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Hr 1810. ; si 11 ;j t p-'^: ;•« '...7"-,:> ADVERTISEMENT. ; ; ■^•'\.*-" ■ ' C^ S H ^ :<\ ':.':■-' ^ : ' Given for clean Linen and Cotton -v RAGS, AND OLD ROPES, AND ANY THIxVG MADE OF HEMP, , FE^X OR COTTON, . / V - ■■"'■^' ■ ' '■'- BY .•••.-■ I I T JAMES BROWN. " • • • I At the St, A^idretiD^s Paper^Mill or at his Book-store. Mont^r'^aL - •: r !-" It is an old proverb, " That a^'jJenny saved Is as good 33 a penny earned.** — Many are .crying out, *' What an extravagant price do Stationers aucl Booksellers ask lor paper and books.** If you wish to have paper and / books cheap, SAVE ALL YOU ft' 'RAGS. There is no family so poor, in this couutry, that has not some Kags to spare, or which they are not obliged to spare every year ; and they may as well lay them aside for Paper-makers as to throw them into the street. Per- haps there is no family, poor or rich that could not, in the course of a year, save rags sufficient to furnish their cbiMrea with writing paper and school books. \ r It T. FABLES. otton v\ . PES, I COTTON, /; r ai his saved is as It, «' What Lsellers ask paper and S. There is not some ed to spare I aside for reet. Per- iild not, in urnish their ». ^-•- : V ^ BOOK i. ■ - TROM THE ANCIENTS. ;'". ^ABLE L ' " " TAf? TV^fS and the Bramhie. THE Israelites, ever murmuring and dis'contented un*. der the reign of Jehovah, were desirous of having a king, like i^p.Vest of the nations. They offered tlie kingdom to .Gideon their deliverer, to him, and to his posterity aftfer* him : he generously refused their offer, and reminded them, that Jehovah was their king. When Oideon was-deaj, Abimelech, his son by a concubine, slew till his other.*so«« to the number of seventy, Jotham alone escaping ; and'qy the assistance of the Shechemites made himself king*,, Jotham, to represent to them their folly, tmd to shewlthem, that the most deserving are generally the least amWtious, whereas the worthless grasp at power with eagerness, and exercise it with insolence and tyranny, spake to th^iti'M the following manner : Hearken uut,o*?we, ye men of Shechem, so may God hearken unto j^a?/» The trees, grown weary of the state of freedom and equality m which God had placed them, met together to choose and to anoint a king over them ; and they said to the Olive tree, Reign thou over us— But the Olive-tree said unto them, Shall I quit my fatness •wherewith God and man is honoured, to disquiet myself with the cares of governement, and to rule over the trees ? And they said unto the Fig-tree, Come thou, and reio-ti over us. But the Fig-tree said unto them. Shall I bid a- dieu ^0 my sweetness and my pleasant fruit, to take upon me the painful charge of royalty, and to be set over the trees ? Then said the trees unto the Vine, Come thoi:, and reign over us. But the Vine said also unto then , Shall I leave my wine, which honoureth God and chcerctU A 2 ♦ 1 ANCIFNT FABLES. man, to bring upon myself nothing but trouble and anxi- ety, and to become king of the trees? We are happy in our present lot : seek some other to reign over you. Tiien said all the trees unto the Bramble, Come thou, and rci;^m over us. And the Bramble said unto them, I will be your king ; come ye all under my sliadow, and be fufc ; obey me, and I will grant you my protection- But if you ob-y me rot, out of the Bramble shall cor forth a fire, which shall devour even the cedars of Lebanon. c t * • A FABLE IL T^li3 Frogs pet'il'wti'ing Jupiter for'' d Khig, S jEsop was travelling ever Greece,; Kc, happened ta pass through Athens just after Pisfetratus had abo- lished the popular state, and usurped a scjver^ign power ; when perceiving that the Athenians bore tix> yoke, though mild and easy, with much impatience, ha related to them the following fable ; ''"■' The commonwealth of Frogs, a disco,n^pi)ted variable race, v;-eary of liberty, and fond of change,* pjetitioned Ju- piter to grant them a king. The good-natured deity, in order to indulge this their request, with as Ettle mischief to the petitioners as possiblej threw thenrdown a Log. — At first they regarded their new monarch with great reve- rence, and kept from him at a most respect^il distance ; bat perceiring his tame and peaceabJ.e iispositlon, they by degrees ventured to npproach him with more familiarity, till at lcng ANCIENT FABLES, G T \ PABLE III. The BeUt^ and the L'tnihi; MENENIUS AGRIPFA, a Roman consul, Being deputed by the senate to appease a dangerous tu- riiult and sedition of the people, who refused to pay the taxes necessary for carrying on the business of the state ; convinced them of their folJy, by deUvering to them the following fable : My friends and countrymen, said he, attend to my words. It pnc?^ happened that the Members o2 the human body, taking- some exception at the conduct of the Belly, resolved no lloftv^er to grant him the usual supplies. The Tongue firsjt; p*n. a seditious speech, aggravated their griev- ances ; and ^ife^ highly extolling tht activity and diligence ofthe Hands ahd Feet, set forth how hard and unreasonable it was, that tfiV^ruitscf their labour should be squandered away upon *^hV; insatiable cravings of a fat and indolent Paunch, wluqlj. vvas.entirely useless, and unable to do any tiling towards helping himself. This speech was received v/ith unaninip as* applause by all the Members.- Immedi- ately the Hiir.ca declared they would work no more ; the Feet determined to carry no farther the load of guts with Which they Ji;|4. ^^itherto been oppressed ; nay, the very Teeth refused tQ prepare a single morsel more for his use. In this distress .the Belly besought them to consider ma- turely, and not foment ^o penseless a rebellion. There is none of you , says he, can be ignorant that whatsoever you bestow upon me is immediately converted to yovu: use, fend' dispersed by me, for the good of ^jou all, into every Limb. But he remonstrated in vain ; for during the clamc s oT passion, the voice of reason if-valways disregarded. It being tJieretore impossible for him to quiet the tumult, he starv- ed for want of their as&istanoe, and the Body wasted away to a skeleton.. The JLimbsj grown weak and languid, were sensible at last of their error,, and would fain have returned to their respectiTe duties ; but it was now too fate, death had taken possession of the whole, and they: al?' ;j)eri5hed together*. '^ > ANCIENT FABLES* j1 » :1 \ FABLE IV. The Wolf and (he Shepherds^ HOW apt are men to condemn in others, wliat they practise themselves without scruple ! A Wolf, says Plutarch, peeping into a hut, where a com- pany of Shcphenia were regaling themselves with a joint of mutton ; Lord,- said he, whiit a clamour would these men have raised, if they had catched me at such at banquet ! ] FABLE V' "^ The Fox and ihe Swallooo,'^ WE are informed by Aristotle, that the following fable was spoken by iEsop to the-S^mians, on a debate upon changing their ministers wliai '^vere accused of plundering the commonwealth. «'.!..' A Fox swimming across a river, happened [to be entan- gled in some weeds that grew near the b^nk,* from which lie was unable to extricate himself. As h^'lwy thus expos- ed to whole swarms of flies, who were-gaHing him and sucking his blood ; a Swallow, observing ^i!^ distress, kindi« ly offered to drive them away. By no .ijacwis, said the Fox ; for if these should be chased away, w£»o are already sufficiently gorged, another more hungry swarm would succeed, and I should be robbed of every remaining drop of blood in my veins. FABLE Vl" 7^. The Fox and the Raven,. ' ' A FOX observing a Raven perched on the branch of a tree, with a fine piece of cheeee in her mouth, immediately began to (insider how he might possess him- self of so delicious a morsel. Dear madam, said he» I am extremely glad to have the pleasure of setting you this morning : your beautiful shape, and shining feathers, are the delio-ht of my eyes ;. and would you condescend to fa^ vour me with a song, I doubt not but your voice is equal to * Instead of the Swallow, it was originally a Hedge Hog : but as that creature seemed very unfit for the business of driving away fijes, it was thought proper to substitute tTie Swallow. ^ / ANCIENT FABLER, 7 tfic rest of your accomplishments. Deluded v/itli this flat- tering speech, the transported P'ven opened her mouth, in order to give him a specimen of her pipe, when down dropt the cheese ; which the Fox immediately snatching up, bore it away in triumph, leaving the Raven to lament her credulous vanity at her leisure. FABLE VII. The Fox and the Stork,- w>. THE Fox, though in general more inclined to roguery than wit, had once a strong inclination to play the wag with his neighbour the Stork. He accordingly invited her to dinner in great form ; but when it came upon the table, the stork found it consisted entirely of differentsoups, served up in broad shallow dishes, so that she could only dip in the end of her bill, but could not possibly satisfy her hunger. The Fox lapped it up very readily, and every now and then, addressing himself to his guest, desired to know how she liked her entertainment : ho^ ed that every- thing was seasoned to her mind ; and protested he was very sorry to see hei* eat so sparingly. The Stork, perceiv- ing she was played upon, took no notice of it, but pre- tended to like every dish extremely ; and, at parting, press- ed the Fox so earnestly to return her visit, that he could not in civility refuse. The day arrived, and he repaired to his appointment ; but to his great mortification, when dinner appeared, he found it composed of minced meat, ierved up in long narrow-necked glasses ; so that he was only tantalized with the sight of what it vyas impossible for him to taste. The Stork thrust in her long bill, and helped herself very plentifully ;. then turning to Reynard, who was eagerly licking the outside of a jar where some sauce had been spilled — I am very glad, said she, smiling, that you seem to have so good an appetite ; I hope you will make as hearty a dinner at my table, as I did the other day at yours. Reynard hung down his head, and looked very much displeased — Nay, nay, said the Stork, do not pretend to be out of humour about the matter j they that ■ o^QUOt take a jest should never make one, . ;. A 4^ i • ANCIENT FABJ.liS. ' FABLE VIII. The DaXii n:'ith borroxued Feathers. ^ WHEN a pert young templer, or city apprentice, sets up for a fine gentleman, with the asbistance of an embroidered waistcoat and Dresden ruffles, but with- out one qualification proper to the character, how fre- quently does it happen, that he is laughed at by his equals, and despised by those whom he presumed to imitate ! A pragmatical Jack-daw was vain enough to imagine, that he wanted nothing but the coloured plumes, to render him as elegant a bird as the Peacock ; puffed up with this wise coficeit, he dressed himself with a sufficient quantity of their most beautoful feathers, and in this borrowed garb, forsakir.g his old companions, endeavoured to pass for % Peacock ; but he no sooner attempted to associate with these genteel creatures, than an affected strut betrayed the vain pretender. The offended Peacocks, plucking from him their degraded feathers, soon stripped him of his finery, reduced him to a mere Jack-daw, and drove him back to his brethren ; by whom he was now equally despised, and justly punished with derision and contempt. FABLE IX. ""~~~ The Wolf and the LamL ; ' WHEN cruelty and injustice are armed with power, and determined on oppression, the strongest plead of innoceiiee are preferred in vain. A WoTf and a Lamb were accidentally quenching thekr thirst together at the same rivulet. Thje Wolf stood to- wards the head of the stream, and the Lamb at some dis- tance below. The injurious beast, resolved on a quarrel, fiercely demands — How dare yon disturb the water which I am drinking ? The poor Lamb, all trembling, replies. How, I beseech you, can that possibly be the case, since thfc current sets from you to me ? Disconcerted by the force of thj? truth, he changes the accusation : Six months ago-, €ays he, you vilely slandered me. Impossible, returns the Lamb, for I was not then born. No matter, it was your father then, or some of your relations ; and immediately eeizing the poor innocent Laiiib, he tore him to pieces. A % AKCIKNT rABLE£. 9 FABLE X. The Mountain in Labour, A RUMOUR once prevailed, that a neiglibourlnor Mountain \v; 3 in labour : it was afKrmud, that ehe bad been heard to utter prodi^rious groans ; and a general expectation liad heei. raised, that some extraordinary birth. \f as at hand. Multitudes flocked with much eagerness to be witnesses of the wonderful event : one expecting her to be delivered of a giant ;, another of some enormous mon- ster; Jid all were suspended in earnest expectation of somewhat graad and astonishing. When, after waitinjj with gi'i'it impatience a considerable time, behold ! — out crept a Mouse. • - ' FABLE XL ^ ^ * TTie Boi/s ami i he Frogs, ON the margin of a large lake, which was inhabited' by a number of Frogs, a compafty of Boys happened to be at play. Their diversion was duck and drake ; and whole vollies of stones were thrown into the water, to the great annoyance and danger of the poor terrified Frogs, At lenprth one of the most hardy, lifting up his head above the surface of the lake ; Ah, dearchildren, said he, why wiH you learn so soon the cruel practices of your race-? Consider, 1 beseech you, that though this may be sjiori to you, it is ileat/i to us- ■♦■^ FABLE XIL The Larlc and her Toung, A LARK having built her nest in a field of corn, it grew ripe before her young were able to fly. Ap- prehensive for their safety, she enjoined them, while she went out in order to provide for their subsidence, to listen very attentively to any discourse they might hear about reaping the field. At her return, they told her, that the farmer and his son had been there, and had agreed to send to some of thcirneiglib/Qturs, to assist them in cutting it down A 5 :• 10 ANCIENT FABLES. the next day. And so they depend, it seems, upon r.eig^- hours, said the mother ; very wtll: then I think we have no occasion to be afraid of to-morrow. The next day she v^rent out, and left with them the same injunction as beforei|rWhen she returned, they acquainted her, that the farmer and his son had again been there, but as none of their neighbours came to their assistance, they had deferred reaping till the next day, and intended to send for help to their friends and relations. I think we may still venture another day, says the mother ; but however, be careful, as before, to let me know what passes in my absence. ♦ They now inform htr, that the farmer and his son had a third time visited the field ; and finding that neither friend nor relation had regarded their summons, they were determined to come the next morning, and cut it down themselves. Nay, then, replied the Lark, it is time to think of removing ; for, as they now depend only upou themselves for doing their own business, it will undoubt- edly be performed.^ iMi FABLE XIII. The Stag drinldng, A STAG quenching his thirst in a clear lake, was ■^^ struck with the beauty of his horns, which he saw reflected in the water. At the same time observing the cxtreipe slen lerness of his legs ; What a pity it is, said he that so fine a creature should be furnished with ^^o des* picable a set of spindlesharks ! what a truly noble imal should I be, were my legs in any degree answerable to my liorns ! * In the midst of this soliloquy, he was alarmed with the cry of a pack of hounds^ He immediately flies through the forest, and leaves his pursuers so far behind, that he might probably have escaped ; but taking into a thick wood, his horns were entangled in the branches^ where he was held till the hounds came up and tore him in pieces.*. In his last moments, he thus exclaimed — How ill do we judge of our true advantages ! the legs which I despised would have borne me away in safety, had not my favourite antlers betrayed me to ruin* if??:' ANCIENT PABLE5< Ih 1 ;■ FABLE XIV. The Siualloiv and the other Birds, A SWALLOW observing an husbandman employ- ed in sowing hemp, called the little Birds together, and informed them what the farmer was about. He told them that the hemp was the material from 'hich the nets, so fatal to the feathered race, were compos, d ; and advised them unanimously to join in picking it up, in order to prevent the consequences. The Birds, either disbelieving his information, or neglecting his advice, gave themselves no trouble about the matter. In a little time the hemp appeared above ground ; the friendly Swallow again ad- dressed himself to them, told them it was not yet too late» provided they would immediately set about the work, be- fore the seeds had taken too deep root. But they still re- jecting his advice, he forsook their society, repaired for eafety to towns and cities, there built his habitation and residence. One day as he was skimming along the streets, he happened to see a large parcel of those very birds, im- prisoned in a cage, on the shoulders of a bird-catcher. Unhappy wretches, said he, you now feel the punishment of your former neglect. But those who, having no fore- sight of their ownj despise the wholesome admonition of ; their friends, deserve the mischiefs which their own obsti- nacy, or negligence brings upon their heads. ^m FABLE XV.. :, .^ . , The Ass and the Lafi-dog-, AN Ass, who lived in the same housp with a favourite " Lap-dog, observing the superior degree of affection ' which the httle minion enjoyed, imagined he had nothing . more to do, in order to obtain an equal share in the good graces of the family, than to imitate the Lap-dog*8 playful • and endearing caresses. Accordingly he began tofrisk about before his master, kicking up his heels and braying, in an aukward affectation of wantonness and pleasantry ; thia . strange behaviour could not fail of raising much laughter, which the Ass mistaking for approbation and encouragq- . A 6 12 ANCIEK'T VAVA.2S. ment, he proceeded to leap upon his master's hreast, and began very familiarly to lick his face; but he was presently convinced, by the force cf a good cudgel, that what 13 sprightly and agreeable in one, may in another be justly censured as rude and impertinent ; and that the surest way to gaiti esteem, is for every one to act suitably to his own natural genius and character. %iw> FABLE XVI. ^ ' The Lion and the Mouse. A LION by accident laid hia paw upon a poor inno- cent Mouse. The frighted little cieatpre, imagin- ing she was just going to be devoured, begged hard for her life, urged that clemency was the fairest attribute of power, and earnestly intreated his majesty not to stain his illustrious paws with the blood of so insignificant an anf- mal ; upon which the Lion very generously set her at liberty. It happened a few days afterwards, that the Li- on, ranging for his prey, fell into the revise of the hunter. The Mouse heard his i"oarings, knew the voice of her be- nefactor, and immediately repairing, to his assistance, gnawed in pieces the meshes of the net, and by delivering her preserver, convinced him that there is no creature so much below another, but may have it in his power to re- turn a good office. >' FABLE XVIL '^ ; ■ The IVo If and the Crane. '": . ^ ; f- A WOLF having with too much greediness swallow- ed a bone, it unfortunately stuck in his throat j and in the violence of his pain he applied to several animals .earnestly entreating them to extract it. None cared to •hazard the dangerous experiment, except the Crane ; who, persuaded by his solemn promises of a gratuity, ventured to thrust her enormous length of neck down his throat, and having successfully performed the operation, claimed the recompence. See the unreasonableness of some ci*ea- tures, said the Wolf! have I not suffered thee safely to draw thy neck out of my jaws, and hast thou the consci* cnce to demaud a further reward ^ ■V,. AKCIKNT FABLES^. \t •f^w FACLE XVIII. Thc'CountmmaH ami the SnaJce* AN honest Countryman observed a Snake lying nndei* a hedge, almost frozen to death* He was moved with compassion; and brii.ging it home, he laid it near the lire, and gave it some ne\7 milk, Tiius fed and cherished, the creature presently began to revive : , but no sooner had he recovered strength enongh to do mischief, than he sprung* upon the Countryman's wife, bit one of his chil- dren, and, in short, threw the Avhole family into confusion a d terror. Ungrateful wretch! said the man, thou hast sufficiently taught me how ill-judged it is to confer bene- fits on the worthless and undeserving. So saying, he suatchcd up an hatchet, and cut the Snake in pieces. ' >j FABLE XIX. The Dog and the Shadow, A N hungry Spaniel, having stolen a piece of flesh frofla a butcher's shop, was carry ng it across a river. The water being clear, and the sun shining brightly, he saw his own image in the stream, and fancied It to be another Dog with a more delicious morsel : upon which, unjustly and greedily opening his jaws to snatch at the Shadow, he lost the substance. •mm FABLE XX. The Sun and the Wind. s PHQ2BUS and iEoIus had once a dispute which of them dould soonest prevail with a certain traveller m part with his cloak. jEoIus began the attack, and assault- ed him with great violence. But the man wrapping his cloak still closer about him, doubled his efforts to keep it, knd went on his way. And now, Phoebus darted his warm insinuating rays, which melting the traveller b-y de- grees, at length obliged him to throw aside that cloak, which all the rage of j3iolus could not compel him to re- sign. Learn hence, said Phoebus to the blusterilig god, that soft and gentle means w^ill often accoiAplisU 'wbatt force and fury can never effect. • i i .1! 