to fall 1 
 into base company, and to be undone by it, and yet bo 
 no ways guilty of the iniquity of his companions : But 
 was a man never so innocent, it is a shame and dis- 
 honour to be taken with rogues ; for very few escape 
 fb'ii being poisoned with their vices. And it holds 
 very true what the apostle says, " That evil communi* 
 cation corrupts good manners." 
 
 FABLE LXXXL 
 
 The WASPS and PARTRIDGES. 
 
 A FLIGHT of Wafps, atid a coveyof Pat- 
 C* tridges, that were hard put to it for J 
 want of water, went to a farmer, an-d begged 
 afup^of him to quench their third, The 
 Partridges off red to dig his vineyard for it; 
 and the WTafps promifed to fecure him frorti 
 thieves. Pray hold /our peace, fays the far- j 
 nier, I have Oxen and Dogs to do me thefe 
 offices already, and am relblved to provide 
 for them in the firft place. 
 
ii"4 FABLES OF & S O P. 
 
 MORAL 
 
 Charity begins at home : And it is very 
 trus which the apoftle fays, " He that d >e* 
 not provide " for his own family, is worfe 
 than an infidel." 
 
 The REMARK, 
 
 People ought to know well how to bestow their charU 
 If. For a man to rob liis family of what is necessary, 
 tinder pretence of charity, is like .the sacrifice of the 
 wicked, which is an abomination to the L^rd : But peo 
 ple ought not, under the cloak of providing for them- 
 selves and' families, when they have affluence and plenty, 
 refuse to distribute to the necessities of the poor ; for 
 this is wh will not excuse them ; neither is it possible 
 that such can love God or his neighbour; for, as the 
 apostle says, " He that seeth his brother want, and shut- 
 teth up his bowels ot compassion against him, how can 
 the love of God be in him 2" A man's prudence will 
 always dired him how to behave himself in such cases ; 
 only let a man be sincere in what he does, for God 
 loveth a chearful giver. 
 
 FABLE LXXXIL 
 
 A DAW and PIGEONS. 
 
 AD 1W took particular notice of Pigeon $ 
 in a dove-houfe, that they were well fed 
 
F A B L E S cj 2E S O P. 1 15 
 
 and provided for ; fo he went and painted 
 , himfclf of a dove colour, and ftd among the 
 pigeons, fco long as he kept filent. this 
 pafied very well ; but it happened that for* 
 getting himfelf he fell a chatterirg ; upon 
 which difcovery he was turned out of the 
 dove hocfe, and when he came to his old 
 companions, they would not receive him. 
 So, by this means, he loft both parties, 
 
 He that halts between two opinions, lofes 
 himfelf with both parties ; for when he i$ 
 diicovered, he is found true to neither. 
 
 the REMARK 
 
 Some, by grasping at too much, lose all ; and b|f 
 aiming at what they have not, and cannot well obtaii,| 
 lose what they had before. And men dc but make 
 iherrselvee ridiculous, in imitating that which they can* 
 not do. For though the Daw painted hti.sc If like ft 
 Pigeon, yet ic did not' make her ore : And though 4 
 man put himself into another man's shape, yet i e i* 
 comironly discovered. The hypocrite is never so tar 
 from being a gocd Christian, as \\iien he IcoU like it f 
 and double-dealers are always disco\ered by srine accU 
 dent or other ; and then both p'-rtits beat them away* 
 So that eveiy man ought to be true a^d hoiitst 
 Jte undertakes.* 
 
3i6 CABLES OF JESOP. 
 FABLE LXXXIII. 
 
 The FOX and SNAKE. 
 
 A FOX and a Snake chancing to meet, the 
 Snake began to entertain the Fox with 
 a long ftory concerning her bcau(y, and the 
 pkaiant and:charming colcurs of her fpotted 
 Jkin. 1 he Fox, weary with the difccurfe, 
 interrupted her, and laid, that the beauty x>f 
 the mind was of much greater value and 
 excellency than that of a painted outfide. 
 
 the MORAL 
 
 A good underftanding is a bleffing far ex 
 ceeding all outward beauty, 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 Many men are ready to prefer the outward blessings, 
 iuch as beauty, nature, and riches, to wisdom, tem 
 perance, and piety, and other inward blcrsings, lor iv, ore 
 valuable, for they only represent man, and distinguish 
 him frptn the beasts. We have lew oiuuard advan 
 tages beyond the other creatures, but -we are inierioi to 
 them in many, such as in strength, swiftness, bfciiii;;g, 
 seeing, and all the other senses : So that \veie it not kr 
 iirward advantages, man -would be rather a prey to, than 
 lord over the creatures. How unaccountable is tjic 
 
FABLES OF MSCT. 117 
 
 most part of mankind, that run so much upon their sen 
 sual appetites, and regka the uobler.part c-f irau, the 
 soul ! so that they are \vorse than the beasts that 
 perish. 
 
 FABLE LXXX1V. 
 
 The CHOUGH and SWALLOW. 
 
 THfe Chough and Swallow fell into a 
 warm difpute about ihtir beauty ; and 
 as the K wallow infifted mightily en hers, 
 and claimed the advantage, fray, fay& the 
 ChoUgh, you forget that your beaury de 
 cays uith the fpring, whereas mice lafts all 
 the year round. 
 
 The MORAL, 
 
 Of two things equally good, that is the 
 beft which lafts loigt ft. 
 
 The greatest lie -ssings we can enjcy in this worWart 
 
 ai.ci Icrg i;f c? vsl^h jit st,,i n -.r,re valuable the 
 
 or-cr we e, j y then, ; br.t yet the njor^tU man must 
 
 ) iiil' s,c:L S(r,,ei LT later, ardti^e Jon.-est "ife 
 
 has an ci;d. cx> :.Lat tl.est, ugeti er wal) ricY-es, l,o- 
 
 flcurs, . and pleasurts, 4jr like tlw bwaiiow's beaut 
 
n8 FABLES CT" JESOP. 
 
 \vhich lasts bin for a time. But piety and goodnci 
 are \vhat affords a mai net only satisfaction in this lite, 
 hut also joys diat shall ?idu re for ever in that life 
 \vhich is to come,. Therefore they are fools who value 
 themselves upon die short- lived pleasures of this life, as 
 the Swallow did upon her spring beauty and negleft to 
 Secure to themselves those lasting pleasures which are 
 at Gcd's right hand for evermore. 
 
 FABLE LXXXV. 
 
 A FATHER and his bONS. 
 
 A 
 
 N honeft man, who had the misfortune 
 - L to be the Father of a contentious brood 
 of Children, endeavoured all he could to 
 make them to be more friendly towards one 
 another ; and cne day, having called them 
 before him 5 he brought a bundle of flicks, 
 and defired his children to take it, and try, 
 cne after another, with all their fence, if they 
 could break it : They tried but could not. 
 Well, fays he : unbind it now, and take e- 
 very one a flick of it a part, and fee what ye 
 can do that way: They did as he defired, 
 and with great eafe they fnapt every one of 
 the Aicks to pieces. Jhe Father then told 
 .*hem, Children, yc-ur condition is exsftly 
 
A BLES OF JE S OP. 119 
 
 that of the bundle of flick* ; for if you keep 
 together, you are fafe j but if you divide you 
 are undone* 
 
 7/je MORAL 
 
 Small things increafe by peace and unity, 
 whereas great things decay and dwindle 
 way to nothing by difcord. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 "Division is what has been the ruin of great and p^-* 
 *rful kingdoms, as well as of private families. Was it 
 not division that exposed Christians to the fury of the 
 Turks, Infidels, Barbarians? and every one.knows hovr 
 fatal division is to private families, where all things go 
 to ruin, when one strives against another. And it is a 
 strange thin* that men cannot d:> this with all their 
 knowledge and reason, what the brute beasts do ; for 
 we find, that even the fiercest of them, such as Tygers> 
 Wolves, and Bears, agree among themselves. Nay 
 the very Devils, who though they be Tike so many fire-, 
 brands, setting mankind together by the ears, yet they 
 stern to agree among themselves. For our Saviour says ? 
 <4 If Satan be divided against himself, how can his king* 
 dom stand ?" There is not one precept so often enjoin 
 ed by our Saviour, as unity and brotherly love ; for he 
 makes it the distinguishing mark of his servants ; 
 44 By this siiall all men know (says he) that ye are my 
 - c disciples, if yei Jove one another. 1 * 
 