14: ANCl'ET^T FABLESi /•V V- . ■-^•. ■• FABLES XXL- ."•■.--.,--?■.-'.■.,. • '' ■ ' The Wolf and the Mastiff. A LEAN half-starved Wolf inadvertently strolled \\t^ ■^^ the way of a strong well-fed Mastiff. The Wolf being much too weak to act upon the offensive, thought it most prudent to accost honest Towser in a friendly man- - ncr ; and among other civilities, very complaisantly con* gratulated him on his goodly appearance. Why, yes, re* turned the Mastiff, I am indeed in a tolerable case ; and if you will follow me, you may soon be altogether in as good • a plight. The Wolf pricked up his ears at the proposal, . and requested to be informed what he must do to earn such plentiful meals. Very little, replied the Mastiff;; only drive away beggars, caress my master, and be civil to > his family. To these conditions the hungry Wolf had no objection, and very readily consented to follow his new acquaintance wherever he would conduct him. As they were trotting along, the Wolf ob erved that the hair was worn in a circle round his friend's neck ; which raised his curiosity to enquire what was the occasion of it. Nothings answered the Mastiff, or a mere trifle ; perhaps, the collar to which my chain is fastened. — Chain ! replied the Wolf, , with much surprize ; it should seem that you are not per- mitted to rove about where and when you please. Not always, returned Towser, hanging down his head ; but what does thiat signify ? It signifies so much, rejoined the Wolf, that I am resolved to have no share in your dinners ; : hnlfd. meal withlibtrty, is, in* my estimation, preferable to a full one without it. FABLE XXn. Fortune and the School'Bo^i A SCHOOL-BOY, fatigued with, play, threw him* self down by the brink of a deep well, where he fell fast asleep. Fortune happening to pass by, saw him i^ thii dangerous situation, and kindly gave him a tap on the shoulder : My dear child, said she, if you had fallen into this well, I should have borne the blame ; though in fact, the accideit would have been wholly ovsing . to your owa c^relessne/s. . . . ■^ •-.'. ANCIfiNT FABLES. 13 ollcd lit; ne Wolf thought Jly man. - tly con* yes, re* i and if as good )roposaI, . to earn Mastiff;, - civil to » f had no his new As they hair was aised his ^othing^ collar to e Wolf, , not per- ?. Not id ; but ined the linners ; ; eferable IV him* he fell L in this on the en into n fact, IT OWil PA Misfortune, said a celebrated cardinal, is but another word for imprudence. The maxim is by no means ab- solutely true ; certain, however, it is, that mankind suffer more evils fr-om their own imprudence, than from events which it is not in their power to controuU ■^^ ■ n 1 T I I r I 1 1 ■ FABLE XXIII.. 7'he Frog, a7id the Ox. A FROG being wonderfully struck with the size anj "*" ^ majesty of an Ox that was grazing in the marshes, could not forbear endeavouring to expand herself to the same portly magnitude. After puffing and swelling for some time, " What think you, sister, said she, will this do?*» p;ar from it. " Will this?" By no means. " But this surely will V* Nothing like it. In short, after many ridiculous efforts to the same fruitless purpose, the simple Frog burst her skin, and miserably expired upon the spot. FABLE XXIV. The Lion and other Beasts hunting in Partnershlft. THE Bull, and several other blasts, were ambitious of thfe honour of hunting with -the Lion. Hife savage majesty graciously conde«cended to their desire ; and it was agreed, that they should all have an equal share in what- ever might be taken. They scour the forest, are unani* mous in the pursuit ; and, after a very fine chace, pulled down a noble Stag. It was divided with great dexterity by the Biillj into four equal parts ; but just as he was go- ing to secure his share — Hold, says the Lion, let no one presume to serve himself, till he hath heard our just and reasonable claims. I seize upon the first quarter by vir- tue of my prerogative ; the second, 1 think; is due to my superior conduct and courage ; I cannot forega the third) on account of the necessities of- my den ; and if any one is inclined to dispute my right to the fourth, let him speak. Awed by the majesty of his frown, and theterror of his paws, they silently withdrew, resolving never to hum agai» but with their equals. rG- ANCIENT FABLE:?J" ■:J ''i ,;;,, --.;■'"" FABLE XXV. .\...>:V-^_.;;;;., 7*^e ylnt and the Fli/, A N A«t and a Fly had once a ridiculous contofet aboutT •^ ■*- precedency, and were arguing which of the two was •tlie more honourable ; such disputes mo&t frequently hap- pen amongst the lowest and most, worthless crctTtures-— The Fly expressed great reseBtmer.t, that such a poor, . crawling insect, should presume to lie baiking in the same sunshine with one so much her superior. Ttiou hast not surely the insolence, said she, to imagine thy self of an equal rank with mc! I am none of your mechanic crea- tures who live by their industi7 ; but enjoy in plenty and without labour, every thing that is truely delicious. I place myself uncontrouled upon the heads of kings ; I kiss with freedom the lips of beauties s and feast upon the choi- cest sacrifices that are offered to the gods. To eat with -. the gods, replied the An'^, and to enjoy the favours of the fair and the powerful, would be great honour indeed to one who was an invited or a welcome guest ; l>;*t an im* pertinent intruder, who is driven out with aversion and contempt wherever he appeals, has not much cause mp.. thinks to b«ast of his privileges. And as to the honour of not labouring for your subsistence ; here too your boast is only your disgrace ;xfor hence it is, that one half of the year you are destitute even of the common necessaries oP life ; whilst I, at the same time, retiring to the hoarded'* granaries which my honest industry has, filled, enjoy every Satisiaction, independent of the favour either of beauties or of kings. - - ■ — ^^ FABLE XXVI. The Bear and the two Friends. npWO Friends setting out together upon a journey ■*- v^hich led through a dangerous forest, naturally promised to assist each other, if they should ha pptn to be assaulted. They had not proceeded far, before they per- cpived a Bear making towards them with great rage.— There were no hopes in flight ; but'one of thtm> being very acl thr<:\vii| prctenc ed, tKal The hi left hir and' he] friend, very ell this goJ who in' A € in Bull, ei incomm pardon he wou him. < the Bu you sal you thi pRE "■■ ap Som the rig .'ANCIENT rABLr.3., •17 very active, sprung up into a tree ; upon which tliie other, throwing himself ft-:'! oi. the giound^ htkl bis breath, and prctendeO to be dea a trial 1X1 ;. and lis most ranted.; billow, idcd all ve v;ay3 opposed its Tiiry, and was torn up by the roc)tr. Imme- diately tlie Willow be;i;au to exult, and to claim the victo- ry, win u thus the ialkn Oak intenupted his exultation : Callciit thou this a trial of strenj^-th ? Poor, wretch } not to I'l) strengt!\, but weakness ; not to thy boldly lacing daii- trfif but meanly skulking from it, thou owest thy present saft.'ty. I am an Oak, thou';rh fallen ; thou still a Wil- low, though uniuirt ; l)ut who except so mean a wretcli ai> thyself, would prefer an ignominious life, preserved by a craft or cowardice, to the gloiy of meeting death in an honourable cause ? - ■ ■ ■• — - ■ FABLE XXXIV. 77ie Boy and the Filberts, A CERTAIN Boy, as Epictetus tells the Aiblc, put his hand into a pitcher, where great plenty of ligs aid lilberts were depouted ; he grasped as mr.ny as his fist could possibly hold, but when he endeavoured to pull it out, the narrowness of the neck prevented him. Unwil- ling to looLJc any of them, but unable to draw out his hand, he burst into tears, and bitterly bemoaned his hard fortune. An Jionest fellow who stood by, gave him this wise and seasonable advice ; -Grasp only half the rj[uantity, my Boy, and you will easily succeed, FABLE XXXV. The Satyr and TraveUcr. A POOR Man traveling in the depth of winter, througli a dreary forest, no inn to receive him, no human creature to befriend or comfort him, was in danger of being starved to death. At last, however, he came to tlie cave of a Satyr, where he entreated leave to rest a whili and shelter himself from the inclemency of the weather. The Satyr very civilly complied with his request. The man had no sooner entered, than he t^egan to bkw his fin- gers, liis host, surprised at the; novelty of the action, wac curious to know the meaning of it. I do it, said the tra- veller, to warm (ny frozen joints, which arc benumbed I i { \. JCIENT fABLES. I it' '1 . I. with cold, presently aftenvards, the Satyr having prejJtiretl a mess of hot gruel to refresh his guest, the man found it necessary to blow his pottage too. Whut, inquired the Satyr, is not your gruel hot enough ? Yes, replied the trav- eller, too hot ; and I blow it to make it cooler. Do you 8o ? quoth the Satyr, then get out of my cave as fast :i8 you can ; for I desire to have no communication with a creature that blow shot and cold with the same breath; FAbLE XXXVl. ' The Horse and the Sfd^. BEFORE the use of Horses was known in the world, one of those noble animals, having been in- sulted by a Stag, and finding himself unequal to his adversary, applied to a man for assistance. The reqilcst ■was easily granted, and the man putting a bridle in his mouth, and mounting upon his back, soon came up with the Stag, and laid him dead at his enemy's feet. The horse having thus gratified his revenge^ tharkcd his au- xili'.i*y : And now will 1 return in triumph, said he, and reign the undisputci^ lord of the forest. By no means Replied the man ; I shall have occa'^ion for your services, and you must go home with rac. So saying, he led him to his hovel ; where the unhappy steed spert the remain- der of his days in ^ laborious servitude ; Genr,ible too late, that how pleasing soever revenge may appear, it always costs more to a generous mind than the purchase is worth* ■aHfiHUa *'l FABLE XXXVII. The Farmer and his Sons. A Wealthy old farmer, who had for some time de- clined in his health, perceiving that he had not many days to live, called his sons together to his bed- side. My dear children, said the dying man, I leave it with yci) as my last injunction, not to part with the farm, which has been in our family. these hundred years : for, to disclose to you a secret which I received from my father, and which I now think proper to commu- nicate to youy there is a treasure hidden somewhere ia the grounds lar spot whe the iiarvest am v^ell assi wise old m time he men and with gr again every consequence the object c more plentil the end of i counts, an< would vent acut« than my father r by experien A VAUl •*^ ^ a pr about in tl this unpro ly darted i teazed h'lr retired un and most ing him al utterly sp< having i\ off in gre her succe rity, she web of a put an en This f to transp( reyersc o •I-: ANCIENT FABLES. 23 repiired found it red the he trav- Do you 8 fast lis Ion with breatli.- in the been in- al to his ; request le iti his up with t. The his au- Baid he, lo means services, led him remain- ible too ipear, it purchase ime de- had not his bed- lieave it ^ith the d years : ed from commu- here ia the grounds ; though I never could discover the particu* lar spot where it lies concealed. However, as soon as the harvest is got in, spare no pain in the search, and I am v^cU assured you will not lose your labour. The wise old man was no sooner laid in his grave, and the time he mentioned arrived, tlian his sons went to work, and with great vigour aud alacrity turned up again and again every foot of ground belonging to their farm ; the consequence of which wa?, although they did not find the object of their pursuit, that their lands yielded a far more plentiful crop than those of their neighbours. At the end of the year, when they were settling th«Mr ac- counts, and computing their extraordinary profits, I would venture a wager, said one of the bro'hers, more acut« than the rest, that this was the concealed wealth my father meant. I am sure, at least, we have found by experience, that " industry is itself a treasure." FABLE XXXVIir. The Lion and the Gtiat. A VAUNT ! thou paltry, contemptible insect ! said •*■ ^ a proud Lion one day to a Gnat that was frisking about in the air near his den. The Gnat, enraged at this unprovoked insult, vowed revenge, and immediate- ly darted into the Lion's ear. After having sufficiently teazed him in that quarter, she quitted her station, and retired under his belly ; and from thence made her last and most formidable attack in his nostrils, where sting- ing hitn almost to madness, the I-,ion at length fell down, utterly spent with rage, vexation and pain. The Gnat having thus abundantly gratified her resentment, flew off in great exultation ; but in the heedless transports of her success, not sufficiently attending to her own secu- rity, she found herself unexpectedly entangled in the web of a spider ; who rushing out instantly upon her, put an end to her triumph and her life. This fable instructs us, never to suffer success So far to transport us, as to throw us off our guard against « reverse offortuRi, '! I- J t *l I ; ti \ !, i J \ ;! ! ' '" ; \ : 1 1 ^ i ,1 ■' s £ 24 ANCI£NT FABLEi^, ' .^ '. -^ rAlVLE XXXIX. T//^ Miser and his Treasure^ A Miser having scraped together a considerable sum of moiKJy, by denying himself the common conve* niences of life, was much emban*assed where to lodge it inost securely. After many perplexing debates witli him- 'Self, he at length fixed upon a corner in a retired field, where he deposited his Treasure, and with it his heart, in a hole, whi<:h he dug for that purpose. His mind "Was now for a moment at ease ; but he had not proceed- ed many paces in his way home, when all his anxiety returned 5 and he could not forbear going back to see that everything was safe. This he repeated again and -again! till he was at last ob8ei*^ed by a labourer who ^'as mending a hecVe in an adjacent meadow. The fellow -concluding that something extrao.dinary must be the occasion of tlie frequent visits, marked the spot; and coming in the night in order to examine it, he dis- covered the prize, and bore it off unmolested. Early the next morning, the Miser again renewed his visit ; when finding his Treasure gone, he broke out into the most bitter exclamations. A Traveller who happened to be passing by at the same time, was moved by his complaints to inquire into the cause of them. Al^is ! replied the Miser, I have sustained the most cruel aiid irreparable I0&3 ! some villain has robbed me of a siTm of money. which I hurried under this stone no lonsrer ago thnn yesterday. Burried ! returned the traveller with surprise^ a very extraordinary method truly of disposing of your riches ! v/hy did you not rather keep them in your house, that they might be ready for your -daily occasions I Daily occasions I resumed the Miser, with an air of much indig- nation 5 do you imagine I so little know the value of money, as to suffer it to be run away with by occasions ? on tli«: contraiyi I had prudently resolved not to touch a single shilling of it. If that was your wise resolution, answered the Traveller, I sec no sort of reason for your ^being thus afflicted ; itis but putting this stone in thi place of your Treasure, and it will amwer all yoor |mt>^ _ {>ose$ full as well. THE each the oak, ^ Cybele the surprised tl piter the re that we con inotive, L nerva ; I si choice of t daughter, r tice that me luable that i takes, are s^ evidence. A certain! Roman peoj lished a rewil or uncommof tists assembll Well known kind of entej upon any si This repc City togethe number of alone upon j any prompt! the spectat( On a sudc his bosom, st^ n&turally, ANClrNT FABLES. ' 25 i sum onve* li^c it him- field, icarta mind )ceed- ixict)" :o see in and who The iiist be spot ; he dis- rly the when ? most to be jplaiiits L*d the parable money, thin Lirprise^ if your ■ house. Daily 1 indig- alue of lasions ? I touch olution. For your in th5 ar ipfut^ •-'/:. FABLE XL. s - Minerva^ s Olive. THE Gods, say the Heathen myth;»l^gist8, have each of them their favorite tree. Jupiter preferred the oak, Venus the myrtle> and Phoebus the laurel ; Cybele the pine, and Hercules the poplar. Minerva surprised that they sliould choose barren trees, asked Ju- piter the reason. It is, said he, to prevent any suspicion that we confer the honour we do them, from an interested motive. Let folly suspect what it pleases, returned Mi- nerva ; I shall not scruple to acknowledge, that I make choice of the Olive for the usefulness of its fruit. O daughter, replied the father of the gods, it is with jus- tice that men esteem thee wise ; for nothing is truly va- luable that is not useful FABLE XLL The Mhnlc and the Countryman* MEN often judge wrong from some foolish prejudice; and whilst they persist in the defence of their mis- takes, are some-times brought to shame by incontestable evidence, A certain wealthy Patrician, intending to treat the Roman people with some theatrical entertainments, pub- lished a reward to any one who coiild furnish out a new or uncommon diversion. Excited by emulation, the ar- tists assembled from all parts ; among whom, a Mimic, well known for his arch wit, gave out, that he had a kind of entertainment that had rever yet been produced upon any stage. This report being spread about, brought the whole City together. The theatre could hardly contain the number of spectators. And when the artist appeared alone upon the stage, vvithou': any apparatus, without any prompter or assistant, curiosity and suspense kept the spectatots in a profound silence. On a sudden the performer thrust down his head into his bosom, and mimicked the squeaking of a young pig 5u n&turallyj that the audience insisted upon it, he hf(d ■ B '.^. 