F ABLE 5 OF JE3OP. 
 FABLE LXXXVL 
 
 The EOX that lost his TAIL* 
 
 A FOX having hi* tail cut off to get 
 out of a trap, when for fhame he 
 thought it death to live, devif. d to perfuade 
 other i i oxes to cut off theirs, under pretence 
 of common benefit, but really to leflen his 
 own difg-ace. The Foxes therefore having 
 convened, he toH them, that their tails were 
 not only a dif^race to them, but an ufelefe 
 burden. One of them who heard him, 
 fmartly anfwered, O brother ! where Is your 
 justice, to advife us ail to do a thing which 
 will be to no body's advantage but your 
 own ? 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 This Fable belongs to them, who under a 
 fli'ew of chanty and kindnefs tc? others, aim 
 at their* own profit and advantage. 
 
 ' 
 
 The most part of mankind are so ^icVed, that tlier 
 never love to be miserable with->uc compiny. ,Wlie:i' 
 they make any false step, oy fi.^ themselves guilty of 
 
FABLES OF JESOP. 121 
 
 iny oversight or mistake, they never think how to come 
 off handsomely, or how to corred their error. No y this 
 is the least of their thoughts : Then their only study 
 is how to deceive others : And to succeed the better in 
 their design, they never fail to use fair words, to tender 
 seemingly wholesome and charitable counsel without 
 being asked, and never 31 ve over till they have persuad 
 ed others to run into the same snare wherein they them-, 
 selves were caught. In this they imitate the devil, wha 
 finding himself miserable by his own doings, was never 
 at rest, until he persuaded our first parents to ruin 
 themselves. What smooth language did he use, how 
 specious the arguments to entice two innocent creatures 
 tobepartakersofhisguilt?lf the sad ttuth were well im 
 printed in our memory, it would prove to us as a bea 
 con to sgamen, and shew us how to escape these dangers 
 and hidden rocks of flattery and pretended charity, 
 Whereupon so many suffer shipwreck. 
 
 FABLE 8 LXXXVIL 
 
 The FOX and HUNTSMEN. 
 FOX that had been hard run, begged 
 
 tage, and thither he went. He was no foon- 
 cr got in, but the Huntfinen were prefently 
 at his heels, and alkedthe cottager, if he did 
 fee a Fox that way? No, truly, faid he, I 
 
F ABLES OF JESOP. 
 
 fawnone , but pointed, at the fame time 
 with his fingei, to the place where he lay. 
 The Huntfmen, it feems* did not underftand 
 his meaning ; but the Fox fpled htm, howei. 
 ver, through a peeping hole he had f und tq| 
 iee what news. So the Foxhunters werxt| 
 away ; and then out deals the Fox withou^ 
 one word ipeaking. Why, how now, lays ';] 
 the man, have you not the iranners to take 
 leave of your hod before you go f Yes, yes* 
 lays the Fox, if you had been as hoaeii oij 
 your fingers as you were of yov?r tongue, I 
 fliould not have gone without bidding yovf 
 farewell 
 
 The MORAL 
 
 Man may difcover things by figns as well 
 as words, and his confcience is as anfwerable 
 for his fingers as his tongue. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 There is no trusting those that say one thing andcfo 
 another, especially if "they follow fair words with foul 
 deeds. It is abase and treacherous thing for one man 
 to betray one, who commits himself to his mercy, espe 
 cially when he lies under all the ties of honour, trust, 
 and faith, to preserve him. There be. many instances 
 
F ABLES OF .2ES O P. 123 
 
 of the Woodman's double dealings in these bad times ; 
 for interest is the only rule whereby men now walk, 
 without regard to God or their neighbour ; and where 
 it intervenes, it discharges all our obligations. And 
 let people pretend to what religion they will, gold and 
 money is now the ,God they adore ; which makes the 
 father betray the son, the mother the daughter, and the 
 servant the naster: So that what our Saviour fc retold maj 
 be applied to these times',. That a man's enemies should 
 be those of his own house ; as that also df St. Paul's, 
 " In the last days perilous times shall come ; lor mep 
 shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, unthankful, 
 truce breakers, without natural affection, traitors, hav 
 ing a ibrm of godllfcess, but denying the power there 
 of." 
 
 FABLE LXXXVltl. 
 
 The FOX and BRAMBLE. 
 
 A FOX that was clofely purfued took to 
 a hedge ; the bufhes gave way, and in 
 catching 'hold of a Bramble to btak his^all, 
 the prickles ran ifito his feet : Upcn this he 
 laid himfelf down and fell a licking of bis 
 paws, with bitter complaints agamft the 
 Bramble, Good words, Reynard, lays the 
 Bramble 5 one would have tl ought you 
 would have known better things, than to 
 " a kindnefs from a common enemy, 
 
124 FABLES OF M S O P. 
 
 and to lay hold on that for relief, which 
 catches at every thing elfe for mifchief. 
 
 ?he MORAL. 
 
 There are fome malicious natures, that 
 place all their delight in doing ill terns ; . 
 and that man is hard put to it. who is firft 
 brought into a diftrefs, and then to come to 
 luch people for relief. 
 
 4 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 Tis a great folly to fly for proteaion to people who 
 naturally delight in mischief. The Fox blaires the 
 Bramble here, but he may thank himself; for how 
 could be expea any good or kindness where there i* 
 Jwne ? It is a fatal thing for men, when God is offend- 
 ed with them, to go to the devil for relief. This is what 
 istroyed Saul, andpioves daily the "destruction of ma- 
 uy. Men commonly, when pursued by an evil con- j 
 science, and pressed hard by the guilt of their sins, run 
 to a tavern, and drown their senses in a debauch, or 
 5 go a whoring or gaming, with a design to stifle 
 these thoughts ; though all these shifts afford no bet- 
 ter comfort than the Bramble did the Fox, rather ad- 
 to, than diminishing these stings, * 
 
FABLES OF M SO P. 125 
 FABLE LXXXIX, 
 
 A MAN and a WOODEN GOD. 
 
 A MAN that had a great veneration for 
 an image he had in his houfe 5 found that 
 the more he prayed to it, the more he went 
 down the hill fliil. This put him into fuch 
 a rage, to pray fo long and fo earntftly, and 
 yet to fo little purpole that at laft he c,afhed 
 the head of it to pieces againft the wall, and 
 out comes a confkkrab e quantity of gold* 
 Why, this it is s fays he to eu'o-e a perverfe 
 and feitfelefs deity that w Hi GO more for 
 blows than for worlhip. 
 
 * the MORAL 
 
 If we ever expeft good from a bad perfon, 
 it is only when he is forced to do iu 
 
 1he REMARK. 
 
 This wooden Image is like many in the world, wh* 
 notwithstanding all the application that people make to 
 them, and their dependence on them, yet never do any- 
 good, either tor prayers or entrtaties, until tiny arc 
 forced to it by necessity. This Image resembles alsb 
 those base and stupidly covetous wretches, w t;; whom 
 neither prayers, tears, or the distressed condition ottfrdr 
 
F AB LE8 OF JE S O P. 
 
 suffering brethren, nay nor the necessities of their ow 
 nearest relations, can pievail to part with their money 
 till they die ; so must netds part "with it when they can 
 no longer keep it; and which often times tails into the 
 hands of those who longed most fci their death, and 
 shewed them least respeft when alive. 
 
 FABLE 
 
 MERCURY and a TRAVELLER. 
 