26 ANCIENT FABLES. m one under his cloak, and ordered him to be searched ; which being done, and nothing appearing, they loaded the man with encomiums, and honoured liim with the most extravagant applause. A Country fellow observing what passed — *< Failh" says he, ** I can do this better than he ;" and immediate- ly gave out, that he would perform the same much better the next day. Accordingly greater crowds assembled : prepossessed, however, in favour of the first' artist, they sit prepared to laugh at the Clown, rather than to judge fiiirly of his performance. ^. They both came out upon the stage. The Mimic oTunts away first, is received with vast applause, and the loudest acclamations. Then the Count) yman pretend- ing that he concealed a little pig under his clothes (which in fact he did) pinched the ear of the animal, till he made iiim squeak. The people exclaimed aloud that the first performer had imitated the pig much more naturally ; and would have hissed the Countryman off the stage, but he produced the real pig from his bosom, and convincing them by a visible proof of their ridiculous error; see, lientlenien, says lie, xvl/at pntti/ sort of Jiu/ge.'i ijouare, FABLE XLIL The Dog and the Crocodile*, WE can never be too carefully guarded against a connection with persons of an ill character. As a Dog was coursing the banks of the Nile, he grew thirsty ; but fearing to be seized by the Monsters of that river, he would not stop to satiate his drought, but lap- ped as he ran. A Crocodile raising his head above the surface of the water, asked him, why he was in such a hur- ry ? he had often, he said, wished for his acquaintance, and should be glad to embrace the present opportunity. You do me great honour, returned the Dog, but it is to avoid such companions as you that I am in so much haste, FABLE XLIH. " The IVo/f in disguise. DESIGNING hypocrites frequently lay themselves open to dibcovery, by over-acting their parts. iftP ANCIENT FABLES. 27 A Wolf, who by frequent visits to a flock of slieep in his neighbourhood, began to be extremely well known to them, thought it expedient, for the more successfully carrying on his depredations, to appear in a new cha- racter. — To this end he disguised himself in a shepherd's habit ; and resting his fore feet upon a stick, which ser- ved him by way of a ^rook, he softly made his approa- ches towards the fold. It happened that the shepherd and his dog were both oi them extended on the grass, fast asleep ; so that he would certainly have succeeded in his project, if he had not imprudently attempted to imitate the shepherd's voice. The horrid noise awaken- ed them both : when the Wolf, encumbered with his disguise, and finding it impossible either to resist or to ilee, yielded up his life an easy prey to the shepherd's dog. — • — ' -- - ■ - - J I ' FABLE XLIV. The Bee and the Spider, THE Bee and the Spider once entered into a warm debate w4iich was the better artist. The t>pider ur- ged her skill in the Mathematics, and asserted, that no one was half so well acquainted as herself with the con- struction of lines, angles, squares, and circles; that the web she daily wove was a specimen of art inimitable by any other creature in the universe : and besides, that her works were derived from herself alone, the product of her own bowels ; whereas the boasted honey of the Bee was stolen frorn every herb and flower of the field 5 nay, that she had obhgations even to the meanest weeds. To this the Bee replied, that she was in hopes the art of extract- ing honey from the meanest weeds would at least have been allowed her as an excellence ; and that as to her. stealing sweats from thr herbs and flowers of the held, her skill was there so conspicuous, that no flower ever suf- fered the least diminution of its fragrance from so deli- cate an operation. Then, ao to the Spider's vaunted knowledge in t' e construction of hues and angles, she believed she might safely rest the merit of her cause on the regularity alone of her comb5; but wace she could add B2 ■^ .■ iV> i. \ S fe 28 ANCIENT FABLES. i j-t to tills, the sweetness and excellence of her honey, and the various purposes to which her wax was employed, she had nothing to fear from the comparison of her skill v/lth that of the weaver of a flimsy cobweb ; for tha value of every art, she observed, is chiefly to be estimated by its use. ' FABLE XLV. " The jiss and his Master, A Diligent Ask, daily louded beyond his strength by a severe Master whom he had long served, and who kept him at very short commons, happened one day in his old age to be oppressed with a more t^^an ordinary bur* then of earthen-ware. His strength being much impaired, and the road deep and uneven, he unfortunately made a trip, and unable to recovcf himself, fell down and broke all the vessels to pieces. His Master, transported with rage, began to beat him most unmercifully. Against whom the poor Asa, lifting up his head as he lay on the ground, thus strongly remonstrated: unfeeling wretch! to thy own avaricious cruelty, in first pinching me of food, and then'loading me beyond my strength, thou owest the misfortune which thou so unjustly imputest to me. FABLE XLVI. The Cock and the l^ox, A N ejiperienced old Cock was settling himself to roost upon a high bough, when a Fox appeared under the tree. I am come daid the artful hypocrite, to acquaint you, in the name of all my brethren, that a general peace is conclud'^d between your whole family and ours. Des- cend immediately I beseech you, that we may mutually embrace upon so joyful and unexpected an event. My good friend, replied the Cock, nothing could be more agreeable to me than this news ; and to hear it from you increases my satisfaction. But I perceive two hounds at •A distance coming this way, who are probably dispatch- ed as couriers with the treaty j as they run very swiftly, and will certainly be here in a few minutes, I will wait their arrival, that we may all four embtace together* ANCIENT FABLES. 29 jed, IkiU jlue by Reynard well knew, if that was the case, it was no time for him to remain there any longer j pretending there- fore to be in great haste, Adieu, said he for the pre- "sent ; we will reserve our rejoicings to another oppor- tunity : upon which he darted into the woods with all imaginable expedition. Old Chanticleer no sooner saw him depart, than he crowed abundantly in the triumph cf his artifice : for by a harmless stratagem to disappoint the malevolent intentions of those who are endeavoviring to deceive U8 to our ruioy is not only innocent but iau- 'dable, FABLE XLVII. ' ' Tke -Eagle and the Crotv. TO mistake our own talents, or ove;:-rate our abilities, is always ridiculous, and sometimes dangerous. An Eagle, from the top of a high mountain, making a stoop at a lamb, pounced it, and bore it away to her young. A Crow, who hsxl built her nest in a cedar near the foot of the rock, observed what passed, was am- bitious of performing the same exploit*; and darting from her nest, fixed her talons in the fleece of another" Iamb. But neither able to move her prey» nor to disen- tangle her feet, she was taken by the Shepherd, and carried away for his children to play with \ who eagerlv inquiring what bird it was,— An hour ago, said he, she fancied herself an Eagle ; however, I suppose she is by thia time convinced that she is but a Crov;. FABLE XLVII I. The Farmtr and the Stag. Sta^, who had left -at some distance a pack of hounds, came up to a Farmer, and desired he would suffer him to hide himself in a little coppice which joined •to his house. The Farmer, on condition that he would forbear to enter a field rf wheat, which lay before him, and was now ready for the sickle, immediately gave him leave and promised not to betray him. The squire with his train instantly appeared, and inquiring whether h£ had not «eca the St? of } No, said the Farmer, he has B3 il . I! .A/ ANCIENT FABLES. not passed tliis way, I 'jssiirc yon : but, in order to cur- ry favcuf at the saivie time with hisvvorchip, he pointed shly with his finger to the place were the poor beast lay concealed. This however the sportsman, intent on his game, did not observe, but passed on with his dogs across the very field. As soon as the Stag perceived they were gone, he prepared to steal off, without speak- ing a word. Mcthinkc, cried the FariAer, you might thank me, at least, for the refuge I have afforded you : yes, said the Stag, and had your hands been as honest as your tongue, I certainly should ; but all the return that 'ii double dealer has to expect, is a just indignation and contempt. FABLE XLIX. The Lion, the Tiger and the Fex, A Lion and a Tiger jointly seized on a young fawn, which they immediately killed. This they had no sooner performed, than they fell a fighting, in order to decide whose property it should be. The battle was JO bloody, and so obstinate, that they were both com- pelled, through weariness and loss of blood, to desist ; and lay down by mutual consent, totally disabled. At this instant a Fox unluckily came by ; who perceiving their situation, made bold to seize the contested prey, and bore it off unmolested. A& soon as the Lion could recover breath-^How fooHsh, said he, has been our con- duct ! instead of being contented, as we ought, with our respective sliares, our senseless rage has rendered us u-a- able to prevent this rascally Fox from defrauding us of the wliole. FABLE L. The Lion and the Ass. A Conceited Ass had once the impertinence to »bray forth some contemptuous speeches against the Lioo. The suddenness of the insult at first raised some emotions of wrath in his breast ; but turning his head, and per- ceiving from whence it came, they immediately svibsided; and he very sedately walked on, without deigning to h©- ANCIENT FABLEtJ. 31 nour the contemptible creature even so mucli as with an aiigry word. FABLE LI. ' Tlie Snake and the Hedge-hog. - IT is by no means prudent to join interests with such as have it in their power to impose upon us their own conditions. By the intreaties of a Hedge-ho r, half starved with cold, a Snake was once persuaded to receive him into her cell. He was no sooner entered than his prickles began to be very un.asy to his companion : upon which the Snake desired he would provide himself another lodginp;, as she found, upon trial, the apartment v/as not large enough to accommodate both. Nay, said the Kedge- Jiog, let them that are uneasy in their situation exchange it ; for my own part, I am very well contented where I am : if you are not, you are v/elcomc to remove when- ever you think proper. FABLE LIL ^ The Trumpeter, A Trumpeter in a certain army happened to be taken prisoner. He was ordered immediately to executioi?, but pleaded in excuse for himself, that it was unjust a person should sufiFer death, who, far from an intention of mischief, did not even wear an offensive weapon. So much the rather, replied one of the enemy, sha-lt thou die J since without any design of fighting thyself, thou excitest others to the bloody business : for he that is the abetter of a bad action, is at least equally guilty with him that commits it. '. FABLE LIIL ^Vice and Fortune, FORTUNE and Vice, according to Plutarch, had once a violent contest, which of them had it most in their power to make mankind unhappy. Fortune * *This Fable is abridged from Plutarch, by Lord Boling- broke, in his Philosophical Tracts, B4? r 11 Ii ',:■;'• J2 ANCIENT FABLK3. boasted that she could take from men every Q«4ernal good, and bring upon them every external evil. Be it 80, replied Vice ; but this ?., by no means sufficient to make them miserable without my assistance : whereas, without yours, I am able to render them completely so ; nay, in spite too of all your endeavours to make them happy. FABLE LrZ The Bear and the Bees* Bear happened to be stung by a Bee ; and the pain was so acute, that in the madness of revenge he ran into the garden and overturned the hive. This outrage provoked their anger to a high degree, and brought the fury of the whole swarm upon him. They attacked him with such violence, that his life was in danger ; and it was with the utmost difficulty that he made his escape, wounded from head to tail. In this desperate condition, lamenting his misfortunes, and licking his soces, he could not forbear reflecting how much more advisable it had bti'en to have patiently acquiesced under one injury, thap thus, by an unprofitable resentment to have provoked a thousand* A M, < >i fnal it to 50 ; )ain ran FABLES.. BOOK II. ; V' FWM^ THE MODERNS, t . ' B5 'll n i,l Nl ordet wood J horric ~ MODERN' FABLES. 35 FABLE I. 7^^ Miller i his SoUf and their Ass, A MILLER and his Son were driving their As8 ta market, in order to sell hinn : and that he might get Uiither fresh and in good condition, they drove him on gently before them. They had not proceeded far, wheftr they met a company of travellers. Sure, .say they, you are mighty careful of your Ass : methinks one of youf might as well get up and ride, as suffer hini to walk oa at his ease, while you trudge after on foot. Incompli- ance witlr this advice, t!.e old Man set his Son upon the beast And now, they had scarce advanced a quar- ter of a mile further, before they met another company. You idle young rogue, said one of the party, why don't you get down, and let your poor father ride ? Upon thwj the old Man made his Son dismount, and got up him- self. While they were marching iirthis manner, a third company began to insult the Father. You hard-heartci unnatural wretch, say they, how can you suiFtr that poor lad to wade through the dirt, while you, like an al- derman, ride at your ease ? The good natured Miller stood corrected, and immediately took his Son up behind him. And now the next man they met exclaimed with more ve- hemence and indignation than all the rest— .Waa there ever such a couple of lazy boobies ! to overload in so unconscionable a manner a poor dumb creature, who is far less ?jle to carry them than they are to carry himi The complying ^Id M^ would have been half inclined to make the triatT* na* not experience by this time suffi- ciently convinced him, that their cannot be a more fr uh.- kss attempt, than to endeavour to please ^1 mankind. . FABLE IL The Sorceress k NIGHT and silence had now given repose to th"e whole world, when an old ill-natured Sorceress, in ordet to exercise her infernal arts,* entered into a gloomy wood, ♦hat trembled at her approach. The scene of her horrid incantations was \mhin the circumfi^rcnce o^Ji»»*si B6 H- I 5i '\ 556 MODKRN FABLES. B circle ; in the centre ofwhicli an altar was raiaecl, where the hallowed vervain blazed in triangular flames, while the mischievous Hag pronounced the dreadful words, which bound all hell in obedience to her cliarms. She blows a raging pebtilence from her lips into the neighbouring folds; the innocent cattle die, to afford a fit sacrifice to the infer- nal deities. The moon, by powerful spells drawn down irom her orb, enters the wood : legions of spirits from Pluto*s realms appear before the altar, and demand her pleasure. Tell me, said she, where I shall find what I ]iave lost, my favourite little Pog. How ! — cried they all, enraged — Impertinent Beldam ! must the order ©f nature be inverted, and the repose of every creature dis- turbed, for the sake of thy little Dog ? i ji.t- TABLE ni. The Cijniekon, TWO Travellers happened on their journey to be eil- ^ gaged in a warm dispute about the colour of the Ca- meleon. One of them affirmed, it was blue ; that he had ieen it with his own eyes, upon the naked branch of a tree; feeding on the air, in a very clear day. The other strongly asserted it was green, and that he had viewed it ^*ry closely and minutely on the broad leaf of a fig-tree. Both of them were positive, and the dispute was rising to a quarrel; but a third person luckily coming by, they agreed to refer the question to his decision, Gentlemrn, 6aid the arbitrator, with a smile of great self-satisfaction, you could not have been more lucky in your reference, as I happen to have caught one of them last night : but indeed you are both mistaken, for the creature is totally black. Black ! - impossible ! Nay, quoth^the umpire, with great assurance, i^ the matter may soon be decided, for 1 immediately inclos- ed my Camelcon in a little paper box, and here it is. So paying, he drew it out of his pocket, opened his box, and bel^iold it was a'5 white as snow. The positive disputafits looked equally surprised, and equally confounded : while the sagacious reptile, assuming tlie aiv of a philosopher, • i;U\Jij ijjpoiiished them ; Ye chiidicu of men, learn difli- X ^- MODERN FABLES. 87 1. . Icrc the lich [s a Ids; fer- |\vn j'om I her It I Ihey ©f A dence ami moderation in your opinions. *Ti9 true, you happen, in the present instance, to be all in the ri^ht, aud kavc, only considered the subject under d fFrrent circum- stances ; but pray, for the future, allow others to have eye-sight as well as yourself; and he cai:did enou^^h not to condemn any man for judging of things as tliey ap- pear to his own view. FABLE IV. The Wolf and the Lamb. - Flock of Sheep were feeding in a meadow, while their Dogs were asleep, and their Shepherd at a distance playing on his pipe beneath the shade of a spread- ing elm. A young unexperienced Lamb obKcrving a half starved Wolf peeping through the pales of the enclosure, entered into conversation with him. Pray what are you seeking for here? said the Lamb. I am looking, replied the Wolf, for some tender grass ; for nothing, you know, is more pleasant than to feed in a fresh pasture, and to slake one's thirst at a crystal stream : both which I perceive you enjoy within these pales in their utmost perfection, liappy creature J continued he, how much I envy your lot ! who are in the full possession of the utmost 1 desire ; for philosophy has long taught me lo be satisfied with a little. It seems then, returned the Lamb, those who say you feed on flesh, accuse you falsely, since a little grass will easily content you. If this be true, let us for the future live like brethren, and feed together. So saying, the simple Lamb imprudently crept through the fence, and became at once the prey of our pretended philosopher, and a sacrifice to his own inexperience and credulity. : FABLE V- The Fox and the Bramble. Fox, closely pursued by a pack of Dogs, took shelter under the covert of a Bramble. Ke rejoiced in this asylum ; and, for a while, was very happy ; but soon found, that if he attempted to stir, he was wounded by thorns and prickles on every side. However, A h- : ^ 3S ' MODERN FABLES*. •4t m I >r ?■'- making a virtue of neccoJty, he forbore to complain f: • and comforted himself with reflecting, tl.at no bliss is per- fect ; that good and evil^are mixed, and flow from the b&me fountain,— -These Briars indeed, said he, will tear my skin a little, yet they keep off the dogs. For the .. sake of the good, then let me bear the evil with patience; each bitter has its sweet ; and these Brambles, thougbv ' they wound my flesh, preserve my life from danger. ""^~^ FABLE VI. r/i^ Falcon and the Hen, DIFFERENT circumstances make the same actioir right or wrong, a virtue or a vice.. Of all the creatures I ever knew, said a Falcon to a; Hen, you are certainly the most nil gratef 111. What in* stance of ingratitude, replied the Hen, can you justly^ charge upon me ? the greatest, returned the Falcon ; in* gratitude to your highest benefactars* Men. Do they not' feed you every day, and shelter you every^ night. Never- theless, when they endeavour to court you to them, yoii; ungratefully forget all their kindness^ and fly from them aa from an enemy. Now I', who am wild by nature, and no way obliged to them ; yet upon the least of their ca* resses, I suffer myself to be taken, and go, or come,, at their command. All this is very true, replied the Hen,, ..but there may ba a sufficient reason both for my fear, ani' your familiarity. I believe you never saw a single Falcoiv- roasting at the fire ; whereas I have seen a hundred Hena. trussed for that purpose. FABLE Vn. ""^^r^\ The Travelkrs and the Monei^'hag, ^<^^*- A S two Men were travelling on the road, one of them ^ Xi" espied a Bag of Money lying on the ground, and , picking it up, I am in luck this morning, said he, I have ■ founds Bag of Money. Yes, returned the other ; though methiiiks you should not say /, but We have found it : . for when two friends are travelling together, they ought equally to share in any a<;cidcntal gogd fortune ihaf may- self w MODERN FABLE 3. 