 ONlE that was entering upon a .long 
 journey > made his prayers to Mercury, 
 witha promife that he ihould go half with 
 him in whatever he found. It was his good 
 fortune to find a bag of dares and almonds j 
 he went to work upon them immediately ; 
 and when he .had eaten the kerrfals, and all 
 that was good of them himfeif. he laid the 
 ftones and (hells upon the altar, and defired 
 Mercury to take notice that he had perform* 
 ed his vows j for here, fays he, are the out- 
 fides of the one, and the infides of the 
 other. 
 
 T&e MORAL. 
 
 5 Tis a vain thing to fuppofe that we can 
 put a trick upon God, and think, that after 
 
F ABLE 3 OF JE BO P. 127 
 
 folemn vows and promofes, we may come 
 offwith fuch flend^r performances. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 Men may talk as if they believed in God, but tbey 
 live as if there were none ; for their very prayers and 
 vows are mockeries , and what they say, they never 
 intend to make good. If men did narrowly search their 
 own hearts, they would find, that more or less, they are 
 iugglers in secret betwixt hearen ai.d their own souls ; 
 many a thousand wicked and false things can they 
 charge themseivrs with, which they hide as the greatest 
 secret in the woiid from their neighbours ; but did they 
 rightly consider, that the almighty God sees them, from 
 Vhom nothing can be hid, and who will judge the secrets 
 of all mer-s hearts in the day of judgment ; I say, did 
 they but seriously consider this, they would do nothing 
 in secret, but what they might expose to the eye of the 
 ole world* , 
 
 FABLE XCI. 
 
 A SICK MAN making large PROMISES. 
 
 POOR fick man, given over by the 
 Fhyficians, betook himfelf to prayer* & 
 vowed to facrifice a thoufan 1 Bullocks to 
 either ^po!lo or ^Iculapius. which of the 
 two would deliver him from his difeafes 
 Ah ! my dear, fays his wife, who was ftaud- 
 
1*8 F ABES OF .ESOP. 
 
 ing by, have a cirewhat'you promife ; for 
 
 where would you have thefe oxen fltould 
 
 you recover ? Wife, fays the fick man, thou 
 
 talkeft like a fool ; have the Gods nothing 
 
 elfe to do, doft thou think, than to leave 
 
 their heavenly bufmefs, and eome to this 
 
 lower world to fue me in an aftion of debt? 
 
 They heard his prayer, however, and reftor- 
 
 ed him for that time to make trial of his 
 
 honefty and good faith. He was no fooner 
 
 up, but for want of living oxen, he offered 
 
 upon an altar fo many pieces ofpafte made 
 
 up in the fhape of oxen. For this mockery 
 
 divine vengeance purfued him ; &he had an 
 
 apparition can^e to him in a dream that bid 
 
 him go and fearch in fuch a place near the 
 
 coaft, and he fhould find a confiderable 
 
 treafure. Away he went, and as he was 
 
 looking for money, he fell into the hands of 
 
 pirates. He begged hard for his liberty, & 
 
 offered a thoufand talents in gold for his ran- 
 
 fom ; but the plates would not truft him, 
 
 and fo carried him away, and fold him af 
 
 'let wards as a flave for as many groats. 
 
FABLES OF .ESOP* 
 Ihe MORAL. 
 
 Many, in their adverfity, promife to God 
 more than they intend to make good ijn 
 their profperity. 
 
 7ht REMARK 
 
 'Tis the practice of the world, for people in distres^ 
 to serve God and mankind alike. For when they fie 
 under any heavy affliction, and find they have need of 
 another's help, how do they vow and promise, and yet 
 are conscious to themselves, that they neither intend or 
 are able to make any one article good ? What a rash 
 & knavish promise was it in this poot fellow, who could 
 pot but know that he was in no case able to perform his 
 Vow ? So his design could be nothing else but to put 
 ja triclc upon God, if he could : The foolish attempt* 
 jpf men, who while they ihink to cheat God, only cheat 
 themselves. What the apostle says is very applicable 
 jin this case, " Be not deceived, for God will not be mock- 
 :ed ; ior " as *ou sowliere, so shall ye reap hereafter.* 
 And so we sec vengeance overtook this wretch at last* 
 
 FABLE XCII. 
 
 An APE and a FOX. 
 
 UPON the death of the Lion, the beads 
 met incouncil to choofe a King : Se 
 eral put in for it j but one wanted brain$ f 
 
 vera put n 
 
FABLES OP 2ESOP. 
 
 another ftrensjth, and a third ftature, or 
 fomething elfe : At lafl the Buffoon Aps, 
 with his grimaces, carried it from the whole, 
 by I do not know how many voices The 
 Foxbeing one of the pretenders, was not well 
 pleafed to fee the choice go againfl him, and 
 prefently whifpered the new King in the ear, 
 that he couid do him a piece of fecret fer- 
 vice : Sir, fays he, I have difcovered fome 
 hidden treafare yonder ; but feeing it is a. 
 right belongs to your Majeity, I have no-t 
 thing to do with it. Ho he carried the *pej 
 to take poffeffion ; and what (hou'd th|| 
 treafure be,- but a bait in a ditch ? r lhe .pe 
 lays his hand upon it, ard the trap fprings^ 
 and catches him by the finger. 6h! thouj 
 perfidious wretch, cries the ^pe ! ah ! thott) 
 filly Prince, rat her, replies the Fox ; them a 
 governor of others, with a vengeance, that 
 hath not wit enough to look to your owa 
 fingers ! 
 
 ^ he MORAL 
 
 *Tis a great unhappinefs to people, to hare 
 fach a governor as can neither take care of 
 
F ABLE S OF ^ES O P. 
 
 them, nor of himfelf, by diftinguifhing be 
 tween bad and good counfellors. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 'Tis the greatest blessing of a kingdom to have * 
 Vise and prudent Prince ; neither can there be a grea 
 ter sign of the divine favour towards it ; " Happy are 
 the people (says the Queen of Shtbato Solomon) that 
 hear thy wisdom ; because the Lord loved Israel, 
 -therefore made he thee King to do judgment and jus 
 tice." And indeed, no kingdom was so flourishing a$ 
 that cf Israel, under the reign of the wisest of Kings. 
 But how miserable and distracted was' it, when such a 
 weak Prince as his son Rehoboam reigned, who forsook 
 the counsel of the old men who stocd before his father 
 Solomon, and followed the counsel of, the young men. 
 And such will be the fate of all nations that have weak. 
 Kings, and cunning and designing counsellors, 
 
 FABLE XCIlC 
 
 A LION in LOVE. 
 
 A LION was in love with a country-, 
 lafs. and defired her father's content 
 to have her in marriage. The anfwer he 
 gave was churlifh enough: He would ne 
 ver agree to it, he faid, upon any terms, to 
 marry his daughter to a bead, ^ I he i ion 
 gave him a very four look, which brought 
 
132 FABLES OF ^E S O P. 
 
 the fellow, upon fccond thought, to /hike 
 up a bargain with him, upon thcfe concli- 
 lions, that his teeth fliould be drawn, and his 
 nails pared ; thefe were things, he faid, that 
 the fcolifh girl was terribly afraid of. The 
 Lion fends immediately for a furgeon to do 
 the work j and as foon as the operation was 
 orcr, he goes and challenges her father up. 
 on his promife. The countryman feeing the 
 Lion difarmed, plucked up a good heart, & 
 with a fwinging cudgel fo ordered the mat- 
 ter, that he broke off the match. 
 
 7 be MORAL 
 
 What will not love make a body do ! 
 It confults neither life, fortune, nor reputa- 
 don ; but fecrifices all that can be dear to 
 men of fenfe and honour, to an extravagant 
 paffion. 
 
 ?he REMARK^ 
 
 What strange alteration does this passion make on 
 the minds of men ? Theie is nothing so fierce or savage, 
 fcut love \vill soften it : Nothing so sharp sighted in 
 other matters, but it makes it stupid and blind. V, hat 
 a vast number of examples do all ages furnish us with of 
 Jbiskind I The strongtst men both of sacred and pro- 
 
FABLES OF MS OP. 133 
 
 fane history, vrere slaves to it : All the wisdom of Solo 
 mon could not resist it, who, to his sad experience, said 
 *' That love \vas strong as death ; that many water* 
 could npt quench love, neither could the floods drow 
 it." And how often does he caution men to take care 
 of this, and advises them to think seriously upon the 
 laws of God, as the only antidote against it ; for the 
 commandment, says he, i Is a lamp, and the law is a 
 light, to keep thee from the evil woman, from toe 
 flattery of a strange woman ; lor by means of a whor- 
 Ssh woman a man is brought to a piece of breaal " 
 We have sad objects every day in our view, who are 
 'convincing proofs of the dismal consequences of this 
 blind and bewitching passion. 
 
 FABLE XCIV. 
 
 Two COCKS Fighting. 
 
 nnWO Cock* fought a duel for the mat. 
 J[ tery of a dunghill. He that wa$ 
 worded, Hunk away into a corner, and hid 
 himfelf : The other took his flight up to the 
 top of a houfe, and there, with crowing and 
 clapping his wings, makes a proclamation 
 of his vi&ory/ ^n E$gle made a flop at 
 him in the middle of his gallantry, and car 
 rying the conqueror away with him, his ri 
 val took poffeffion of the dunghill they con 
 tended for, and had all hit miftrdfes 
 Jetf again. 
 
134 FABLES OF .ESO P. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 This Fable (hews, that he who is foer 
 proud in profperity, often falls headlong in 
 to adverlity* 
 
 The REMARK* 
 
 Solomon observes very truly, that pride goeth before 
 destruction. And how many instances have we of such 
 \vhose pride and ambition were the fore-runners of their 
 falU What a short time was there betwixt Raman be 
 ing the greatest favorite at court, and his being hanged 
 on the gallows he had prepared for another ? And it is 
 no wonder that proud men should meet with such falls, 
 when they have such a strong and mighty enemy to 
 grapple with : For the apostle assures us a " That God 
 rcsisteth the proud." It fares often with the greatest 
 monarchs, as with these Cocks ; he that is vidorious 
 to day, may he made a slave to-morrow* "With \vhat 
 proud and blasphemous words did the king of byria in 
 sult over the Israelites ? but we sec to what a low p^ss 
 he was brought by the destroying hand of God. Bel- 
 shpzzar in the midst of his glory and pomp, had the 
 mortification to see, by a hand- writing on the wall, 
 himself und his kingdom condemned into the hands pt" 
 the Persians. 
 
 FABLE xcv. 
 
 A League betwixt the WOLVES and SHEEP, 
 
 A 
 
 WAR once broke out between the 
 Wolves and Sheep, wherein the S 
 
FABLES OF /SSOP. 
 
 had for the mofl part the better being, 
 affifted by the Dogs, with whom they had 
 made an alliance. ! he Wolves taking this 
 into cenfideratiori, fent embafladors to the 
 Sheep with propofaU of peace. The Sheep 
 having heard the propofals, by which they 
 were to have the Wolves whelps delivered 
 up to them for th?ir fecurity, as the Wolves 
 were to have the Dogs for theirs delivered 
 up to them; a peace was immediately patch* 
 ^d up, Some time after as the Iheep were 
 feeding, as they thought, very fecurely, be- 
 caufe of the late agreement, the Wolves 
 whelps fell a howling; whereupon the Wolves, 
 came prefently ruihing in, complaining loud 
 that the (heep had broke the peace, and 
 were ufing their hoftages with cruelty. The 
 {heep denied the charge, but to little or no 
 purpofe ; for the Wolves fell upon them, 
 and eafily deftrcyed them, knowing that they 
 had no more Dogs to ft and by them. 
 
 7 be MORAL 
 
 f Tis the greatefl folly and madnefs imagi 
 nable, to think true and fincere friendfliip 
 can be fettltd where nature herfelf has placed 
 
135 F ABLES o* JESOP. 
 
 an unalterable averfion and difagreemem. 
 A bloody and expenfive war does not half 
 fo much harm to a nation, as a foolifh and 
 ill-grounded peace. 
 
 The REMARK. 
 
 Though we are advised in scripture to be harmless as 
 doves, yet we arc not less warned to be prudent as 
 serpents. No nation ought tamely to listen to the 
 v/heedling proposals of an enemy, who prefers an a- 
 greemeiu of a suspension and cessation of arms, only to 
 gain time or advantage, either to save himself when he 
 finds he is too hard pin to it by his opposers ; or to work 
 their ruin, by enticing them to part with their surest 
 attics and defender-*, who by their assistance have obli 
 ged him to change his method, and lay aside his open 
 force, and have recourse to a seeming agreement, which 
 never lasts longer than he can break it with convenience. 
 Not only nations, but private persons also, ought ak 
 ways to be upon their guard, not to expose themselves- 
 to the cunning and cruelty of self-designing neighbours, ' 
 ivho unfair mearrs when they find the foul will not do, 
 to ruin those they find in the way to hinder their mis 
 chievous and unwarrantable designs. And as we are 
 obliged to be upon our guard against our temporal 
 enemies, we are much more against our spiritual ones, 
 who are worse than the Wolves here mentioned in the 
 Fable ; for when they cannot, by open force get any. ad- 
 vantage over BS, .they presently have recourse to 
 Bmoothei terms, and even put on Sheep's clothing, that 
 they may the more~coiwmently devour the flock. 
 
FABLES 
 
 IN 
 
 P R O S E AND V E R S E. 
 
 FABLE XCVL 
 
 The MONKEY the CAT, and the. CHESNUTS, 
 
 A MONKEY obferving his Mafter to 
 lay fome Chefnuts iri the fire to roaft, 
 he was very defirous to tafte of them, but 
 was likewife much afraid of burning his fin 
 gers, fo that though he often attempted to 
 take them out, yet he was as often difcoura- 
 ged by the heat of the >fire ; whereupon he 
 was a long time contriving with himfelf, 
 how to attain his end ; at length he per 
 ceived a young Kitling lie fleeping by the 
 fire, whereupon he prefently refolves that 
 Pufs lhall be his inftrument to gain his pur 
 8 
 
138 FABLES 
 
 pofe : and catching her up in his arms not> 
 withftanding her (quailing, and all the re- 
 fiftance fhe could make, yet Pug being (Iron- 
 ger, takes her forefoot in hi* hmd and 
 thrufting it into the fire, gets out the Ohefr 
 nuts, which he with much greedinefi de 
 vours* The poor cat had her foot miferably 
 burnt, and a(ks him weeping, why he would 
 ufe her fo crueliy without any provocation 
 given him: the iy'onkey knewhe had wrong* 
 ed her^ and could fay little in his own vindi 
 cation, yet willing to make a lame defence 
 rather than none impudently replies ; I 
 muft confefs the jtft was fomewhai fevere, 
 but yet it is" not fo much as you juftly de- 
 ferve to fuffer. confidering tae wicked, floth- 
 ful, and flcepy life that you lead. 
 
 J'be MORAL. 
 
 Some men care not what abufes they put 
 upon others, nor what troubles and danger 
 they bring them into, fo they can but com*- 
 pals their own ends and purpofes ; and how 
 many are made ufe of to bring about the 
 defigns and contrivances of ill: men, who 
 when their turn is fervedj are fo far froj 
 
IN PROSE AVD VERSE. 
 
 gratifying them, that they feoff and laugh at 
 th^ir eafinefs and folly. 
 
 FABLE XCVI. 
 The MONKEY, the CAT, the CHESNUTS. 
 