39^ igb liappcti to attend them. No, rejoined the former, it was 1 that found it, and I must insist upon keeping it. He had no sooner spoken the words, than they were a- larrned wii;h a hue and. cry after a thief, who had that morning taken a purse upon the road.. Lord says the finder, tiiis is extrem Jy unfortunate ; we shall certainly i3e seizvvl.. Good Sir,, replied the other, be pkaeed not. to say We^ but / r as you would not allevsr me a share in the prize, you have no right to make me a partner in the punishment. I FABLE VIU. The DiiconteaiedAss,. IN the depth of winter a poor Ass prayed heartily for tlie spring, that he might exchange a cold lodging,. ar.d a. heartless truss of straw, for a little warm weather, . and a mouthful of fresh grass. In 2i short time, according to his wish, the warm weather and the fresh grass came on: but brought with them so much toil and business, that he was soon as weary of the spring as before of the winter; and lie now became impatient for the app.'^ach of summer.— . Summer arrives: but the heat, the harvest -work, a«il other drudgeries and inuonveniencies of the season, set him as &r from happiness as before ; which heuow ilattered him- self would be found in the plenty of autumn. But here , too he is disappointed : for what with the carrying o£ ap- \ pies,, root*, fuel for the winter, and other provisions, he was in autumn more fatigued, than ever. Hiaving thus trod round the circle of the j^dt, in a course of restless labour, uneasiness, an J disappointment, and found no sea- ssm, nor station of ]ifo> without its hufinese and its trouble, he was forced at last to acquiesce in the comfortless sea- S4^n of winter, where iiiB complaint began : convinced that inthis world every situation has its inconvenience. FABLE I.X. The TiDa Springs. '^r^vVO Spvings, which issued from the rame mountain*. ■., -1 bega*i their, ci^urae tog-ether ; ^ne c?f them toek her %%■ tt' r 40 MODERN FABLES. I way iiT a silent and gentle stream, while the other rushed along with a sounding and rapid current. Sister, said the latter, at the rate you move, you will probably be dried up before you advance much farther ; whereas, for my- self, I will venture a wager, that within two or three hundred furlongs I shall become navigable,' and alter dis- tributiiig commerce and wealth wherever I flow, 1 shall majestically proceed to pay my tribute to the ocean : so farewell, dear sister, and patiently submit to your fate. Her sister made no reply ; but calmly descending to the meadows below, increased her stream by numberless ht tie rills, which she collected in her progress, till at length she was enat'f^d to rise into a considerable river ; whilst the proud stream, who had the vanity to depend solely upon her own sufficiency, continued a shallow brook,«and was glad at last to be helped forward, by throwing her*! self into the arms of her despised sister. . FABLE X. '. :■■ ... ,•.,.- • The Spectacles, \ ,• HOW strangely all mankind differ in their opinions ? and how strongly each is attached to his own ! Jupiter one day* enjoy iii|j himself over a bowl of nectar, and in a merry humour, determined to make mankind a- present. Momus was appointed to convey it to them ; who, mounted on a rapid car, was presently on earth.— Come hither, says he, ye happy mortals ; great Jupiter has opened for your benefit his all-gracious hands. 'Tis true, he made you somewhat short-sighted, but to remedy that inconvenience, behold how he has favoured you! So eaying, lie unloosed his portmanteau, when an infinite number of Spectacles tumbled out, and were picked up by the crowd with all the eagerness imaginable. There were enough for all, every man had his pair. But it was Si'on found that these Spectacles did not represent objects to all mankind ahke ; for one pair was purple, another blue ; one was white, and another black ; some of the glasses were red, some green, and-some yellow. In short, th^Te were of all manner of colours, arm Cv'ery shade of colour. However, notwithstandirig this diversity, every »• A -scure ^•." *- J LI shed id the dried " my- three r dis- shall MODERN FABLEt,. 41 . man was charmed with his ov/n> as beliieving it the truest; " and enjoyed in opinion all the satisfaction of reality. FABLE XI. The Tortoise and tite Two Ducks, VANITY and idle curiosity are qualities which gen- erally prove destructive to those who suffer them- s^elves to be governed by them. ** A Tortoise, weary of passing her days in the same db- •scure corner, conceived a wonderful inclination to visit foreign countries.. Two Pucks, whom the simple Tor- toise acquainted with her intention, undertook to oblige J her upon the occasion. Accordingly they told her, that if she would fasten h.r mouth to the middle of a pok, they "Would take the two ends, ajid transport her whithersoever she chose tabt conveyed. The Tortoise approved of the expedient ; and every thing being prepared, the Ducks began their flight with her. They had not travelled far in the air, when they were met by a Crow, who enquiring what they were bearing along, they replied, the queen of the Tortoises. The Tortoise, vain of the new and un- taierited appelhition, was going to confirm the title, whea. opening her mouth for tliat purpose, she let, go her hold,, an'' was dashed to pieces by her fall, ■ ■ I I II FABLE Xn. ^ 7'ke Cat and the Old Rat, A Certain Cat had made such unmerciful havoc among- the vermin of the neighbourhood,, that not a single " 'Rat or Mouse dared venture to appear abroad.. Puss was «oon convinced,, that if affairs remained in their present .situation, she must be totally unsupplied with provision. After mature d'^libei-ation, therefore, she resolved to have recourse to stra agem. For this purpose, she suspended herself from a hook, with her head downv/ards, pretend- - ing to be dead. The Rats and Mice observing her, a» they peeped from their holes, in this dangling attitude, concluded she v/as hanged for some misdemeanor ; and with great ioy iminsdiatcly sallied forth ia quest of thcw v';.i I 'i! ^ V 42 MODERN FABLES. prey. Puss, as soon as a sufficient number were collected together, quitting her hold, dropped into the nnidst of them ; and very few had the fortune t» make good their retreat. This artifice having succeeded so well, she was encouraged to tiy the event of a second. Accordingly, she whitened her coat all over, by rolling herself in a heap of flour, and in this disguise lay concealed in the bottom of a meal-tub. This stratagem was executed in general with the same effect as the former. But an old experienced Rat, altogether as cunning as his adversary, was not so easily ensnared. 1 don't much like, said he, that white heap yonder ; something whispers me there is mischief con- cealed under it. *Tis true, it may be meal ; but it may likewise be something that I shall not relish quite so welL There can be no harm, at least, in keeping at a proper distance : for caution, I am sure, is the parent of security. m. S i(f. ) A FABLE XIIL The Country Maid and her Mllk-paiL ^ WHEN men suffer their imagination to amuse them with the prospect of distant and uncertain im- provements of their condition ; they frequently sustain real losses, by their inattention to those affairs in which they were immediately concerned. A Country Maid was walking very deliberately with a Pail of Milk upon her head, when she fell iiUo the follow- ing train of reflections :^— The money for which I shall sell this Milk, will enable me to increase my stock of eggs to * three hundred. These eggs, allowing for what may prove addle, and what may be de^itroyed by vermin, will produce at least two hundred and fifty chickens. The chicketis •will be fit to carry to market about Christmas, when poul- try always bears a goed price ; so that by May-day I csfnnot fail of having money enough to purchase a new gown. Green-' — let me consider — yes, green becomes my complexion best, and green it shall be. In this dress I will go to the fair, where all the ytiung ieilows will strive to Iwve me for a partner ; but I shall perhaps refuse every « 4 MODERN FABLES. 43 one of tliem, and with an air of disdain toss from them. Transported vyith this triumphant thought, she could not forbear acting with her head what thus passed in her ima- gination, when down came the Pail of Milk, and with it all her imaginary happi.iess. FABLE XIV. The Cormorant and the Fishes. IT is very imprudent to trust an enemy, or even a stranger, so far as to put one's self in his power, A Cormorant, whose eyes were become so dim by age, that he could not discern his prey at the bottom of the wa- ters, bethought himself of a stratagem to supply his wants,. .Hark you, friend, said he to a Gudgeon, ivhom he observed swimming near the surface of a canal, if you have any re- gard for yourself, or your brethren, go this moment, and acquaint them from me, that the owner of this piece of water is determined to drag it a week hence. The Gud- geon immediately swam away, and made his report of this terrible news to a general assembly of the fishes, who una- nimously agreed to send him back as their ambassador to the Cormorant. The purport «t his commissioi; was to return him their thanks for the intelligence j and to ad4 their intrcaties, that as he had been so good as to inform them of their danger, he would be graciously pleased to put them into a method cf escaping it. That I will most readily, returned the artful Cormorant, and assist yoii with my best services into the bargain. You have only to col- lect yourselves together at the top of the water, and I will u-idertake to transport you one by one to my own residence, by the side of a solitary pool, to which no creature bi;t myself ever found the way. The project was perfectly ap« proved by the unwary fisl s, and with great expedition performed by the deceitful Cormorant; who having placed them in a shallow water, the bottom of which his eyea could easily discern, they were all devoured by him iij theit turns, as his hunger or luxury rec^uir^d. siH «, ,y . *. %, 44' ; MOCERN FABLISi in K' M I i t. !<_■ FABLE XV. The Atheist and the Acorn, IT was the fool who said in his heart, ihn't is no Coitj into the breast of a wise man such a thought could never have entered. One of those refined reasoners, com- monly called Minute Philosophers^ was sitting at his eas£ beneath the shade of a large oak, while at hia side the weak branches of a pumpion trailed upon the ground. This threw our great logician into his old track of reason- ing against Providence. Is it consistent with common «ense, said he, that infinite wisdom would create a large and stately trcct with branches of prodigious strength, jonly to bear so small and insignificant fruit as an Acorn ? 'Or that so weak a stem as that of a pumpion, should be Ibadexl with so disproportionate a weight I A child may •see- the absurdity of it. In the midst of this curious spec- uhtion, down dropt an Acorn from one of the highest 'branches df the oak, full upon his head. How small a •trifle may ovefturn the systems of mighty philosophers! Struck with the accident, he could not help crying out ; How providential it is that this was not a pumpion t * FABLE XVI. ' Tk^ Li/nx and the Mole, UNDER the covert of a thick wood, at the foot of a tree,, as a Lynx lay whetting his teeth, and wait- ing for his prey, he espied a Mole, half buried under a hilloc of her own raising. Alas, poor creature, said the Lynx, how much I pity thee ! Surely Jupiter has been very unkind, to debar thee from the light of the day> which rejoices the whole creation. Thou art certainly irot above half alive ; and it would be doing thee a service to put a.) end to so unanimated a being. I thank you for your kijidness, replied the Mole, but I think I have 'full as much vivacity as my state and circumv ».ances re- ^ quire. For the re«t, 1 am perfectly well contented with the fac.'lties which Jupiter has allotted me, who, I am 'Sure, wants not oin* direction in drstiibuting his gifty with |>ropriety. I have aot, His true, your piercing eyes, bul our •■ V MODERN FABLES. 43 I have ears whick answer all my purposes full as well. Hark ! for example, I am warned by a noise which I^ hear behind you, to fiy f^ora danger ; so saying, he slunk into the earth ; while a javelin from the arm of a hunter pierced the quick-sighted Lynx to the heart. FABLE XVIL * 77/e Spider and the Silk-tcorra* HOW vainly we promise ourselves, that our flimsy productions will be rewarded with immortal hon- our ! A Spider, busied in spreading his web from one side of a room to the other, was asked by an industrious - Silk-worm, to what end he spent so much time and labouf in making such a number of lines and circles ? The Spidef angnly'i-e plied. Do not disturb me, thou ignorant thing t I transmit nry ingenuity to posterity, and fame is the ob- ject of my wishes. Just as he had spoken, a chamber- maid, coming into the room to feed her Silk-worm, saw the Spider at his work, and with one stroke of her broom ^ swept him away> and destroyed zt once hia laboura, and T his hopes of fame. : cv . vv - FABLE XVIIL '^ ^^' The Bee and the Flif, A Bee observing a Fly frisking about her hive, asked him, in a very passionate tone, what he did there ^ Is it for such scoundrels as you, said she, to intrude into the company of the queens of the air ? Yoii have great feason, truly, replied the Fly, to be out of humour : I am sure they must be mad who would have any concern with.r so quarrelsome a nation. And why so, thou saucy marks - pert ? returned the enraged Bee : we 1 ave the best laws,, and are governed by the best policy in the world. We feed upon the most fragrant flowers> and all our business is to make honey : honey which equals nectar, thou tastelesa wretch, who livest upon nothing but putrifaction and ex- crement. We live as we can, rejoined the Fly : poverty, t hope, is no crime f but passioa.i» oue, I am surct The ♦,. :*l 4G MODERN FABLES. 1 *■ k honey you make is sweet, I grant you ; but your heart is all bitterness ; for to be revenged on an enemy, you will destroy your own life ; and are so inconsiderate in your rage, as to do more mischief to yourselves than to your adversary. Take my word for it, one had better have less considerable talents, and use them with more discretion. FABLE XIX. Genius, Virtue and Reputation,- GENIUS, Vittue and Reputation, three intii^ate friends, agreed to travel over the island of Great- Britain, to see whatever might be worthy of observation* But as some misfortune, said they, may happen to separate us, let us consider, before we set out, by what means we may fmd each other again. Should it be my ill fate, said Genius, to be severed from you, my associates, which heaven forbid ! you may find me kut'eling in devotion be- fore the tomb of Shakspeare ; or rapt in some grove where Milton talked with angels ; or musing in the grotto where Pope caught inspiration. Virtue, with a sigh, acknow- ledged that her friends were not very numerous ; but were I to lose you, she cried, with whom I am at present so happily united, I should choose to take sanctuary in the temples of religion, in the palaces of royalty, or in the stately domes of ministers of state : but as it may be my ill fortune to be there denied admittance, enquire tor some cottage where Contentment has a bower, and there you will certainly find me. Ah ! my dear companions, said Reputation very earnestly, you, I perceive, when missing, may possibly be recovered ; but take care, I intreat you, always to keep sight of me, for if I am once lost, 1 am never to be retrieved. FABLE XX. The Court of DeatJu DEATH, the king of terrors, was determined to choose a prime minister ; and his pale courtiers, the ghastly train of Diseases, were all summoned to attend ; when each preferred his cbim to the honour of his illus* i« throi the and dete; A so Ic ing thcij MODERN FABLES. 47 trious office* Fever urged the numbers he destroyed ; cold Palsy set forth his pretensions, by shaking all his limbs; and Dropsy, by his swelled unwieldy carcase. Gout hobbled up, and alledged his great power in racking every joint ; and Asthma's inability to speak, was a strong, though silent, argument in favour of his claim. Stone and Colic pleaded their violence ; Plague, his rapid progress in destruction ; and Consumption, though slow, insisted that he was sure. In tlic midst of this contention, the court was disturbed \vith the noise of music, dancing* feast- ing and reveh*y ; when immediately entered a lady, with a bold lascivious air, and a flushed and jovial countenance ; she was attended on one hand by a troop of cooks and bacchanals ; and on the other, by a train of wanton youths and damsels, who danced half naked to the softest musical instruments ; her name was Intemi? f.ranx'e. She waved her hand, and thus addressed the crowd of Diseases :— Give way, ye sickly band of pretenders, nor dare to vie with my superior merits in the service of this great Mo^ narch. Am not I your parent, the author of your beings ? Do ye not derive your power of shortening human life al- iriost wholly from me ? Who then so fit as myself for this important office ? The grisly Monarch grinned a smile of approbation, placed her at his right hand, and she imme- diately became his prime favourite ^wd princijial minister, - _____ , Industry and Sloth* HOW many live in the world as useless as if they had never been born ! they pass through life like a bird through the air, and leave no track behind them ; waste the prime of their days in deliberating what they shall do ; and bring them to a period without coming to any determination. An indolent young man being asked why he lay in bed so long, jocosely and carelessly answered — Every morn- ing of my life I am hearing causes, I have two fine girls, their names are Industry and Sloth, close at my bedside, as soon as ever I awake, pressing their dilFcrent suits^ One if «,, f'i] iS MODERN lABl.E.