 A MONKEY frw bis Matter rosfl, 
 Soms Che (huts by the fire, 
 A;,d Pug hri^g very liquorife 
 To u8* then) did dttire ; 
 
 But was afraid to burn Ivrnftlf, 
 
 Neither could he cot'itrive 
 Which way fie without truuble might 
 
 Tu his delign arrive- 
 
 Bwt feeing Pufs lye by the fire, 
 
 He was relel^'d that fhe 
 'I he p<3 : u\ nd dana^r fhould endure 
 
 His inftrumeiM iu be. 
 
 catching her into hi$ 
 He with herfcot doth get 
 The rosiird Chefi uts, v\ hich he 
 jVicil gretuily elid cat, 
 
 The Cat's foot is feverdy burnt, 
 
 Who weeping with the pain, 
 Aga'flt the iVioi k^y's mK.liy 
 
140 FABLES 
 
 Quoth fbf , why haft thou us'd me thus, 
 What mifchief have 1 wrought 
 
 To thee or thine, that thou h Jt now 
 This mifcry on me brought. 
 
 Pug knew that he had wronged her, 
 
 And little had to plead 
 In vindication of himfelf 
 
 For this ir jurious deed : 
 
 You Ike a villain he replies, 
 You need not cry and roar, 
 
 Since for your flothful vrcked life, 
 You ought to fufFc'r more. 
 
 For you and all your kindred to 
 IHoft idly fpend your time ; 
 
 fYea, but to wet your feet forfooth, 
 You think a grievous crime. 
 
 For thefe and other faults, whereof 
 
 I an account could give, 
 Jf you but your juft merits had 
 
 You don't deierve to live. 
 
 The MORAL. 
 
 Ill men do very feldom mind 
 What hszards cthersrun, 
 On their behalf, fo that they cnn 
 : But have their bcfinefs done* 
 
IN PROSE AKD VERSE. 14* 
 FABLE -XCV-IL 
 
 The Young MOUSE, the COCK, and the CAT, 
 
 A YOUNG Moufeand an only fon, had 
 been fo carefully bred up by his mother, 
 that flie would never permit him to go be 
 yond the mouth of h- r hole. But growing 
 tip, the young creature had a defire to look 
 abroad into the world, which his mother 
 was very fearful he fhould do ; alas child, 
 faid fhe, there is fo much treachery abroad, 
 that if you once go out of my %ht, I never 
 exped to fee you again , . ear mother, 
 qucth he, fear nothing, I will only go and 
 look through the crevice of the door, and 
 come back inltantly ; his importunity pre 
 vailed, and fb he goes intp the next room, 
 and peeps into the yard, where he faw a 
 Cat walk very demurely by the door, who 
 laid herfeU down in the warm fun ; the 
 young ^oul'e much wondred at her gravily, 
 and was extremely taken with her fliape and 
 fober carriage; foon after a Cock comes by 
 very brifkly, who clapping his wings fet up 
 a ioud crow, whereat our ycung traveller 
 was fo affrighted, that all pale and trem- 
 
FABLES 
 
 bling, he runs back to his irother, who glad 
 cf his return, hugged him tenderly, demandT 
 ing the caufeof his great furprize and fright; 
 ah mother quoth he, I faw a dreadful crea 
 ture with a red piece of fleih on his head like 
 a crown, and the like under his chin, and 
 horns on his heels, who with things like 
 arms, beating his fides, made fuch a horri 
 ble noife, as almcft (cared me out of my 
 wits, juft when I was admiring a very fine 
 creature, of fo modcft a look, and fo cleanly 
 and neat, lying in the fun, that I hardly 
 could forbear running to kifs and hug her ; 
 the old Mouft perceiving his miftake, my 
 dear, fays (he, that proud ftrutting thing will 
 never hurt thee, but be fure to avoid that 
 other modeft one .who will certainly be the 
 deaifa of thee with the firft opportunity. 
 
 ^ he MORAL 
 
 Vv r e muft not always judge of men by 
 their looks and carriage, neither aie feme 
 roaring fparks fo much to be dreaded ar 
 fome demure and fober knaves. 
 
JN PROSE AND VERSE. 143 
 FABLE XCVIL 
 
 the Young MOUSE, ths COCK, and the CAT. 
 
 A YOUNG Moufe and an only fan. 
 With crodfFDefs sndcare, 
 Was by his mother bred, who of 
 His life flood in much f ear* 
 
 And kept him clofe within her hole 
 
 Till grown, who then doth creep 
 Into the H( joining room where through 
 
 A crevice he duth peep* 
 
 And in the yard he there efpies, 
 
 A Cat dt mure snd grave. 
 Wrh whom he wifti stftat he coulJ 
 
 But fome acq^mnlance have* 
 
 Soon after he ohferv^s a Cock, 
 
 That hy the door doth go, 
 Who vvith his wings did clap his fides^ 
 
 And cheerfully did crow. 
 
 At which the Moufe was almoft fcar'dp 
 
 Our cf his wics, and run 
 Peft-hafte unto hfs mother, who 
 
 With joy receives her fon. 
 
FABLES 
 
 emanng what the reafon was 
 Of his fo great sffright ; 
 Oh mother, I hwe teen, qu^th he, 
 A very dreadful fight* 
 
 A Manfter with a crbvfrn on's head, 
 And horn'J heels marched by, 
 
 Who with his arms clapping his fides, 
 Sent forth a hideous cry. 
 
 Whereat I wasfurpriz'J, being then 
 
 Admiring of a creature* 
 Sober and mod? ft in her look, 
 
 And of a handfome feature. 
 
 With whom 1 was refolv'd to make 
 
 A league of amity, 
 The mother ft idirg by his talk, 
 
 Her fon's fimplicity. 
 
 She tells him from that ftruiting thing 
 
 He ned no danger fear, 
 But for his lite, he never fh^uld 
 
 Thai fcricus one curce near. 
 
 7 he MORAL 
 
 Bymod^ft looks we fcarcc can jurfge, 
 
 What rtaliy men are, 
 3or rhe demure arc eft more falfe, 
 
 Than huffing (parks by far* 
 
IN PROSE AND VERSE. 145 
 FABLE XCVIIL 
 
 The WOLF and the MARE- 
 
 THE Fox and Wolf travelling together 
 they met with a Mare which had a 
 Foal by her fide, that was very fat and 
 fmooth, the Wolf was almoft farnifh'd with 
 hunger, and defired his coufm Reynard to 
 go and afk the Mare what {he would take 
 for her celt ; truly fays the Mare, I am in* 
 great want of money, and would willingly 
 fell him ; and what do you value him at, , 
 quoth the Fox ? Why, brother, fays fhe, the 
 price is written in my hinder foot, and if 
 you pleafe you may read it ; excufe me, 
 Brother, cries the Fox, for I cannot regd, 
 neither do 1 defire to buy your foal for my- 
 felf, but am only fent as a meffenger from the 
 Wolf, who has a great mind tp him j well, 
 faid the Mare, let him come himfelf, and no 
 doubt but we fhatl bargain : f he Fox went 
 to the Wolf, and carried this anfwer, afeiag 
 him if he could read writing; read, quorhi 
 he, do you doubt it ? Let me tell the coufin, 
 I can read both Latin, French, Dutch and 
 Englifh ; I have ftudhd at the univerfity, 
 and difputed with feveral do&ors.; I have 
 feeu many famous plays, and heard di 
 
 T 
 
FABLES 
 
 trials in courts of judicature ; I have 
 my degrees in the law, and there is no 
 writing but I can readily urulerftand ; well 
 come on then quoth the , 4 ox, and read the 
 v&lue of the colt in the Mare's hinder foot * 
 Away he goes and defires to re id the price, 
 fhe lifts up her foot, which had a ftrong 
 iron fhoe newly put ou with many fharp 
 headed nails ; and while the Wolf was eat- 
 neft to read the writing, jthe ftruck him fo 
 full in the forehead, that he fell over and 
 oven and lay a long while for dead, alt 
 bloody and forely wounded, while the 
 Mare went trotting away with her coh, and 
 laughing at his folly anl ftupidity, At 
 length recovering, Coufin Reynard, quoth 
 he, what a roguiih trick has this jide ferved 
 me ? for thinking the nails had been letters, 
 while I was reading them, (he hit me fa 
 ftrongly on the face, that I fcar my fkull is 
 broken. Alas Coufin, quoth the tfox, I 
 find the proverb true in you, That the grea- 
 teft fcholars are not alwas the wifeft men. 
 
 MORAL 
 
 Thofe that pretend to the moft learning, 
 and are much conceited of their own know 
 ledge, do many times fall inta great misfor- 
 
IN PROSE A*D VERSE. 147 
 
 tunes, and are made a fcornof by thofe that 
 bring them ijito mifchief. 
 
 FAB,LE XCVIIL 
 The WOLF and the MARE. 
 
 npHE Fox and Wolf together walked 
 
 JL Along the PVreft, where 
 1 hey law a tat briflc wanton colt, 
 W hich fock'd a lufty fnsi;e. 
 
 The Wolf was almoft brv*d, arjd fa 
 
 He Reynard dcesirmeat 
 To sfk the price of him, that he 
 
 Might fcfnething have to, eat* 
 
 The Fox goes to the Mare, and ^fifcs. 
 
 If (he her FoM will fell, 
 And if fhe willing be to trade, 
 
 The lowcit price co tell. 
 
 The Mare cries, I will fell him if 
 
 I can a chapman find, 
 And for the price 'tis plainly writ, 
 
 Upon my foot behind. 
 
 ,>'?-^ 
 lie knowing the Mart's (ubtility, 
 
 Pretends he could not read, " 
 
 And fo defncus to be excufe'd, 
 
 Declaring that indeed. 
 
 It was not for himfelf that he 
 Did ccmt the Culs to buy, 
 
i 4 8 FABLES 
 
 But at his uncle Wolf's re queft 
 Who was but juft bard by. 
 
 Then let him come nimftlf, quoth (be, 
 
 That he his price m^y fee, ^ 
 And if he my prcpolals like, 
 
 We quickly thall agree- 
 
 The Fox this anfwer carried, 
 
 Which much the bead amaz'd, 
 That they fhould thirk him luch sn Oaf, 
 
 He wonderfully gazM 
 
 Read, quoth the Wolf, cuz, doubt not that 
 
 I all my time have fpent 
 In learning, and in all known tongues 
 
 I am mod excellent* 
 
 He then geg to the Mare, who had 
 
 Been newly /hod, to read 
 PThe nails which he thought words; but whilft 
 
 Heboldethclofelm head, 
 
 The treacherous Mare upon the ikull, 
 
 Gave him fo fmart a blow, 
 As the poor WoH had almoft kiH'd, 
 
 And backward did him throw. 
 
 The Fox then cries, Uncle, I find 
 
 The ancient prevefb true 
 Great fchclars are not always wiff, 
 ^ As now 'tis fcen by you* 
 
.ax PROSE AND VERSE. -14* 
 7 he MORAL. 
 
 Tbrfe that pretend ro undcrftand 
 
 More than thty trcly k-ow, 
 Are oft 2-busM -and mtdcM by them 
 
 That fetfc. tfceflr overthrow. 
 
 F A B L E XCIX* 
 The W-OLiF, the FCX, apd-ch* 8 APES, 
 WOLF in the midft of winter was 
 
 ready to die for want, but happened to 
 
 meet a Fox, whom he oblerved to be fat, 
 and in good eafe^ he afked him how he 
 came to Jive fo well in that hard feafon ; 
 the Fox (hewed him where the #pe and 
 her young 'ay in the den, faying had it not 
 been fcr that charitabie creature, I fhouid 
 have wanted as much as you but there 1 
 have oft been invited and found kind enter- 
 tairment, witrief- the fragments of my fup- 
 |>er Jaft night, and therewith gave the Wolf 
 feme remains of his meat, which -he-eat with 
 greedinefs, defiring the F< x to tell him how 
 he might get in tavour with the Ape, I hat 
 -is not difficult, quoth he c>n!y by draining 
 ycurfelf to flattery and lying; if that be all 
 quoth the VJolf, I can foon prafticeit, and 
 thereupon runs with ail fpced to the 
 
150 FABLES 
 
 but was no fooner in e're he cryM cut, Ah 
 foh ! what a naily lliuk is here ; and then 
 feeirg the old i*pe hugging her deformed 
 young ones ; furely. quoth he, in ail my life 
 I never faw fuch ugly creatures as thefe ; 
 whereat the Apes being inraged, they all 
 fell upon him together, one biting him by 
 the nofe, another by the neck, and the relt 
 in other places, fo that he was forced to run 
 out with ail fpeed to fave his life j and find 
 ing the Foxj related his misfortune to him : 
 You are well enough fervid, qucth he, 
 finceyou forget my council, and fpoke truth 
 when you fhculd haTe told lies ; Do you 
 think I had loft my fmelling and eye- fight ? 
 and yet I told the Ape that her houfe was 
 perfumed with fweet wood, and that I was 
 mightily plcafed to fee fuch a beautiful lady 
 have fuch a fine off fpring of ycung ojies to 
 keep up the family ; upon which the beft ia 
 the houfe was fet before me, but during fyp- 
 per 1 was very careful not to fpeak a word 
 of truthj and hereby I was treated fo gallant- 
 ]y, or eife I might have ftarved as you are 
 like to do e'er ycu have any relief from her* 
 
 *lhe MORAL. 
 
 Moft men are too much pleafed with flat 
 tery, and nothing is more difobliging than 
 
IN PROSE ANI> VERSE. 151 
 
 to tell them thVir faults, or impartially to 
 eenfure their a&ions. 
 
 FABLE XCIX. 
 The WOLF, the FOX, and the APES. 
 
 A WOLF in winter alma ft ftarv'd, 
 vVho nothing had to eat, 
 Neither could poflibly contrive 
 Provifion how to get* 
 
 R-pper/d ro meet a Fox who tookM 
 
 Far, and plump, and well, 
 That the Wolf cries, I prithee cux 
 
 Butbs fo kind, co tell 
 
 How thondoft thus maintain thyfelf, 
 
 Aod art in (uch g )od plight ; 
 Ah, quoth th: Fox, the Ape's my friend, 
 
 Who oft doth nra invite. 
 
 Into his den, who nobly lives, 
 
 And where I need not fear, 
 To meet with Turkies, Geefe, and Hens,' 
 
 And other dainty cheer* 
 
 But Oys the Wolf, can you tell how. 
 
 1 i*y her favour get, 
 And thereby be partaker of 
 
 This plenteous (lore of meat { 
 
 Yes, uncle, ftys the Fox, if you 
 Can lye and flatter well, 
 
FABLES 
 
 But have a care what e'er you dj, 
 The truth you nevtr tell* 
 
 That's quickly learnt, quoth he, and then 
 
 Into the rlen he g'jes, 
 And cries, Foh, what a natty ftink 
 
 Is ihi* offends my nofe. 
 
 Than feeing how the young Apes were 
 
 Embraced by the? old, 
 Thry an? the ugli*ft things, quath he, 
 
 That e'er I did behold* 
 
 The cubs enrag'd upon him fell, 
 
 And wounded him ail o'er, 
 So that to fave his fife, with fpeed, 
 
 He run our of the door. 
 
 meeting with the Fox, he does- 
 His fad misfortune tell, 
 Who cry'd, you tor your folly do 
 Deferve it very well- 
 
 What do you thi; k I cnuU n* fee, 
 And fmcll as well as you > 
 
 Yet I the old one Ltdy call'd, 
 And praised the young ocies,roo 
 
 7 be MORAL 
 
 men love fl ttery, and (caret 
 Can ever truly love, 
 bM" thit plinly of their 
 Or vices tbcai reprove* 
 
IN PROSE AND VERSE. 153 
 FABLE C. 
 
 Th APE turned CARPENTER. 
 