^. iutreats mc to get up, the other persuades me to lie siill i and thc?n they alternately give rtic \\'\rious reasons, vvliy I should rise, and .vhy I sliould not. This detains me so long, as it is the duty of an impartial judge to hear all that can be said on either side, tliat before the pleadings are over, it is time to go to dinne'-. "- ; FABLE XXII. ' The Harems Ears* AN Elk having accidentally gored a Lion, th^ mo» narch was so exasperated, that he sent forth an Edict, comm:inding all horned beasts, on pain of death, to depart his dominiGns» A Hare, observing the shadow of her ears, was muci. alarmed at their long and lofty ap- pearance ; and run.iing to one of her friends, acquainted him that she was resolved to quit the country; for should I happen, said she, however undesignedly to give offcncd to my superiors, my Ears may be construed to come within the Horn-Act. Her friend smiled at her appre- hensions; and asked, hrtvv it was possible that Ears could be mistaken for Horns ? Had I no more Ears than an Ostrich^ replied the Hare, I would not trust tlicm in the hands of an informer ; for truth and innocence are ar- guments of little force, against the logic of power and malice in conjunction. FABLE XXIII. The Hermit and the Bear, AN imprudent fj'iend often does as much mischief by his too great zeal, as the worst enemy could effect by his malice. A certain Hermit having done a good office to a Bear, the grateful creature was so sensible of his obligation, that he begged to be admitted as the guardian and companion of his solitude. The Hermit willingly accepted his offer, and conducted him to his cell; where they passed their time together in an amicable manner. One very hot day, the Hermit h.»ving laid him down to sleep, the officious Bear employed himself in driving away the Flies from h»s Pa- tron's face. But in spite of all bis care, one of the Flie* th jea, Al happt gored to km a ver] think retur: be su thatl if (1 MODKRN rABI.Efl, 4.f> pcrpclually returned to tlie attack, and at last settled upon the Hermit's nose. Now I shall have you most ccrtaii.l)-, said the Bear; and with the best intentions imaginable, gave him 2 violent blow on the face, which very effectu- ally indeed dCTuylished the Fly, but at the same time most terribly bruised fi:** face of hia Benefactor. ' fabl:: XXIV. The Passenrove prejudigial to their future welfare. i-ABLE XXX. T%e Plague among the Beasts, A MO»BiT A L distemper once raged among the Beast-? and swept away prodigious numbers. After it had q<)ntij:)ued some tijme vyitii^iU ahatcipisnt, it was conchidtd in an assembly of the brute creation to be a .judgment in flictedupon them for their- sins ; and a day was appointctl fior a general confession j when it wa^ agreed, that he who t^ppeargd to be the greatest sinner, 9hould suffer death as an ajtonement fo? the rest. The Fox w£is appointed Father Confessor uppu the occasit^n ; and the Lion, with great generosity, condescended to be the first in making public confession. For my pajft, said he, I must own I have been aA enormous offender; I h:-.e killed many innocent sheep in my time, nay on^ce, but it was a case of necessity, J made a meal of the l^hepherd. The Fok with much p;ra- vity, acknowledged that these in any other than the King would have been inexpiable crimes : but th it his majesty had certaiijily a right to a feNy silly Sheep, nay, and to the Shepherd too, in a case of necessity. The judgment of the? Fox was appl9.uded by all the superior savages ; and the Tiger, the i#.eiopard, the Bear and the Wolf, njade con- fession t)f nn^iiay enormities of the lijcc sgnguiuary nature ; which \y«re all palliated or excused with th^ same lenity and 5^rcy, and their crimes accounted^ venial, as scarce to de- •erve the name of ©Stances. At last, a poor penitent Ass, with great contrition, acknowledged, that once going through the Parson's meadow, being very hungry, and tempted by tIiM8 sweetness of the grass, he had cropt a little of it, not iliore however in quantity than the tip of his tongue ; he vqs very sorry for the misdemea^npur, ajid hpped — Hope! exclaimed the Fox with aiugular zeal, what canst thou hope for, after the commisbion of so heinous a crime ? — Wa:it, eat the Parson's grass ! O sacrilege I This, thiai* . v.. ' C 3 .. ■ ' ''. - ;. ■< » ^, L '>U MODERN FABLES. R ^«' the lla^rant wickedness, my brethren, which has drawn the wrath of heaven upon our heads/; and this the notorious of- fender, whose death must make atonement for all our trans- gressions. So saying, he ordered his entrails for sacrificei and the rest of the Beasts went to dinner upon his carcase. FABLE XXXI. The C(ity the Cock and the Toung Mousei A YOUNG Mouse, who had seen very little of the world, came running one day tn hia mother in great haste — O mother, said he, I am frighted almost to death f C have seen the most extraordinary creature that ever was. He has a fierce, angry look, and struts about upon two legs t a strange piece of flesh grows on his head, and another un- der his throat, as read as blood ; he flapped his arms against his sides, as if lie intended to raise it into the air ; and stretching out his head, he opened a sharp-pointed mouth so wide that I thought he was preparing to swallow me up f U\?ii he roared at me so horribly, that I trembled every^ joint, and was glad to run home as fast as I cou'd. If I had not been fjightened away by this terrible monster, I wag just going to commence an acquaintance with the prettiest creature you ever saw. She had a soft fur skin, thicker than ours, and all beautifully streaked with black and grey; with a modest look, and a demeanour so humble and cour- teous, that methought I could have fallen in love with her. Tlien she had a fine long tail, which she waved about «o prettily, and looked so earnestly at me, that I do believe she was just going to speak to me, when the horrid monster frightened me away. Ah, my dear child, said the mother, you have escaped being devoured, but not by that monster you was so much afraid of : which, in truth, was only a Bird, and would have done you no manner of iiarm. Whereas the sweet creature, of whom you seem so fond, was no other than a Cat ; who, under that hypocritical countenance, conceals the most invete- rate hatred to all our race, and subsists entirely by de- vouring Mice. Learn from this incident, my dear^ never whilst you live to rely on outward appearances* begg( in th( The desire she, they Besic teacl to mi the 80 tl loss (ireai \' the •was* ►legst jr un- MOi>ERN FABLES. 'FABLE XXXII. *6 .1 : The Farmer and his Dog* A Farmer who had just stepped into the field to mend a gap in one of his fences, found at his return the cradle, where he had left his only Child asleep, turned upside down, the clothes all torn and bloody, and his dog lying near it besmeared also with blood. Immediately conceiving that the creature had destroyed his Child, he instantly dashed out his brains with the hatchet in his hand: when tuinino; up the cradle, he found his Child unhurt, and an enormous Serpent lying dead on the floor, killed by that faithful Dog, whose courage and fidelity in preserving the life of his Son deserved another kind of reward. These affecting cirbumstances aflPorded him a striking tesson, how dangerous it is too hastily to give way to the blind impulse of a sudden passion. FABLE XXXIII. The Gnat and the Bee. AG.nat> half starved with cold, and pinched with hunger, came early ane morning to a Bee-hive, begged the relief of charity, and offered to teach music in the family, on the humble terms of diet and lodgings The Bee received her* petitioner with a cold civility, and desired to be excused. I bring up all my children, said she, to my own u€eful trade, that they may be able when they grow up to get an honest livelihood by their industjy. Besides, how do you think I could be so imprudent as to teach them an art, which I see has redu«ed its professor tK) indigence and beggary ? FABLE XXXIV. The Oxcl and the Eagl-e, AN Owl ;at blinking in the trunk of an hollow tree, and arraigned the brightness of the Sun, What is the use of its beams, said she, but to dazzle one*s eyes so that one cannot see a Mouse ? For my part, I am at a loss to conceive for what purpose so glaring an object was T/ie Owl and the Nightingale, A Formal solemn Owl had many years made liii liabf* tation in a grove amongst the ruins of an old monas- tery, and had pored so often on some mouldy manuscripts, tlie stupid relics of a monkish library, that he grew in- fected with the pride and pedantry of the place ; and mis- taking gravity for wisdom, would sit whole days with his eyes lialf shut, fancying himself profoundly learned. It liappened as he sat one evening, half buried in meditation, and half asleep, tiiat a Nightingale, unluckily perching near him, began her melodious lays. He started from Iu3 reverse, and with a horrid screech, interrupting her song — Begone, cried he, thou impertinent minstrel^ nor distract with noisy dissonance my sublime contemplations; and know, vain Songster, that harmony consists in truth alone, which is gained by laborious study ; and not in hnguishing notes, fit only to sooth the ear of a love-sick maid. Concicited pedant, returned the Nighingale, v/hose wisdom lies only in the feathers that muffle up by thy un- meaning face ; music is a natural and rational entertain- ment, and though not adapted to the ears of an Owl, has ev?r been relished and admired by all who are possessed of true taste and elegance. FABLE XXXIX. The Ant and the Caterpillars AS a Caterpillar was advancing very slowly along one of the alleys of a beautiful garden, he was met by a pert lively Ant ; who tossing up her hcaxJ with a scornful air, cried. Prithee get out of the way, thou poor creeping animal, and do not presume to obstruct the paths of thy superiors, by wriggling along the road, and besmearinff the walks appropriated to their footsteps. Poor creature 1 thou lookest like a thii:}; half made, which nature not liking threw by unfmishetL I could almost pity tliee, methinks ; but it is beneath one of my quality to talk to such mean creatures as thou art : and so, poor crawling wretch, adieu. The humble Caterpillar, str\ick dumb with his disdain^*' .• t MODERN FABLES. od ripts. ful language, retired, went to work, wound himself up in a silken cell, and at the appointed time came out a .beautiful Butterfly. Just as he was sallying forth, hs observed the scornful Ant passing by ; Proud insect, said he, stop a moment, and learn from the circumstances in which you now see me, never to despise any one for that condition in which Providence has thought fit to place him ; as there is none so mean, but may one day, either- in this state or in a better, be exalted above those whp looked down upon him with unmerited contempt. . FABLE XL. '. The tXKo Foxes, T^WO Foxes formed a stratagem to enter a hen roost, •*• which having successfully executed, and killed the cock, the hens and the chickens, they began to feed upon them with singular satisfaction. One of the Foxes, who was young and inconsiderate, was for devouring them all upon the spot : the other, who was old and covetous, pro- posed to reserve some of ifhem for another time. " For . <* experience, child,** said he, " has made me wise, and ** I have seen many unexpected events sinpe I came i'^to <* the world. Let us provide* therefore, ag-ai.nst what *' may happen, and not consume all our store at one <* meal." " All this is wondrous wise,*' replied the " youn^ Fox, «* but for my part, I am resolved not to <* stir till I have eaten as muchas will serve me a whole -•* week ; for who would ^e mad enough to return hither r <* \Yhen it is certain the owner of th?se fovfls will watcli " for us, and if he should catch i;s, would certainly put " us to death." After this short discourse, each pursued his own scheme :. the young Fox eat till he burst himself, and had scarcely strength to reach his hole before he died. The old one>. who thous^ht it much better to deny his. appetite for the present, and lay up provision for the fu- ture, returned the next day, and waS killed by the Far- mer. Thus every age has its peculiar vice ; the youncr iuffer by their insatiable thirst after pleasure j and the old la/ -their incorrigible and inordinate avarice, - . ^ - .. C 6 60 MODERN FABLrS. ^S FABLE XLI. i The conceited Owl, A Young Owl having accidently seen himself in a •^ ^ crystal fountiin, conceived the highest opinion of his personal perfections. *Tis time, said he, that Hy- men should give me children as beautiful as myself, to the glory of the night and the ornament of our groves. What a pity would it be, if the race of the most accomplished of birds should be extinct for the want of a mate 1 Hap- py the female who ib destined to spend her life with me ! Full of these self -approving thoughts, he intreated the Crow to propose a match between him and the royal daughter of the Eagle. Do you imagine, said the Crow, that the noble Eagle, whose pride it is to gaze on the brightest of the heavenly luminaries, will consent to mar- ry his daughter to you, who cannot so much as open your eyes whilst it is day -light ? But the self-conceited Owl was deaf to all that his friend could urge ; who, after much persuasion, was at length prevailed upon to undertake the commission. His proposal was received in the manner ihat might be expected ; the king of birds laughed him to scorn. However, being a monarch of some humour, he ordered him to acquaint the Owl, that if he would meet him the next morning at sun-rise in the middle of the sky, he would consent to give him his daughter in mar- riage. The presumptuous Owl undertook to perform the condition ; but being dazzled with the sun, and his head growing giddy, he fell from his height upon a rock ; from whence, being pursued by a flight of birds, he was glad at last to make his escape into the hollow of an old oak ; where he passed the remainder of his days in that obscu- rity for which Nature designed him. FABLE XLH. The Fox and the Cat* NOTHING is more common than for men to con- demn the very same actions in others which they prdctiffC tkemaelves wUi?jaever occasion offer. c< a MODERN FABLES^ 6r A Fox and a Cat having made a party to travel together, beguiled the tedious ness of their journey by a variety of philosophical conversations. Of all the moral virtues, ex- claimed Reynard, mercy is sure the noblest ; What say you, my sage friend, is it not lo ? Undoubtedly, replied the Cat, with a most demure countenance ; nothing ii more becoming in axreature of any sensibility, than a com- passionate disposition. While they were thua moralizing, and mutually complimenting each other on the vsdsdom of their respective reflections, a Wolf darted out from a wood upon a flock of sheep, which were feeding in an adjacent meadow ; and without being in the least affected by the moving lamentations of a poor Lamb, devoured it before their eyes. Horrible cruelty ! exclaimed the Cat, why does he not feed on vermin, instead of making his barba* rou& meals on such innocent creatures ? Reynard agreed with his friend in the obaervation ; to which he added seve- ral very pathetic remarks on the odiousness of a sanguinary temper. Their indignation was rising in its warmth and zeal,, when they arrived at a little cottage by the way-side ; where the tender4iearted Reynard immediately cast his eye up(Mi a fine Cock that was strutting about the yard. And now, adieu moralizing : he leaped over the pales, and with- out any sort of scruple, demolished his prize in an instant. In the mean-while a plump Mouse, which ran out of the •table, totally tjut to flight our Cat's philosophy, who fell to the repast without the least commisseration. FABLE XLIII. """ ' ~ The rtuo Horses, TWO Horses were travelling the road together ; one loaded with a sack of flour, the other with a sum of money. The latter, proud of his splendid burthen, tossed up his head with an air of conscious superiority^ and eve- ry now and then cast a look of contempt upon his humble companion. In pa«sing through a wood, they were met by a gang of highwaymen, who immediately seized upon the Horse that was carrying the treasure : but the spirited Steed not being altogether disposed .to stand so quietly as *:»» ■1 6!2 MODSRK FABLHS. ■h A JV r Hi :lf < If ,,f wai necffs»ary for their purpose, thoy beat liwfl moit ui- mercifulljr, and after plundering him of hia boaste^i luad« left him to lament at bis leisure the cruel bruises ^ rt*. ccivod. Friend, said his despifted companion t^> nim, who had now reason to triumph in his turn, distinguished po&ta are often dangerous to thoee who possess them : if you had served a Miller, as I do, you might have travcU led the road unmolested. I I III I I I l» I ■ I ■ I —— — ■TW 11— tup— H^iptl— HWI^iW— I I »i^»- FABLE XLIV. The Dow and the Ant*. WE should be always ready to do good offices, even to the meanest of our fellow-creatures ; as there is no one to whose assistance we may not, upon »ome oc-- casion or other, be greatly indebted. A Dove was sipping from the banks of a rfvulet, wheW; an Ant, who was at the same time trailing a grain of cora, ?long the edge of the brook, inadvertently fell in. The Dove observing the helpless insect struggling in vain to. reach the shore, was touched with compassion ; and pluck- ing a blade of grass, dropped it into the stream ; by means of vvliich the poor Ant, like a shipwrecked sailor upon a plank, got safe to- land. She had scarcely arrived there,. yshun she perceived a Fowler just going to discharge his piece at her deliverer : upon which she instantly crept up bis foot, and stung him on the ankle. The Sportsman starting, occasioned a rustling among the boughs, w^ich, ahrmed the Dove, who immediately sprung up, and by that means escaped the danger with which she was threat- ened. FABLE XLV. The Parrot* A Certain widower, in order to amuse hit solitary hours, and in some measure supply the conversation of his departed helpmate of loquacious memory, determin- ed to purchase a Parrot. With this view he applied to a dealer in birds, who shewed him a large collection of Par- arcts of various kindi. Whilst thty were fxerciwng thc:V - , -, - -"* ' * - II . "a ■■,. - ' ■ -i' • ■ ■ '-' - ■ ■ ■ . ► ,-•-■'.. ■ ' > • tn P^- MODKIIK FABLtS. «;i r«»- led if talkative talents before him, one repeating tlie cries of the town, another asking for a cup of wck, and a third bawl- ing out for a coach, he observed a green Parrot, perched in a thoughtful manner at a distance upon the foot of a table : And lo you, my grave gentleman, said he, are <\kikc silent. To which the Pairot replied, like a philo- sophical bird, " I think the more/* Pleased with thij «ensibrf5%nswer, our widover immediately paid down hi» price, and took home the bird, conceiving gveat things fit)m a creature wlio had given so striking a specimen of his parts But after having instructed him during a whole month, l>e found, to his great disappointment, that he coirld get nothing more from him than the fatiguing repe- tition of the same dull sentence, ** I think the more." 1 find, said he^ in great wrath, that thou art a most in- vincible fool : and ten times more a fool was I, for hav- ing ftjrmed a favourable opinion of thy abilities upon no better foundation than -an affected solemnity. FABLE XLVI. The Cat ami the Bat*. A Cat having devoured her master's favourite Bui- fin<:h, overheard him threatening to put her to death the moment he could find her. In this distress she prefer- red a prayer to Jupiter; vowing, if he would deliver her from her present danger, that never while she Uved would the eat another Bird. Nbt long afterwardi?, a Bat most invitingly flew into the room where Puss was purring in the window. The question was, how to act upon so tempting occasion ? Her appetite pressed hard on one side ; and her vow threw some scruples in her way on the other. At length she hit npon a most con-venient dis- tinction to remove all difficulties, by determining that as a Bird indeed it was unlawful prize, but as a Mouse she •might very concientiously eat it ; and accordingly, with- out further debate, fell to the repast. Thus it is that men are apt to impose upon themselves by vain and groundless di«?tinctions, when conscience and principle are ai variance wit-h intercut ai>d inclination. ■ / -. ,( - M MODERN FABLES. ii \ : 'n,> FABLE XLVII. The two Lizards, AS two Lizards were basking under a south wall, "Hoxw contemptible, said one of them, is our condition ! \Vc exist, *tis true, but that is all ; for we hold no sort of rank in tlic creation, and are utterly unnoticed by the world ; cursed obscurity. Why was I not born a^tag, to range iit large the pride and glory of some royal forest ? It happened, that in the midst of these unjust murmurs, a pack of Houudawas heard in full cryafter the very creature he was envying, who being quite spent with the chace, was torn in pieces by the Dogs, in sight of our two Lizards. And is this the lordly Stag, whose place in the creation you wish to hold ? said the wiser I^iaard to his complain- ing friend ; Let his sad fate teach you to bless Providence for placing you in that humble situation, which secures you from the dangers of a more elevated rank. ^ABLE XLVIIL ,. ' Jupiter^ s Lotieri/, JUPITER, in order to please mankind, directed Mer- cury to give notice that he had established a Lottery^ in which there were no blanks ; and that, amongst a va- riety of other valuable chances. Wisdom was the highest prize. It was Jupiter's command, that in this Lottery some of the gods should also become adventurers. The tickets being disposed pf^ and the wheels placed, Mercury was employed to preside at the drawing. It happened that the best prize fell to Minerva : upon which a general mur* mur ran through the assembly, and hints were thrown out that Jupiter had used some unfair practices to secure thi^ desirable lot to his daughter. Jupiter, that he might at once both punish and silence these impious clamours of the human race, presented them with Folly in the plac^ of Wisdom J with which they went away perfectly well contented. And from that time the greatest Fools have always locked upon themselves as the wisest men. r* 7. MODERN FABrKS, 65 1 FAIU.E XLIX. 