 AN unlucky Ape fitting oppofite to a Car 
 penter's yard, to >k much notice how 
 he wrought and was mightily defrous to 
 imitate him difcourfmg thus with himfelf ; 
 certainly 1 could eafily be matter of this 
 trade without feven years flavery to learn it,* 
 as no noubt this dull fellow hath had ; for i" 
 am of opinion that it is only for want of 
 ps adice, or elfe we \pes could foon outfhine 
 men in all arts and fciences ; and I remem 
 ber a notable king in .'ndia having taken fe- 
 veral of my e^der brethren, called baboons, 
 prisoners, he was relblved to put them to 
 plough and fow, and to make foldiers of 
 them, alledging that they would not fpeak, 
 becaufe they wf re idle and urtwillhig to 
 work ; well, I have a great inclination to 
 try my (kill, but I hope, I fhall have better 
 fortune than a nephew of mine, who Hung 
 in a houfe over againfl a ( obler, and ottea 
 obferving how he cut his leather to p^ces 
 to foal his (hoes, when rhe obler was ab- 
 e n t, be leaps into his 1-talU and drives to 
 mi tate him, who returning and finding his 
 
1 5 4 FABLES 
 
 leather all mangled and Ipoiled, refolved to 
 be revenged ; and one day when he faw my 
 coufm Pug look earneftly at him, he took 
 up his , (harp cutting knife, and drew it over 
 hi$ throat divers times, anl then goinsj a- 
 way, my filly kinfman (kipped inftantly into 
 hisihop, and taking his knife, thinking to 
 do the fame, he cut his o*vn throat there* 
 with and died, hut Til take more care ; and 
 To getting into the Caroeater's y^rd he be* 
 gan to handle his tools, and to fpUt wood 
 therewith; but on a fudden his foot was 
 catch'd in a deft-piece of board, and heldfo 
 faft, that he could not ftir, but crying out, 
 the Carpenter came, and perceiving his fjlly, 
 with many feoffs and blows diimift hinr 
 This, comes of it quoth the Ape to be over 
 conceited of'oae*s own wit, but now I find 
 it is not fo eafy to be a workman as I at firft 
 imagined 4 
 
 the MORAL 
 
 Some perfons have fo great an opinion of 
 their ownmgenuity, as to imagine they can 
 foon attain to the mod .curious inventions j 
 but upon trial, there appears more difficulty 
 and danger than they could poffibly forefee. 
 
IN PROSE **D VERSE. 
 
 FAB L E CL 
 
 The DRONE and the SPIDER. 
 
 IN IMITATION OF MR. GAY. 
 
 AS, banifh'd frotnth* induftrious hive, 
 A Drone, deipairing now to live, 
 TravertM with mournful hum the air, 
 He fell into a Spider's fnare. 
 IB hopes to break the fl:nder chain, 
 His wings he fhook, buc fhotk in vain : 
 The moie he flrcve, entangled more, 
 He gave the fruitless labour o'er. 
 
 Ah, inoft unhappy Drone, he cry'd j 
 The ipeans ot life wre firft deny'd 5 
 The druel honcy-fnaking weal 
 Drove me all helplefs from the cell 3 , 
 And now, of libeny bereft, 
 I'm to'a Spider'^ mercy lei t! 
 But all muft die, or foon or late ;** 
 With patience I fubniit to fate. 
 
 The Spider lurVd unheeded by, 
 And heard the fad folilcquy j 
 Then ruftiingon his Capiive, faid 
 Shall fbjedfc cowards patience .plead ? 
 Had that firm virtue fteel'd your bread, 
 With freedom .you t a i yet been bleit 
 W here Widuftry preferment meets, 
 Had (har'd the toil, and (bar'd ihe iweets. 
 
*56 FABLES 
 
 Obferve this web What happy art. 
 The fabrick (hews in every parr I 
 View Wfll the texture and ddigo; 
 What (ilk was ever hah fa fine I 
 With what ex^dnefs toodecre^fe 
 The circles regularly lefsj 
 Thro' each the parting rays extend, 
 And all the curious frame iufpend. 
 
 This common centre is my throne; 
 The mechaniim all my own : 
 IVIyfelf from out thefe bowels drew 
 The fubtlc film, and fpun the clue. 
 How different is your cafe and mine } 
 Defpis'd, exploded, yeu repine ; 
 While I, difdaining to depend, 
 Findinmyfelf a "real friend. 
 
 He fpoke, the Drone, his lawful prize, 
 Unfit to live, unpity'd dies. 
 
 FABLE CIL 
 PLUTUS, CUPID, AND THE FARMER, BY 
 
 THE LATE ENSIGN, JOHN WILCOCKS, 
 
 OF THE BRITISH ARMY. 
 
 THE moon was bright, the fides ferene, 
 Aud riot a cloud was to be feen, 
 Hii/h'd were the wirds, and not a breeze 
 ^J/as beard tu whifper thru ; che trees; 
 
IN PRCSE AW> VERSE. 157 
 
 A deep and folcmn filence rcign'd, 
 The bird of night alone complained, 
 The waves in melancholy roar, 
 Rolled heaving to the filent ilhorc : 
 When in a fblitary wood. 
 Near which a lonely couage flood, 
 The peaceful dwelling of a fwain, 
 Whofe foul was undifturb'd by gain, 
 The god of riches, and of love, 
 Defcendirg frorc the courts of Jove, 
 Together met, beneath an oak, 
 When thus, the ggd of riches (poke. 
 
 Whence is it boy, that with thy dart, 
 Thru canfterflunecacb mortal toeart, 
 Knciie in Jove a foft defire, 
 And let the god of war on fire ! 
 All own the mighty pow'r of love, 
 On earth below, in beav'n above, 
 Whilft m rt^ls only wor/h ; p me, 
 Immortals huiwDly bow to ihee, 
 E'en birds a: d beai St and fiih d 
 Avd men alont my treaiurr priz- 
 Nrr wculd I Cupid thus complain, 
 If I oVr man cuuld wholiy reign: 
 But i- ft the human (cul I fiod, 
 lo wiidcm more thangc.ld ir.clin'd ; 
 Not very oft I muftcuufcfi, 
 But yet my i fluaite Iccms the Ids. 
 
 A!-?s! with me, it is the ftroe, 
 The 4(e i feldom can ei^uje ; 
 
I5 8 FABLES 
 
 Cupid replies, And oft my dart, 
 Is ufelefs thrown againft their heart : 
 In yon lone cottage lives a fwa t), 
 Whom long I've fought to wound in vain j 
 He b ffles my mud wily arts, 
 Is proof againfi my -keened darts ; 
 Unmoved would view e^n Sylvia's charms, 
 Nor wifti to cUfp feer m his arms* 
 Thisfwain when evening (hades pervade, 
 And murky t * ilight fills the glade, 
 When finifhM in his rural toil, 
 O'er bocks confume* the m ; d night git. 
 In borks alone he hcpcs to find, ' 
 Inftrii6tions for the humankind; 
 H does my a&moft po^'r defy, 
 Do you the force ot riches try* 
 
 Agreed fays Plutas, Para content, 
 And (trait way to the cottage we*H : 
 Whiltt Cupid to the town departs 
 On beaux and belles to try his darts. 
 
 The fcrpherd in his homely cot t, 
 Juft o'er the fire had -htiug his pot, 
 And feated in his elbow chair, 
 Urknown to envy or to care. 
 But with fweet peace arid quiet bleft, 
 Wis fond'lmg oi his fav'rite goeft, 
 Histaithful d'gwho us ? d to keep, 
 Or find when left, a ftraggling 
 And purring in the .cecneriat, 
 Gravely demure his ged cat. 
 