'i'hc lilij'iQUs Cats* TWO Cats havii)g atoliju «omo ciieesc, coaldnot agree about dividing their priz.o. In order thoieforc tt> iH'ttlc the dispute, they consented to refer the matter to a Monkey. The proposed arbitrator very readily accepted the office, and producing a balanre, put a part into eacfe tcale, «* Let me sec," said he, " ay — this lump ouN wtrighs the other,'* and immediately bit off a considerable piece, in order to reduce it, he obsesved, to an equilibrium. The opposite scale was now become the heaviest, which afforded our consciencious judge an additional reason for q second mouthful. Hold ! hold ! said the two Cats, who began to be alarmed for the events, give us our respective shares, and we are satisfied. If you are satisfied, returned the Monkey, Justice is not : a case of this intricate nature is by no means so soon determined. Upon which he con- tinued to nibble first one piece, and then the other, till the poor Cats, seeing their cheese gradually diminishing, in- treated him to give himself no ferther trouble, but deliver to them what remained. Not so fast, I beseech you^ friends, replied the Monkey ; we owe justice to ourselves as well as to you ; what remains is due to me in right ot my office. Upon which he crammed the whole ialo hia mouth, and with great gravity dismiwed the court.: . ■ I I I I » 11 ■ I 1 1 1 II I II III 1 1 1 1 II . 1 .J—— FABLE L. The tu)o Dogs, HASTY and inconsiderate connections are generally attended with great disadvantages ; and much of every man's good or ill fortune depends upon the choice he makes of his friends. A good-natured Spaniel overtook a surly Mastiff, ai h« was travelling upon the high road'. Tl^ay, although an entire stranger to Tiger, very civilly accosted him ; and if it would be no interruption, he said he should be glad to bear him company on his way. Tigep„ wlio happened not to be altogether in so growling a mood as usual, ac- cepted the proposal, and they very amicably pursued thcit i t \> «. C(o MODERN FABLES* I !i' V, .% If journey together. In the midst of theiv conversation they arrived at tiie next village, where Tiger began to display his malignant disposition, by an unprovcked attack upon every dog he met. The villagers immediately sallied foith with great indignation to rescue their respective favourites; and falling upon our two friends., v/ithout distinction or Biercy, poor Tray was most cruelly treated, for no other reason but his being found in bad company. ' . PABLE LI. T""" ^ Death and Cupid* JUPITER sent forth Death and Cupiu to travel round the world, giving each of them a bow in his hand, and a quiver of arrows at his back. It was ordered by thfr Supreme Disposer of all evenis, that the arrows of Love should only wound the young, in order to supply the de- cays of mortal men ; and those of Death were to strike old age, and free the world from a useless charge. Our travellers, being one day extremely fatigued with their journey, rested themselves under the covert of a wood, and throwing down their arrows in a promiscuous man- ner, they both , fell fast asleep. They had not reposed themselves long before they were awakened by a sudden Boise ; when hastily gathering up their arms, each in a confusion took by mistake some of the darts that belonged to the other. By this means, it frequently happencl that Death vanquished the young, and Cupid subdued the old. Jupiter observed the error, but did not think proper to redress it ; foreseeing that some good might arise fi-oni their unlucky exchange. And, in fact, if men were wise^ tliey would learn from this mistake to be apprehensive of Death in their youth, and to guard against the amourous- passiors in their old age. ' "T"" FABLE LII. The MochBird. ■ THERE is a certain Bird in the West-Indies which has the faculty of mimicking the notes of eveiy other songster, without being able himself to add any original tBcy splay upon foith MODERN FABLES. 67 Strains to the concert. As one of these Mock -birds was displaying his talent of ridicule among the branches of a venerable wood ; 'Tis very well, said a little warbler, speaking in the name of all the rest, we grant you that our music is not without its^ faults ; but why will you not favour us with a stvain of your owi I '^thel r ' ,F A B L E S. BOOK III. NEJFLT INVENTED. I vf FABI^E I. The Red-breast and ike Sparrotv. AS a Red-breast was singing on a tree by the side of a rural cottage, a Sparrow perched upon the thatch took occasion thus to reprimand him : And dost ihort, vaid he, with thy dull autumnal note, presume to emulate the Birds of Spring ? Caii thy v/eak Vv arblihgs pretend to vie with the sprightly accents of the Thrush and the Black -bird ? with the VaHous melcdy of the Lark or the Nightingale ? whom other bh-dia, f,ir thy superiors, have been long content to adttiire imsilence. Judge with can- dour at least, replied the Robin, nor impute those efforts to ambition solely, which may sometimes flow from Love of the Art. I reverence indeed, but by no means envy the birds whose fame has stood the test of ages. Their songs have charmed both hill and dale : but their season is past, and their throats are^flent. I feci hot, however, the ambition to surpass or equal xhtm : my effoffs are of ^ much humbler nature ; and I may surely hope for par- don, while I endeavour to cheer these forsaken valleys, Ijy an attempt to imitute the strains 1 hve, ^ FABLE IL The two Bees. ON a fine morning in May, two Bees set forward in quest of Honey ; the one wise and tcmpei-ate, the '^ther carelesi and extravagant. They soon arrived at a I- 70 ORIGINAL FABLi:,^. U 'I Vr ■if -Si 'V'< garden enriched with aromatic herbs, the most fragrant \ flowers,' and tlie most delicious fruits. They regaled themselves for a time on the various dainties that were spread before them : the one loading his thigh at intervals with provisions for the hive against the distant winter ; the other, reveling in sweets, without regard to any- thing but his present gratification. At length they found a wide-snouthed phial> that hung beneath the bough of a peach-tree, filled with Honey ready tempered, and exposed to their taste in the most alluring manner. The thought- less E/iicure, in spite of all his friend's remonstrances, plunged headlong into the vessel, resolved to indulge him* aelf in all the pleasures of sensuality. The PhUosopkcrf on the other hand, sipped a Httie with caution, but being suspicious of danger, flew off to fruits and flowers ; where, by the moderation of his meals, he improved his relish for the true enjoyment of rhem. In the evening, however, - he called upon his friend, to enquire whether he would return to the hive; but found him surfeited in sweets, which he was as unable to leave as to enjoy. Clogged in his wings, enfeebled in his feet, and his whole frame to- tally enervated, he was but just able to bid his friend adieu, and to lament with his latest breath, that though • a taste of pleasure might quicken the relish of life, an unrestrained indulgence is inevitable destruction. ^ "" FABLE III. '■ T%e Dicanond and the Giotc loonn. At)iamond happened to fall from the solitaire of a young lady as she was walking one evening on a terrace in the garden. A Glow-worm, who had beheld its sparkle in its descent, soon as the gloom of night had eclipsed its lustre, began to mock and to insult it. Art thou that wondrous thing that vauntest of thy prodigioui; brightness ? Where now is all thy boasted brilliancy ? Alas ! in evil hour has fortune thrown thee within the reach of my superior blaze. Conceited insect, replied the Gem, that owebt thy feeble glimmer to the darkness that Gurrounds thee : know^ my lustre bears the test of youi ry or for ling to t aboi my ovet ing the time nurs mysi care Peli thro fruit pare Ir , ORIGINAL FAjBLEi, 71 of '^ ■ *" day, and even derives its chief advantage from that dis* tiiiguishing light which discovers thee to be no more than a dark and paltry Worm. • FABLE IV. 7he Ostrich and the Pelican, 'T'HE Ostrich one day met the Pelican, and observing her breast all bloody, Good God, says she to her, what is the matter ? What accident has befallen you ? You certainly have been seized by some savage beast of prey, and have with difficulty escaped from his merciless clawii. Do not be surprised, friend, replied the Pelican, no such accident, nor indeed any thing more than com- mon hath happened to me. 1 have only been engaged in any ordinai-y employment of tending my nest, of feeding my dear little ones, and nourishing them with the vital blood from my bosom. Your answer, returned the Os- trich, astonishes me still more than the horrid figure you make, Wliat ! is this your practice, to tear your own floah, to spill your own blood, and to sacrifice yourself in this cruel manner tc the importunate cravings of your young ones ? I know not which to pity most, your mise- ry or your folly. Be advised by me ; have some regard for yourself; and leave off this barbarous custom of mang- ling your own body ; as for your children, commit them to the care of Providence, and make yourself quite easy about them.— My example may be of use to you :. I lay ray eggs upon the ground, and just cover them ligiitly over with sand : if they have the good luck to escape be- ing crushed by the tread of Man or Beast, the warmth of the Sun broods upon, and hatches them ; and in due time my young ones come forth. I leave them to be nursed by Nature, and fostered by the elements ; I give myself no trouble about them, and I neither know nor care what becomes of them. Unhappy wretch, says the Pelican, who art hardened against thy off^prnig, and through want of natural affection renderest thy travail fruitless to thyself! who.knowest not the sweets of a parent's anxiety, the tender delight of a mother's suffer* ;ir • «., If klJ. Pf" <'■ i I ■ f f f 1: ! if; " i ■ ? k V" if'. h 1^ ORIGINAL FABLES, FABLE Vil. . , The Sensitive-Plant and the Thistle, A THISTLE happened to spring up very near to a Sensitive- riant. The i'ormtr observing the extreme bashfulncGS and delicacy of the latter, addressed her in the following manner : Why arc you so modest and reserved, my gO( d neighbour, as to withdraw your leaves at the ap- pror.ch of stiangeis ? Why do von shrink as if you were afraid, from the touch of every hand ? Take example and advice from ine : If I liked not their familiarity, I would riiake them keep their rMslc.nc; , nor should any saucy linger provoke me unreveng ^'""^r tempers and quahties, le* plied the other, are wio v^ diii jr'^nt .• I have neither the ability nor inclination to give oi'-wce; you, it seems, are by no means destitute of either. My desire is to live peace- ably ill the station wherein I w^as placed; and though my humility may now and then cause me a momcnt*s uneasiness^ it tends on the whole to preserve my traiujuillity. The case is otherwise with you, whoie irritable temper, and reveareful disposition, will probably, one time or other, be the cau're of your destruction. While they wei*e thus arguing the point, the Gardner came with his little spaddle, in order to lighten the earth round the stem of the Sensitive- Plant ; but perceiving the Thistle, he thrust his instrument through the root of it and tossed it out of his garden. FABLE VIII. The Poet and the Death-rvatch. A S a Poet sat in his closet, feasting his imagination on the hopes of Fame and immortality, he was startled on a sudden w^ith the omnious sound of a Death-watch. However, immediately recoUecling himself — Vain insect, fcaid he, cease thy impertinent forebodings, sufficient indeed to frighten the weakness of women, or of children ; but far beneath the notice of a Poet and Philosopher. As for me, whatever acccident may threaten my life, my fanie^ spite of thy prognostics, shall live to future ages. It may be so, replied the insect : I find, at least, ihou hadst rather wi }.m <'' ORIGINAL FABLES. « .> ;ar to a 'xtrcme ;r in the jscrvcd, the Rp- )ii were iple and [ would y Iniger ties, re* her the ms, are 2 peace- uf^h my fasiness^ . The or, and r other, ei-e thus ^paddle, snsitive- trnmeiit den. ation on startled i-watch. 1 insect, it indeed en ; but As for y fame» It may St rather li^'.cn to the Maggot in thy head, than to the "Worm buMieath thy table ; but know, that the suggestions cf Va- tiity arc altogether as deceitful as those of Superstition. FABLE IX. Pi/tluigoras and the Critic. PYTH AGORA S was one day very cu nestly engaged in taking an exact measure of the length of the Olym- pic course. One of those conceited Critics who aihi at every thing, and are ready to interpose with their opinion upon all subjects, happened to be present ; and could not help smiling to himself to sec the Philosopher so employed, and to observe what great attention and pains he bestowed upon such a business. And pray, says he, accosting Py- thagoras, may I presume to ask with what design you hav' given yourself this trouble ? Of that, replied the Philoso- pher, I shall ver)'' rearWy inform yo)i. We are assured, th. t Hercules, when h.e intstituted the Olympic games, himself laid out this course by measure, and determined it to tin length of six hundred feet, measuring it by the rtar ^ard of his own foot. Now by taking an exact measure of ihis space, and seeing how much it exceeds the measure of the same number of feet nov^^ in use, we can find how much the foot of Hercules, and in proportion his whole stature, excc-^ded that of the present generation. A very curious speculation, says the Critic, and of great use and import- ance, no doubt ! And so you will demonstrate to us, that the bulk of this fabulous Hero was equal to his extravagant cnterpvizes and his marvellous exploits ! And pray. Sir*, what may be the refult < i' your enquiry at last? I sup- pose, you can now tell me exactly to a hair's breadth, how tall Hercules was. The result of my enquiry, replied the Philosopher, is this ; audit is a conclusion of greater use and importance than you seem to expect from it — that if you will always estimate tlie labours of the Philosopher, the designs of the Patriot, and the actions of the Hero, by the standard of your own narrow conceptions, you will ever be greatly mistaken in your judgment concern-. ing thepi. D 2 ©iilCJlNAL FABLES, m FABLE X. '17(1' Dear, A BJ' A R who was bred in the savage desarts of SILcna, hiid ail inchnalion to scs the vorld. He travtllod from forest to furcst, and from one kingdom to another, making many profoimd observation:} in his way. Among tlie rest of hi& excursions, he came by accident into a farin- cr''8 yard, where he saw a number of poultry standing to ilrink by the side of a pooh Observing that at every sip they turned up their headb towards the sky, he couhl not forbear enquiring the reason of so pecuhar a ceremo:»y. They told him, that it was by way of returning thanks to Heaven for the benefits tlicy received ; and was indeed an ancient and rehgious custom, which ihcy could not, with a safe conscience, or without impie ty, omit. Here the Bear burst into a fit of jaughter, at once mimicking their ges- tures, and ridiculing their superstition, in the most con- ten'ptuous manner. On this, tiie Cock, with a spirit suit- able to the boldness of hk. character, addressed him in the following words : As j'ou are a Stranger, Sir, you perhaps may be excused the indcceniy of this behaviour ; yet give me leave to tell you, thwt none but a Bear woirtd ridicule any religious ceremonies whatsoever, in the presence of those who believe them of importance. "I J'- '■ FABLE XI. The Siork ard the Crotv, A STORK and a Crow had once a strong contention, which of them stood highest in the favour of Jupi- ter. The Crow alledged his skill in omens, his infallibility in prophecies, and his great use tp the priests of that deity in all their sacrifices and religious ceremonies. The Stork urged only his blameless life, the care he took to preserve his offspring, and the assistance he lent his parents under the infirmities of age. It happened, as it generally does in religious disputes, that neither of them could confute the other ; so th:y both agreed to refer the decision to Jupiter himself. Oa their joint application, the God determine^ f :> ORIGINAL FABLES. • ' 77 thus bctv,'ec»ii them: Let none of iny creatures d^ppalr of niy regard ; I know tlicir weakness, I pity the"' errots ; and whiitever is well meant, 1 accept a^i it wan inteiulecl. Yet sacrifices, or ceremonies are in tlicmsdvcs ot" no im« portance, and every attempt to penetrate the counsels of the Gods is altogether as vain as it is prcsumptiious j hut ke who paya to Jupiter a just honour and reverence, who leads the most temperate life, and who does the most good in proportion to his abilities, as he best answers the end of his creation, will assuredly stand highest in the favour of his Creator. ——■■I I ■——III ■ — M—— ^i— — —— — ^W I 11 FABLE XIL ; r £cho ami the OkL • ' ^ TJ7HE vain hear the flatteries of their own imaginatiou, and fancy them to be the vojf c of fame* A solemn Owl, puffed up with vanity, sate rcpeatin;»' her screams at midnight, from the hollow of a blasted oa!«« And whence, cried she, proceeds this awful silence, unless it be to favour my superior melody ? Surely the groves are husht in expectation of my voice ; and when I sing, all nature listens. An Echo resounding from an adjacent rock, *"««pl*r repeated, "join the tuneful choir,*' Roused by tlus empty phantom of encouragement, she on the morrow min- gled her hootings with the harmony of the groves. But the tuneful Songsters, disgusted with her noise, and affront- ed by her impudence, unanimously drove her from their socieLy^and still continueto pursue her v/herever she appears. FABLE XIIL Prometheus. pP.OMETHEUS formed man of the finest clay, and arirnated his wvjrk with fire stolen from Hcav-^u, H^ M I D 3 78 ORIGINAL TABLKS. i i i i ,t -5- ^ endowed him with all the faciihic? that arc to he fouml a- niongst the animul creation : he g-avc him the courage of the Lion, tl»e subtlety oftlie Tox, th..* providence ot'tlie Ant, and the industry of the Bee ; and he enabled him by the superiority of his understanding, to subdue them all, and to makt^ them subjcrvient, to his use and pleasure. He discov- ered to liim the mctald hidden in the bowels of the earth, and shewed him their several uses. He instructed him in every thing that might tend to cultivate and civiUze hu- man life ; he tauglit him to till the ground, and to iniprove the fertility of Nature ; to build liouaes, to cover himself with garments, and to defend himsdf against the incle- meruies of the air and the scasona ; to compound medicines cf salutary hcrbr,, to heal wounds, and to cure disease? ; to couotiuct ships to cross the seas, and to communicate to every country the riohco o^ all. In a word, he endu- ed him with sense and memory, with sagacity and iavcn- fion, with art and science; and to crown all, he gave him an insight into futurity. But alas ! this latter gift, in- stead of improving, wholly destroyed the proper effect of all the former. Furnished with all the means and instru- ments of happiness, Man nevertheless was miserable ; through the knowledge and dread' of future evil, he wjts incapable of enjoying present good. Prometheus saw and immediately resolved to remedy this inconvenience . he .'.T?ctually restored man to a capacity'of happiness, by depriving him of prcsciencCf and giving him hope ia its stead. FABLE XIV. Momus, ("ylS said that Momus was perpetually blaming and ridiculing whatever he saw. Even the works of the gods themselves could not escape his universal censure. The eyes of the Bull, he said, were so placed by Jupiter, that they could not direct his liorns in pushing at his ene- mies. The houses which Minerva had instructed men to build, were contrived so very injudiciously, that they could not be removed from a ba4 neighbourhood, nor from any J'C. ORIGINAL FABLER. i\ otKer Inconvenience. In short, the frame of man himself was in his opinion extremely defective ; having no window in his bosom that might demonstrate his sincerity, or bctr?y Ijis wicked purposes, and prevent their execution. Thcsij and many other faults were found in the productions of Nature} but when he surveyed the wot Ics of art, there was no end rf hij altercations. Jupiter, being resolved to try liovv far his malice would proceed, sent his dar.cfhter Venus to desire that he would give his opinion of her beauty. She appeared accordingly before the chnili;,h God, trembling at the apprehension of his known severity. He examined her proportions with all the rigour of au envious critic. But her shape and complexion were so striking aiid her smiles and graces so very e.igaging, that he found it impossible to give the least colour to any ob- jection he could make. Yet to shew how hard malevo- lence will struggle for a cavil, as the was retiiiug .