IN PROSE AND VERSE. 159 
 
 Whilft thus employed as off b a fore, 
 The God arrives and taps the door ; 
 Loud bark'J the dog, *h* fbepherd cries, 
 Whofe there? A friend, the god replies* 
 
 Friendship profeft, an't worth a pity 
 He fys, but let his godfliip in* 
 
 When, thus our .god the fwain addrefc'd, 
 I come this night to be thy gu <t : 
 You're welcome friend; com* pray fit down, 
 Is i here aught ftrarigt- ? What news in town ? 
 Be not furpris'd, bur uVpherd know, 
 That Pm th? g 0< ^j w ho wealth b*ftow, 
 Tfoo be sdvis'd, my cbunctl take; 
 Hafte to the town, your fortune make ! 
 Ge-t rich my friend, yju*il find in treafure, 
 C fii^s rhetrucft worldly plealure ; 
 1*11 crown your wifh>s w-th luccels^ 
 And all your undcrtak'u g>-blds 
 
 But will you give me pecice of mind? 
 Or (hall I fweet contentment find? 
 
 Contentmrnt! pohr! Ms pa ul try ftuff, 
 Gr r riches, mar, and (hat's enough 1 
 No riches breed a tboufaod fears, 
 A thmiiand woes, a theufandcaivs, 
 WhiHl in this lor><?!y fare retreat, 
 Iliv* fecure, roy jay's coropleat, 
 I alk no mdre from htsv*,- (ban 
 My bocks afford me real bills, 
 
160 FABLES 
 
 In them I read and knew mankind, 
 They both inftruft and oleafe the mind, 
 I've all I afk; rhusfpi.ke the f Aral n 
 And 'twould be impious to complain, 
 Wifdom frnll ever b* rny guide, 
 O'er all my aftions (hall prelide, 
 What ever w'fdom Oys i$ right, 
 In that alone I'll tuke dtlighu 
 
 The angry god aftonifli'd henrd, 
 JFrown'd on the fwain and difappearM. 
 
 FABLE CHI. 
 
 THE FOP, THE COCK, AND THE DIAMOND* 
 BY MR- H. GREVILLE. 
 
 CEASE, erring mao, nor nature blame, 
 >ris not from her thy misVy came ; 
 H i wants are few, and thofe we fiad 
 Suftain the blift of human kind, 
 ThryVe all fupply ? d with eafe, and hence 
 Firlt flows tht nwner j ys uf feufe : 
 Thc-ir aim yet ncbltr, next they prove 
 The fcurce of bounty and of love : 
 And Idlt, from l>ve and bounty fljw 
 The noblell j .ys tha f miv.dscaii k ;ow: 
 
 But vice, in men of wanton he^rr. 
 Soon torg'd the various wants of art, 
 And thtie indeed are creachV'-us things j 
 From thefe invetVateevil Jpnngs. 
 
PROSE .,AND VERSE. 161 
 
 Thefe (more than man can e'er 
 Exempt rroim toil and mifery) 
 Suppiy'd the JCT is tranfient, vain, 
 And not fupply'd fincere the pain. 
 Hence Gare his iron reig bsgan, 
 The creature and the curfe of man : 
 This truth that ev'ry head may reach, 
 A tale in eafy (trains (hall teach* 
 fTisthis: 
 
 A mortal not content 
 With what for mankind nature meant, 
 Tho* fortune to his juft defire 
 Had freely giv'a " meat, clothes and fire,' 
 Still reftlefs, wanted iometjiing new, 
 And frantic fchemes of pka fare drew ; 
 To ufe for ever adding fhow ? * 
 In fhortj he dwindled to a beau. 
 Straight on his coat he clap'd gold lace, 
 And ntxt with waffaesfpoiPd his face ; 
 Bat moft of all he priz'c! his ring, 
 The dearefyprettitft, fparkling thing ! 
 3 Fwas this that gave hmi half hii sir, 
 'Tw^s this he play ? d againft the fair; 
 Conicious of worth, when this was on, 
 He mav'd as grand as Spanifli Don 
 But who can tell the cares chat dole 
 With all thefe foppYies on h Wouli 
 To drefs at fir it the other names 
 For hiding decently our fhame, 
 He made to (ignify an art 
 Which at a quite contrary part/ 
 
FABLES 
 
 Which turned him on himfelf a foe; 
 And fee his follies ont to fhow; 
 This coft him fo much time and paify' 
 'Twashappinefsand virtue's bane. 
 Befides it grieved his fcul to find 
 Some brutes to all his merit blind, 
 Tc flight him when he'd (pent a daf 
 To drefs and paiat him for the play I 
 *Twas pungent grief fucceeding care, 
 And moretnan Cato's felf cou'd bear ; 
 StUl worfe you'll think it, whew I tell ye, 
 ?That for hlsback hepinch'd his belly. 
 But ah I the word is ftlll behind ; 
 And fortune proved yet more unkind t 
 Us loft the ring we nam'd before 
 And what could fate to curfe him more f 
 It's borrowed rays withdrawn that ted 
 Thofe weeds his joys by folly bred, 
 As real woe his heart depreft, 
 As ever heav'd a patriot's breaft 
 He wept, he rav'd, and o'er and o'er 
 His vitals ftab'd, and ftamp'd and fworc* 
 The dear delighting toy away, 
 Mo more he fparkled at the play, 
 Bluih'd to be feen the gem without, 
 Whes * one he threw its rays abouu 
 If or could his purfe afford to buy 
 What might as well its place fupply. 
 A r lengtb through difappointed pride 
 The wrerch grew (lupid, moap'd and dy'i 
 Mean while the guiltlefs Diamond lay 
 Safe from the beams of rival day, 
 
PROSE AVD VERSE. 
 
 Beneath a dunghill'* peaceful lead 
 That fac'd a farmer'* Weft abode, 
 And long had there been free from prate, 
 Nolle, noufenfe, effence, pox f and ftate : ? 
 'Till once a cock by hunger taught, 
 R;k'd out the gem unprized unfought ; 
 For he ne'er tura'dhis thought* to find 
 The polifli'd woes of burna?-. kitid. 
 Wfcat faithful nature crav'd to gain 
 Was all he fought, nor fbiaght in vain* 
 No fancy'd want, no dUlant prize 
 Had taught th> eternal figh to rife : 
 Fit bounds his wifties all controul, 
 And fix the quiet of his foul. 
 In vain the gay temptation prov'd, 
 His virtue firm remained unmo^'d ; 
 And tho* he thought a g^m might deck 
 As wt4l h*s tail as lady's neck, 
 He ipurri'd the fplerided bait afide 
 With juft (iiidain and comely pride, 
 And imiliog half he tt^us expreft 
 The thougbt iarcafttc of his breaft ; 
 Whence aod what art thoa, tawdry thing 2 5 
 Fromthee what happinefs can fpring? 
 Let fenfelcfs man with antitk pride 
 Bid Pageant rile, and ufe fubfide, 
 We birds with nobler fapience bleft, 
 Their peace-deftroying arts deteft ; 
 Two things alone can give me pain, 
 Dime Pmlct's coyneis, want of grain. 
 Their wants fo monftrous grow, their joy 
 A tboufand little turns deftroy ; 
 
FABLES 
 
 A thoufand things muft all unite, 
 E'er tn^y can tafte one beur's delight. 
 Fools ! %ll to Reaf or/s fcale reduce* 
 A:d wfigh the value to the ufe. 
 Thr 11 one full grain of ge^rous wheat 
 (Ye powers bow ^vholelume, plump and fweet I)- 
 Will dearer prove by far than all 
 The (hining nothings round the ball. 
 
 Who read this foble with difcereing mind 
 Fcrhips tfeis plain advice implyd will find s 
 T <ke fre ly all th^t nature's wants require, 
 But che^k thr firfi excsfs of frail dtfire. 
 For "Vi d (h fc fk?, and raiment, we agree ; 
 But nev t r a{k : a bfocads or fricafee 
 HowcVr, whatcuftom calls gentctl aod neat; 
 That (=f ihe purie Affords it) wear and cat, 
 Yet all above thy h-iend's inferior lot, 
 Sail lesrn to priz': a* i hc ? you prized it nou 
 All ?ibove thrne with care devoutly (hun^ 
 Or be ambilicui; reftlefs, a ad undone* 
 
 f 1 N I 5.