* nt his presence, he begged she would acquaint hev fathet^ that whatever grace might be in her motion, yet — her sappers Were too noisy, ,' ' FABLE XV. The Bntterflji the Snail, and the Bee. A BUTTERFLY, proudly perched on the gaudy "*■ ^ leaves of a French Mangold, was boasting tlic v?.tt extent and variety of his travels. I having ranged, said he, over the graceful and majestic scenes oi*Hagiejj^ and have feasted my eyes with elegance and variety at ^the Lea- sotv.^s. I have wandered through regions of Eglantine and Honeysuckle, I have revelled in kisses on bedd of Vio- lets and Cowslips, and havi enjoyed the delicious iragra:ice of Roses and Can 'itions. In short my fancy unbounded, and my flight un. ^strained, I have visited with perfect, freedom all the dowers of the field or garden, and must- be allowed to knoxv the tvorlJ m a superlative degree. A Snail, who hung attentive to his wonders on a cab- bage leaf, was struck with admiration; and concU'.ded * Lord Lvttleton's. f Mr.Shenotone's, D 4 , .■^-. so ORIGINAI. FABLES, :L r i I hit ' '.I I ■ f1 him, from ^^li his experience, to be the wisest of animal creatures. It happened that a Bee pursued her occupat'on on a neighbouring bed of Marjoram, and having heard our ostentatious vagrant, reprimanded him in this manner. Vain, empty flatterer,, said she, v/hom instruction cannot improve, nor experience itself enUghten ! Thou hast ram- bled over the world ; wherein docs thy knowledge of it consist ? Thou hast seen variety of objects ; what con- clusions hast thou drawn from them ? Thou hast tasted of every amusement ; ha^t thou extracted any thing for . use ? i too am a traveller : go and look into my hive ; and let my treasures intimate to thee, that the end of travelling is to collect materials either for the u»e and emolument of private life, or for the advantage of the community.. FABLE XVI. The Tul'Cross and the Sunjl.'* A FABLE XVIII. The Diamond and the Loadstone. DIAMOND of great beauty and lustre, observing not only many other gems of a lower cla^^s ranged together with him in the same cabii>ct, but a Loadatone likewise placed not far from him, began to question the latter how he came there ; and what pretensions he had to be ranked among the precious stones : he, who ap- peared to be no better than a mere ftint : a soriy, coarse, vusty-Iooking pebble; without the least shining quality to advance him to such an honour ; and concluded with desiring him to keep his distance, and pay a proper res- pect to his superiors. I find, said the Loadstone, yoa ii judge by external appearances ; and it is your interest, that others should iorm their JHdgment by the same rule. I must own I have nothing to boast of in that respect ; but I may venture to say, that I make amends for my outward deftcts, by my iaward qualities. The great im- provement of navigation in theae latter aj^es is entirely owing to me. It is < wing to me that the distant pnrts of the world are known and accessible to each other; that the remotest nations are connected together, and all in a jnanner united into one common society; that by a mutu- al intercourse they reliw»ve one another's wants, and all enjoy the several blessings peculiar to each. Grent B»i- taiii is indebted to me for her wealth, her splendor nnd Irr power ; and the arts and sciences are i;i a great mea- sure oblii^ed to me for tht- ir late improvement'?, and their continual increase. I am wiUing to alow you your di.« praise in i».s full extent ; you are a v< ry pretty bawbli"; 1 ara mightily delighted to see you ghatr and sparkle ;. I I pre- hough ssiouG, neroiis remain a me ot* ORIGINAL FAKLES. 8S serving ranged idstone iou the lie had ^ho ap- coarse, quality :d with per res- e, you nterCvSt, le rule, espect ; for my eat im- nuirely it p^rks ; that all in a ni'utu- and a^l Ht B»i. lOr ?nd a mea- id their ur did 1,1 wbh"; rkle •. X ioaic upon you with pleasure and surprise ; but I must be convinced you are of some sort cf use, before I acknow- ledi^e that you liave any real merit, or tceat you with that resnprt which you seem to demand. "' FABLE XIX. • , ' The Bet/ and the Neith* A LITTLE Boy playing in the fields, chrmced to be stung; by a Nettle, and came cryinsf to his father x he told him, he had been hurt by that nasty werd several times before ; that he was alwayn afraid of it ; and that now he did but just touch it, as lightly as possible, when he was so severely stun^. Child, says he, your touchinfj it 8o gently and timorously is the very reason of its hurt- ing yoa. A Nettle may be handled safely, if you do it with courage and resolution ; if you seize it boldly, and gripe it fast, be assured it will never sting you ; and you will meet with rnauy sorts of. persons, as well as things in the world, v/hich . ouffht to be treated in the very samj manner. FABLE XX. The Monster In the Sun. AN Astronomer was observmg the Sun through 3 Telescope, in order to take an exact draught of the several spots which appear on the face of it. While he was intent upon his observations, he was on a sudden surprised with a new and astonishing appearance ; a large portioi\ of the surface of the Sun was at once cover- ed by a Monster of enormous size, and horrible form ; it had an immense pair of wings, a great number of legs, and a long vast proboscis ; ar\d that il was alive, waj very apparent, from its quick and violent motions, whic»i the observer could from time to time plainly perceive. Beiag sure of the fact (for how could he he rnistaken in what he saw so clearly J) our Philosopher began to. draw many surprising- conclusiorft from premises so w-'ll Afstabhshed, He calculated the magnitude of this extra- ordinary animalj aad ibund that he covered ab-. ut two 84^ ORIGINAL FABLES. m-^ ''♦ •■i '■ square •^cgree'^ ofthevin'^s p.nrfacc ; thai placed upon the '^^'♦•th li'> wcniki spread over half one liemir.phere of it; and i.ui he was seven or fight times as big as the Moon. But what v^'as most astoiiiahinir, was the prodigious heat that he must endure: it was plain that he was something cft'.e nat'ire of the Salamander, hut of a far iTfore fierv temperament ; for it was demonstrable from the clearest prini'iples, that in his present situation he must have ac- quired a degree of heat two thousand tinges exceeding that of red hot iron. It was a problem worth consider- ing, whether he subsisted upon the gross vapours of the Sun, and so from time to time cleared away those spots which they are perpetually ^orming, and which would otherwise wholly obscure and incrustate its face ; or whe- tlicr it miy:ht not feed (m the solid 'ubstance of the orb itself, which, by this means, together with the constant expence of light, must soon be exhausted and consumed ; or whether he was not now and then supplied by the •fcilliinc; of some excentric Comet into the Sun. How- ever this might be, he found by computation 'hat the earth would be but short allowance for him for a few months : and farther, it was no improbable conjecture, that as the earth was destined to be destroyed by tire^ this fiery flying Monster would remove hither at the appointed time, and might mrch more easJAv and-conve- niently effect a conflagration, than any Cotret hitherto provided for th'it service. In the earnest pinsuit of these and many th«f like deep and curious speculations, the As- tronomer was engaged, and was preparing to communi- cate them to the public. In the mean Mmethe discove* ry began to he maeh talked of ; and all the virtuosi ga- thered together to see so strange a sight. They were equally convinced of the accuracy of the observation, and of the conclusions so clearly deduced from it. At last c..?, more cautious than tlie rest, w)s resolved, be- fore he ga-e a f.U p.s.sent to tiie report oi his senses, to e'^ami -e the whole protes.^ of tl.f affair, and ail the parts of tiie instrjnK'nt ; he open*., the telescope, and beholdi acinall/.y naa inclosed in it, which having settled ca tl f v«l ^ r"\IGrNAL l^AiiLES. ^i ipOB •fit; Loon. heat [hing fierv J rf tarest |e ac- idinir )ider- tue centre of the object glds-, had given occasi»ii to all this marvillous Theory. How often do men, through pvcjudice and passipn, thro* envy and malice, fix ut.o:) the brighttbt and most exahed character the grossest and most improbable im- putations ! It behoves u;; iipon such occasion»j X\, be uj-on bur guard, and to suspend our iudgmnis j the fault perhaps is not in the ohject^ hut in th*^ w/'^'/(>f the .{>bsfn'er. The discontented Bee, A Bee complained to Jupiter of the numerous evils jLA. to which her condition v/as exposed. Her body, she said, was weak and feeble, yet was she condi mned to get h r living by perpetual toil ; she was benumbed by the cold of winter, and relaxed by the heat of summer. " H< r haunts were infected with poisonous weeds, and her fii^jjhts otslnicted by sto-ms and tem|>€St3. In short, what with dangers from wlthout,.and diseares from with- in, her life was rendered one continual scone of anxie- ty and wretchedness. Behold now, said Jupiter, the fro- wardness and folly of this unthankful race ! The flow- ers of the fitdd I have spread before them as a feast, and have endeavoured to regale them with an endless varie- ty. They now revel on odoriferous beds of thyme and lavender, and now ow the still more fra<,,^rant ba iks of violets and roses. The busines*? they compla'n (^f is the extraction of honey ; and to alleviate their toil, I have allowed them wi.igs, whicji readily transport them from one banquet to another. Stcrir.?? tempests, and noxious weeds, 1 have given ^hem sagacity to shun ; and if they are misled, *tis through the perverseness of their incli- nations. But thus it is with Bees, and X.\m^ with Men t Thev misconstrue the benevolence of my desig;ns, and then complain that my decrees arc rigid: they ungrate- fully overlook all the advantage j, awd magnify all the ineonvenie;ice.s of ♦■heir stations. But let my creatures pursue their happiness througli the paths marked out by nature ; A'V^ rhoy n'ill then feel no pains which they have not pica; : ret lo compensate. I,. It": !. r:: r A •SG ■'. ' ORIGINAL VAliLltit ^ > *' V J- ■ FABLE XXII. Ths Snipe'ShaoUr, X ,.. S a Sportsman ranged the fiJds vrith his gwi* attend- ed by an experienced old Spaniel, he happened to spring a Snipe, and almost at the same instant ^ covey of Patrid>(f<.s. Surprised at the accident, and divided in hia aim, he let ilv too indeterminately, and by this means mis- aed them bf>th. Ah, my ^ood master, said the Spanief»' you should never have two aims at once. Ha'd you not been dazzled and seduced by the luxurious hope of Par- tridge, you would moat probably have secui'cd your Snipe. FABLE XXin. TVie Beggar and his Dogi - ABeg(rar and his Dog sate at the gate of u nobla Courtier, and were preparing to make a meal on a bowl of fragments f-om the kitclien-maid. A poor De- pendant of bis Lor^^iihip's, who had been sharing the. singular favour of a dinner at the steward's table, was struck with the appeai-atice, and stopped a little to ob- serve them. The Be ;gar, hungry and vora<^ious as any Courtier in Christendom, eeiiedwith greediness the choi- cest morsrls, and swallowed thorn himself; the residue ■was divided into portions for his children. A scrag was thrust into one pocket for honest Jark, a crust into ano- ther for bashful Tom, a luncheon of cheese w^is wrapt up with care for the little favourite of his hopeful family. In short if any thing was thrown to the Dog> it was a bone so closely picked, that it scarce affordid a pittance to keep life and ^. al to'.>;Mher. How exactly alike, said the Dependant, h thi- peer Dog's case and mine ! He is watching for a dinner ^xox- a ma^trr v.ho cannot spare it ; I for a place from a n»^^rc v Lord, whose wants perhaps are greater than my own, and whose relations nrore clamo- rous than anj vf this B'ggar''* bruits. Shrewdly was it •aid by aninp>'niou8 Writer, a CQurtict'-t J^epcndant J3 ORIGINAL FABLES. FABLE XXIV. The Sun and the f^ajiour* 61 IN the evening of a summer's da5^ the Sun, as he de- scended benind the Western hill, beheld a thick and unwholesome Vapour extending itself over the whole face of the vallies. Every shrub and every flower imnfiediately folded up its leaves, and shrunk from the touch of his de- , . tested enemy. Well hast thou chosen, sard the God of day, this the hour of my departure, to spread thy pesti- lential influence, and taint the beauties of the creation. Enjoy for a short space the notable triumphs of thy ma- lignity. I shall return again with the morning, repair thy mischiefs, and put an end to thy existence. Mny the Slanderer m thy fate disicern his own, and be warned to dread the retur j o^ Truth, , ,.^ , ■ ■ FABLE XXV. '' - r' Love and Folhj, IN the most early state of things, and among the eldeut of beings, existed that God^i as the Poets etititle hin:>, , : or rather that Daemon, as Plato calls him, whose name is Love. He was assisting to the Father of the Gods, in reducing C!iao8 into order, in establishing the liarmuuy of the universe, and in regulating atid putting in execution the laws by which the operations of nature are performed, and tlie frame of the world subsists. Universal good seemed to be his only study, and he was not the supreme delight both of Gods and men. But ir. process of time, among other disorders that arose in the universe, it ap- peared that Love began to deviate very often from what had seemed till now to be hii chief pursuit ; he would raise frequent disturbances and confusion in the course of nature, though it was always under the pr teace of main- ' taining order and agreem'^nt. It seems he had entered into a very inimate acquaintance with a p r on who had but lately m?.de her appearance in the world. This per- son was Folly, the daughter of Pride and Ignoranoe, '. They were oftea together, and as oftca as they were, sona*? 8S ORIGINAZ, FAELt3. t*.L mischlei' was f.urc lo l.c the (onstqiience. Py degrees he iiUroduced her iiito the heavens; where it was their great joy by variou>s artiliccs to had the Gods n.to suck meaaure^ as involved them in many iucoi'venicncies, and Ci'poscd them to much ridicule. They deluded thtiii in all their turns, except Minerva, the only divinity that escaped theirnviles. Even Jnpiter himself was induced by them to take some step S' ot at all suitabh to the dig* rity of hu character. Folly had gotten the entire as- . ccndaut over her compaiuoii ; howtver, she was res(jlvcd to make still Uiore sure of him, and engross him wholly to herself; with this design she infused a ctrtain intoxicatii.g juice into his nectar, the effects of which were power- ful, that in the ei^J it utterly d' prived him of his sight. Love was too much jirejudiced in .her favour, to apprehend her to be the cause of his misfortune ; nor indeid did he seem to be in the least sensi^e of his con £? / -(^^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 #j^ //Id fA ^ 99. ORIGINAT rABLr.S. ^i t y.ii largcment of thy stem, \;'hich t^oii lavlshest n\ vaiii upon umlca isary foliage. I slu)itly shall behold thct* gr&veling on the ground ; yet couiiteiumccd, indeed, by many of the human race, who, intoxicated with vanity, have despised economy ! and who, to support for a moment their erApr ty boast of independence, have exhausted the very source of it in frivolous expences. -;,, :^ir.\ , .; FABLE XXXII. ^" 77rf. Laurustinus and the Rose-tree, ' ' TN the quarters of a sh'-ubbery, where decidu6us plants and ever-greeiis were intermingled with an air of negli- gence, it happened that a Rose grew not far from a Lau* rustinus. The Rose, enlivened by the breath of Jwity and attired in all its gorgeous blosRoms, looked.with much contempt on the Laurustinus, who had nothing to display but the dusky verdure of its leaves. What a wretched neighbour, cried she, is this i and how unworthy to par- take the honour of my company ! Better to bloom and die in the desert, than to associate myself here vritti such low and dirty vegetables, i^nd is this my lot. at hist, whom fyery oatiou has agreed t9 honour, and every Poet con- spired to reverence, as the undoubted sovereign of the field and garden ? If I really am so, let my subjects at least keep their distance, and let a circle remain vacant round me, suitable to the states my rauk requires. Here^ Gard- ne., bring thy hatchet; prithee cut dowa this Laurus- tinu3;-or at least remove it to it?^ proper sphere. Be pacified, iry lovely Rose, replied the Gaidner, enjoy thy iOVereignti^ with nioderation, and thou shalt receive all the homage which thy beauty can require. But remem- ber that in winteis when neither thou nor any of thy tribe produce one flower or leaf to cheer me, this faithful Shrubi which thou despisest, will become the glory of my garden* prudence thereforci as well ?.s gratitude, is concerned in the protection of a fi'i'eiid^ that will shew his FrhrJikif in advcnit^. I y '-t'' y ' r '-'■•: ORIGINAL FABLES. : ' " tS ;/ ' FABLE XXXIIL \. / ' TJie SensHhe-Pla^t and the ralm-tree* '^ipiIE Sensitive-Plant being brought out of the green- A liouse on a fine summer's day, and placed in a beau- tiful g: 3ve adorned with the finest forest trees, and the STiOSt curious plants, began to give himself great airs, and to treat all that were about him with much petulance ancf disdain, — Lord ! says he, how could the Gardner think ©f setting mc among a parcel of trees ; gross, inanimate thing •, mere vegetables, and perfect stocks I Sure he does rot take mc for a common plant, when he knows, that I have the sense of feeling in a more exquisite degree than he • Las himaelf : it really siiocks me to see into what wretched ?o\v company he has introd\iced me ; 'tis more than the dehcacy of my constitution, and the extreme tenderness of my nerves, can l)ear. Pray, Mrs. Acacia, stand a little iarthor off, and don't presume quite so much upon your idle pretence of being my cousin. Good Mr. Citron, keep your distance I beseech you j your stronrr scent quite over- powers me. Friend Palm-tree, your oil jnsive shade is really more than I am able to support. The lofty Palm- tree, as he was shooting up his head with the more vigour under the weight that was hung upon it, condescended to rebuke the impertinent creature in the following manner: Thou vegetable fribble ! learn to know thyself, and thy own v/orthlessui-ss and inaignificance. Thou vainest thy- self on a vicious softness, a false delicacy, the very defect and imbecility of thy nature. What art thou good for, that shrinkest at a touch, and ^roopest at a breath of air, feeble ?ind barren, a perpetual torment to thyself, and wholly useless to others I Whereas we, whom thou treat- cst with such disdain, make a grateful return to man for his care of us : somL of us yield him fruit, others arc ser- viceable to him by their strengtJi and firmness ; we shade him from the heat of the Sun, and we deft^nd him from the violence of the winds j I am particularly distingu'shcd for my hardiness and perseverance, my steadiness and constan- cy ; aiid OB account of those very (qualities which tlwu * / ■■.; * .If'. » ^4 -^:" ORIGINAL FABLES. . •' . wantest, and affcctest to despise, have the honour to be made the emblem of conqutst, and the reward of the conqueror. . ■ ^\- .,•'/. TABLE XXXIV. :^t The Tenti/rttes and the Ichneumon, " A Crocodile of prodigious size, and uncommon fierce- ness, infested the bankt^ of the Nilcj and spread de- solation to all the neighbouring country. He seized the Shepherd, together with the Sheep, and devoured the Herdsman as well as the Cattle. Emboldened by success,, and the terror which prevailed wherever he appeared, he ventured to carry his incursions even into the island of Tontyra, and to brave the people, who boast themselves the only tamers of his race. The Tentyrites themselves were struck with honor at the appearance of a monster so much more terrible than they had ever seen before : even ■ the boldest of them dared not to attack him openly ; and the most experienced long endeavoured with all their art and address to surprise him, but in vain. As they were consulting together, what they should do in these circum- stances, an Ichneumon stepped forth, and thus addressed them ; I per<:eive your distress, neighbours ; and though -I cannot assist you in the present difficulty, yet give me - leave, to offer some advice that may be of use to you for the future. A little prudence is worth all your courage : it may be glorious to overcome a great evil, but the wis- est way is to prevent it. You despise the Crocodile while he is small and weak ; and do rot sufficiently consider^ that as he is a long-lived animal, so 'tis his peculiar pro- . pcrty to grow as long as he lives. You see I am a poor, ^^ little, feeble creature ; yet am I much more terrible to the Crocodile, and more useful tc the country, than you are. I attack him in the egg ; and while you are con- triving for months together, how to get the better of one Crocodile, and all to no purpose, I effectUtilly destroy fifty of them in a day. f(t.. ORIGINAL FABLES. 9^ our to be rd of the on fierce- pread de- seized the )ured the y success,, eared, he island of hemselves hemselves tionster so are : even ?nly ; and 1 their art they were ie circum- addressed id though t give me o you for ■ courage : It the wis- )dile while consider^ :uhar pro- >m a poor, errible to , than you are cou- lter of one ly destroy > .FABLE XXXV. ,. ..•>.:' The Ttilifi and the Rose. _>.' '\ •» .-. A Tulip and a Rose Iiappened to be near neighbours in the same garden. They were both indeed extreme* Iv beautiful ; yet the rose engaged considerably more than an equrl* share of the Gardner's atteniion. Ena- moured, as in truth he was, of the delicious odours he dihused, he appeared, in the eye of the Tuli[>, to be al* ways kissing and carressing it. The envy and jealousy of rival bcautic3 are not easily to be concealed. The Tulip, vain of its cxteraal chaims, and unable to bear the thought of being forsaken for another, remonstrated in these words against the Gardner's partiality: Why are my beauties thus neglected ? Are not my colours more bright, more various and more inviting, than any which that red- faced thing has to display ? Why then is she to engross yom- whole affection, and thus for ever to be preferred ?— Be not dissatisfied, my fair Tulip, said the Gardner ; I acknowledge thy beauties, and admire them as they de- serve. But there are found in my favourite Rose such attractive odours, such internal r liarms, that I enjoy a banquet in their fragrance, which no mere beauty can pretend to furnish. ^ » i ■ ' I.I... I ■ II - : ^ABLE XXXVI. The Woodcock and the Mallard, . ' A Woodcock and a Mallard v^-ere feeding together in some marshy ground at the tail of a mill-pond.—- Lord, says the squeamish Woodcock, in what a vora- cious and beastly manner do you devour aU that comeS before you ! Neithf '" Snail, Frog, Toad, nor any kind of filth, can escape the fury of your enormous appetite. AH alike goes down, without measure and without dis- ' tinction — What an odious vice is Gluttony, Good-lack ! replied the Mallard, pray how came you to be my accu- ser ? and whence has your excessive delicacy a right to censure my plava eating ? Is it a crime to satisfy one's hunger ? Or i$ it not indeed a virtue rather, to be pleas- M.yi ■ ''m% i. ^ ■'#: I Li: Ivf; \:i I . It If :f: iv ,, i;. ■^1 m ORIGINAL FABLES. etl with tlie food which nature offers ur ? Surely I would sooner be charged with gluttony, than with that finical and sickly appetite, on which you wore pleased to ground your superiority of taste — What a silly vice is Daintiness, Thus endcavojiring to palliate their respective passions, •ur Epicures parted with a mutual contempt. The Mid- lard hasting to devour some garbage, which was in reality a itait, immediately gorged a hook thro* mere greedij,css, and oversiglvt: while the Woodcock, flying through a glade, in order to seek his favourite juicci;, was entangled in a net, spread across it for that purpose ; falling each of them a R.crifjce to their di/ferent but equal foibles. ■• ■;•■ : ^ I'ABLE XXXVII. ~. The iu:c Trouts and the Gudgeon, A Fisherman, in the month of May, stood angling on the banks of the Thames v/ith an artificial fly, he threw his bait with so much art, that a young Tro«t wa» rushing towards it, when she was prevented by her mo- ther. Never, said she, my child, be too precipitate, -Adhere there is a possibility of danger. Take due time to consider, before you risk an action that ww^be fata!. — How know you, vvhether yon appearance be indeed ^. lly, or the snare of an enemy ? Let some one else make the ex- periment before you. If it be a fly, he veiy probably will elude the first attack ; and the second may be made, if not with success, at least with safety.— -She had no sooner ut- tered this caution, than a Gudgeon seized upon tht? pre. tended fiy, and became an example, to the giddy daughter> •f the great importance of her mother's counsel. "" ^FABLE XXXVIII. The ?*irs and the SJc^-Rockvt, A S a Rocket, on a rejoicing night ascended through the air, and observed the stream of light that distin- rruished his passage, he could not forbear exulting in lii^ elevation, and calling upon the Stars to (k> him reverence* Behold, said he, v^rhat gazing multitudes admire the lustre «f my train, whilst all your feeble spaikj gf light pass ^n^ .■"s*- a it ' Surely I would with that finical leased to ground ice is Dalntine.'S, spective passions, npt. The Mal- ich was in reality- mere greediness, lying through a :i;, was entangled 38e ; falling each r^ual foibles. Jgcon* /■ " stood angling on I artificial fly, he young Tro«t was ?nted by her mo- loo precipitate, Tate due time itmrfybe fatal. — ce be indeed 7i 11 y, else make the ex- rtvy probably will ly be made, if not had no sooner \it- ed upon th« pre- - giddy daughter, counsel. iscended through ■ light thut distin- ar exulting in hi^ (W him reverence* 9 admire the lustre S of Ught pass un- iM CRIGIKAL FA1XLE3, 97 tfl^served, or disregarded ! The Stars heard his empty boast with a silent indignation : The Dog Star only vouchsafed to answer him ? How weak are they, "aid he, who value themselves on the voice of popular applause 1 *Tis true the novelty of thy appearance may procure to thee more admiration from vulgar minds than our daily splendors can attract, although indeed a lasting miracle. But do not estimate thy importance by the capricious fancy of il^ judging mortals. Know thyself to be but 'the gaudy pageant of a few moments, the transient gaze of a giddy and ignqrani^ multitude. E^ven while I bpeak, thy blaze is half ej^tfir^uished, and thdu art at this instant sinking into pcrpethcfl* oblivion. Whereas our fires were lighted up by HeaVeft'fior the admiration and advantage of the universe ; and ©ur'fflory shall endure forever. flApLE XXXIX. ^ The Fafjfnu ' and kis three Enemies-* '. . f. A Wolf, a Fox^and'a Hai-e, happened one evening to be fdraging inl'^ifFerent parts of a Farmer's yard* Their first effort xV^Vpretty successful, and they returned in safety to their ^evefal quarters ; however, not so hap- py as to be unpera6i«ed by the Farmer's watchful eye % who placing several kiads of snares, made each his prisoner in the next atteraj)V \ He first took the Hare to task, who confessed she had eaten a f«w tui nip-tops, merely to satisfy her hunger : besought him piteously to spare her life, and promised never to enter his grounds again He then accosted the Fox, vAio in a fawning obsequious tone, protested that he c^me into his premises through no other mdtive than pure good will, to restrain tlie Hares and otlier vermin from the plunder of his corn j and that, whatever evil tongues might say, he had too great a re- gard both for him and for justice to be in the least capa- ble of any dishonest action, lie last of all examined the Wolf, what business brought him within the purlieus of a Farmer's yard ? The Wolf very mprudt-'tly declared, it was with a vicw of destroying hit I^sunbsi to which he :? >HI 03 aRIGlNAL FABLi-S* ^ 5 •' ' -a* .( 1 ! 7- i .t had an undoubted right : that the Farmer Kimielf wa9 the only felon, who robbed the community of Wolves of Vrhat was meant to be then- proper food. That this, a& least, was his opinion ; and whatever fate attended him^ he should not Scruple to riak his life in the pursuit of his tawful prey. The Farmer having heard t' ir pleas, determined the ^ajuse in the following manner t—- The Hare, said he, de^ serves compassion, for the penitence she shews, arid the humble confession she has maile-»-as for the Fox and Wolf, let them be han^red tagether^. criminah alike, with respect to the fact, t^ey have alike'helghtened their equat guilt by the aggravation of hvpod*fdy.and of impudence; , : — f^:*^-: — -— ^-^ — ^ FABLE XJC; 'i • ^ ^ ' The Snail and the Biaivei ' ^ ' '' A Statue of the Medkean Ventrt vbis, erected in a grove sacred to beauty and the fine aftts.,' Its modest atti- tude, its elegant proportions, assisted by the situat^rm itt \^hich it was placed, attracted the reear^d of every delicate observer. A Snail, who had fixed jii/aself beneath the moulding of the pedestal, beheld, with an evii eye the ad* miration it excited. Accordingly watching his opportu- nity, lie* strove, by trailing his fUthy.yirae over every limb ahd feature, to obliterate those beauties^ which he could not endtire to hear so niiich applaud^ . ' An honest JJn« n^t, however. Who observed him at his dirty <«¥ork| took the freedom to assure iiin^, that he would infallibly loife his labour; foi*, although, said he, to an injudicious ey^j thou tiiayest sully the perrectiohs oif this .finished piec«i yet a iriore accurite and close inspector will discover itd beautyi through dl ihe blemishes with which thou halt eitd^vonred to disguise it. tktht Xlj. The IVafet.fall. pROM the head of t narrow valley tkat is i^r\^oi[f iier- ^ ih^ide^A by tht growth of trftr9 » bnrg^ f!lfully incur the contempt that waita on poverty t Art,t];QB ignorant that thy funds are by no ipeans equal to thiaf elj;pence ? Fear not, my kind adviser^ replied the generous Cascade ; the gratitude I owe my master, who collected:iny ril is into a stream, induces me to entertain hh ffiVKds in tlief btfst manner I am able 5 vhp'' alone, I act With more economy. I.. i i ] ■ ■ .'.-.SABLE XLU. The Oak and the Sycamore, A SYCAMORE !grew beside an Oak ; and bein^ not a little elevated by the first warm days in spring, tligan ta shoot forth His leaves apace, and to dispise the naked Oak ior insensibility and ivant ofsfiirit. The Oak, Conscious of his superior nature, made tliis philosophical reply : Be not, my friend, so much d< hted with the fttst precarious address of every iickie zephyr : consider* the frosts may yet return ; and if thou covetest an equal shslre with me in all the glories of the rising year, do not afford them an opportunity to nip th.y beauties in theii^ bud. As for myself, I only wait to see ihis geiyial Warmth a little .con6rmed : ar whenever case, perhaps display a majesty that will not easily be shaken^ Bttt the tree \Thich appears too forward to emt in the Srst . D 2 . _ I ; I Ml > Ml ■I H tl - til ■ 'I M^: I 1 J ' ft. .J . t ;. I 11 *! 1 / 100 ORIGINAL FABLES*' favourable glance of spring, will ever be the readiest to' drooptbeneath the frowns of winter. ■^^ FABLE XLIII The wolf a7id the Shepherd* s Dog*, - ■• • A WOLF ranging over the forest, came within the borders of a Sheep-walk j when meeting with a Shep^i herd'sDog, that with a surly sort of a growl demanded his business there, he thought proper to put on as iunocentan aj^pearance as he couldy and protested upon his honour that he meant not the least offence. I arti atraid, said the Dog^ the pledge of your honour is biit a/J^6(>r dcposite for your honeity : you must not take amiss, iif I'objecttothes^rMnYy. No slur upon my reputation, repHed|{he,'^bIf, I begofyou* My sense of honour is as delicate^ £is 'my great achieve- meniis are renowned. I would notl^^ye a stain upon my memory for the world. The fame«Qf,v.'hat are common- iy called f^reat achievements is ver^J^Vccious, to be sure, returned the Dog : almost equal t<5' the character of an excellent butcner, a gallant highw'ayman, or an expeft assassin. While the Dog was yet spcal^ing, a Lamb hap- pened to stray within reach of ourllWo. The tempta- tion was stronger than he xyas able to insist: hesprungupoa' his prey, and was scouring hastily awciy 'with it.— How- ever, the Dog seized and held him, till^the arrival of the Sh« pherd, who took measures for his fsiecution. Ju3t as he Was going to dispatch him, I observe, says the Dog,* that one of your noble achievements is the destruction of the innocent. You are welcome to the renown, as you are also to the reward of it. As for me I shall prefer the credit of having hoiustlij defended my master's property, to any fame you have acquired by thus heroically in* tiading it. ' - * : A FABLE XLIV. ; . ^ The Mushroom and the jicorn, < r'^. N Acorn fell from the top of an old venerable Oak, full on \Vt head of a Mushroooi that ' unhappily ORIGINAL FABLES. 101 J idlest to i*M' Ithin the 1 a Shep^ anded his iiocent an uour that the Dog» e for your Q security* egofyou.. t ac hie ve- il pon my common- o be 8ure, icter of an an expeft arob hap- tempta- rungupoa — How- val of the on. Ju3t the Dog,' ruction of n, as you Drefer the property, ncally in^ ble Oak, IDhappily ^ * eprufig up beneath it. Wounded by the blow, the Mushroom complained of the incivihty. Impertinent up- start, replied the Acorn, why didst thou, with familiar boldness, approach so near to thy superiors > Shall the wretched offspring of a dunghill presume to raise its head on a spot ennobled by my ancestors for so many genera- tions ? 1 do not mean, returned the Mushroom, to diu- jjute the honour of thy birth, or to put my own in com- petition \yith it ; on the contrary, I must acknowledge that I hardly know from whence I sprung. But sure 'tis merity and not mere ancestry, that obtains the regard of those whose appnobation is truly valuable : I have little perhaps to bo^t.j but surely thou, who hast thus insulted me, canst, 'l)t says her mate, thus to de* aert thy helpless offspring ? Art thou not base to aban- don me for the conipany of birds to whom thou art a stranger ? Could.I have harboured such a thought ? I, v^ho have been ever constant to our first engagement, and must have died of mere despair, hadst thou not returned to my embraces ? But how, alas ! returrted ! not as it seems, by choice, but insnared by dint of artifice, and brought hither by constraint. Have patience, replied the rambler, and bear the plea of thy repentant mate. Witness all ye powers of wedlock^ ye that know what passes in the hearts c f Doves, if ever, before this unhappy moment, I felt a wish to part from thee ! the door, so seldom open, allowed but one moment for deliberation,, and I happened to decide amiss« When removed to yonder wood, the airof hbeity breath- ed &o awec-t; that, with horror I &peak it, I felt a suspense about returning to the cage. Pardon, I pray thee, this one crime and be well assured I will rever repeat it. And that thou may'st be the more induced to pardon me, know, that the love of Uberty burn» ever the strongest in the ^-^i 104 ORIGINAL FABLES. I =!! ■,).'\ i! M^ bosoms that ate most open to conjugal iiffection and the love of their young. FABLE XLVIII. The Nightingale and the Bullfinch, A Nightingale and a Bullfinch occupied two cages ia the same apartment. The Nightingale perpetual- ly taried her song^ and every effort she made afforded fresh enterta'.nments. The Bullfinch always whistled the- same dull tune that he had learnt, till all the family grew weary of the disgustful repetition. What is the reason, says the Buhfinch one day to his neighbour, that your ' songs are always heard with peculiar attention, while mine, I observe, are almort at wholly disregarded ? The . reason, replied the Nightingale, is obvious ; your audience are sufficiently acquainted with every note you (lave been taught, and they know your natural abilities too well to expect any thing new from that quarter. How then can you suppose they will listen to a songster, from whom nothing native or original is to be expected ? ". FABLE XLIX. The fighting Cocks and the Turkey* TWO Cocks of the genuine game breed met by chance upon thv confines oi their respective v^alks. To such ^reat and heroic souls the smallest matter imaginable af- 10! c 3 occasion for dispute. They approach each other with pride and indignation.; they look '«*fiance ; they crow a challenge ; and immediately comi icnces a long and bloody battle. It was fought on both sides with so much -'ourage and dexterity ; chey gave and received such deep and desperate wounds ; that they both lay down upon the turf utterly spent, blinded and disabled. While this was their situation, a Turkey, that had been fc spectator of all that passed betvireen them drew near to the field of battle^ and reproved them in this manner : *' Hov7 foolish and a jsurd has been your quarrel, my good n'.'ighbours ! A more ridiculous one could scarce hare happened among the most contntious of all crea- tures, Men. Because yo\i have crowed perhaps in each de tion and the wo cages in e perpetual- ade afforded whistled the. family grew is the reason, ■, that your ' ntion, while ardecj? The. our audience ou have been s too well to [ow then can from whom et by chance cs. To such [laginable af- h each other iance ; they ices a long lides with so ind received y both lay ind disabled* ' mt had been Irew near to lis manner; juarrel, my ould scarce )f all crea- wp8 in csch ORIGINAL FABOS. It^ «ther*s hearing, or one of you has picked up a grain of corn upon the territories of his rival, you have both ren- dered yourselves miserable for the remainder of your days," t"i i " ■ . , FABLE L* The King'fsher and the Sparrow^ AS a King-fisher was sitting beneath the shade, upon the banks of. a river, she was surprised on a sudden by the fluttering of a Sparrow, that had eloped fjom the neighbouring town,, to visit her. When the first com- pliments were over, ** How is it possible," said the Sparrow, «*that:a bird.sci finely adorned can think of spending all lier days in.tWe very depth of retirement ? The golden plumage 9:f y^qu** I'reast, the shining azure of your pinionS) were nevor given you to be concealed^ but to attract the wonder of behold'irs. Why theii should you not endea^'iil)r I to know the world, and be at the same time, youHelf both known and admired V You are very complaisaiU.'at least, replied the King-fisher, to conclude that my b^i.ng' admired, would be the con- sequence of my being known. But it has sometimes been my lot, in the loneaame valleys that I frequent, ta hear the compL^ints oiMeAUtif that has been neglected j, and of xuorth tha-t has been despised. Possibly it doei * not always happen, that^even superior excellence is found >. to excite admiration, or to obtain encouragement. I have ' learned, besides, not t from the different dispositions of our nature, n^ gives a pleasing ftavouf ioewry thing I touch, where^ thine convets topoisonj. IK^at by ft diSereat proceis had b^o the purest honey, i' J « • •> • ft • • ■» '• ". Printed and Sol:, by J. Brown, Montreal .S 4 J iruh, a Spidet iipations : the other distend- le glanced his irith spleen oa how happeni to collect npw : that supplieB •try are not ich icdefatiga-f n the difftrent easing ftavoutf •' ts to poisonj^ rest honey. ^ ■ ♦ I ?■ 4 -'-i J