you may not difgrace and fpoil it by an ill temper and behaviour; and that you, fpeaking to the Girl, may make up any defects of your perfon, by the sweetness. of your manners and converfation.- -This Fable

teaches a doctrine worthy of every stage and degree of life, from the child to the old man. Let each of us take a glafs and view ourselves. The vain and felf-conceited will find beauties in every feature, and a fhape without fault. Be it fo, yet to be compleat, he must be careful that the inward man does not difgrace the outward; that ill manners, and a bad behaviour, do not render his perfon odious and deteftable.

CLIII. The EAGLE, the CAT, and the Sow.

ANE, gehad het inhabited a hole in the midN Eagle had her neft on the top of an old dle, and a Sow with a litter of pigs lived in the hollow part at the bottom; and all three might have long continued a happy neighbourhood, had it not been for the Cat, who was fet upon mifchief. She crept to the Eagle, and told her, the filthy Sow intended to grub up the tree, in order to come at her young ones. She then vifited the Sow, and perfuaded her not to go abroad that day, for the overheard the Eagle tell her young ones, that fhe would foon treat them with a pig; though perhaps the may firft take up with a kitten; fo I must take care of mine. The Cat, thus feeming under great concern, made fuch impreffions on the Eagle and the Sow, that neither daring to venture abroad, the young ones were all ftarved, and made prize of by the treacherous Cat and her Kittens.

This fhews the ill confequence of giving ear to a double-tongued neighbour; the mischiefs thereby arifing are innumerable; many fociable, well-difpofed families have been fet at variance and enmity by fuch wicked Go-betweens,

CLIV. The

A

CLIV. The WANTON Calf.

Wanton Calf infulted an Ox at the plow. Says he, What a forry drudge and dull flave are you? Whereas I lead a happy life, go where I please, and can quench my thirft in a sweet brook at pleafure; when you must perish for want of a little dirty water to refresh you. The Ox unmoved, continued his work, and at night was unyoked. Soon after which he faw the Calf led to be facrified; Oh! fays the Ox, "Behold the end of your infolence and arrogance; now whofe condition is best, yours or mine.”

To infult people in diftrefs, is cruel and extremely imprudent; for as Fortune is very uncertain, we may the next turn of the wheel be thrown down to their condition, and they exalted to ours.

Α

CLV. The OLD LION.

N old Lion, in the ftruggles of death, was ob

A ferved by feveral other beafts, who then thought

to avenge themfelves; the Boar drove at him with his tusks; the Bull gored him with his horns; and even an Afs came, and threw his heels in the Lion's face: Upon which, the expiring Tyrant faid, Alas! how grievous is it, to fuffer infults from the brave and valiant; but to be despised by an Afs, is the difgrace of nature, and worse than ten thousand deaths!

He that would be reverenced and refpected, muft have fome fort of merit to deserve it; for few will pay deference and efteem for nothing.

SELECT

SELECT

FABLES in VERSE,

FROM

GAY, MOORE, and OTHERS.

FABLES by Mr JOHN GAY.

1. The SHEPHERD and the PHILOSOPHER.

R

EMOTE from cities liv'd a Swain,
Unvex'd with all the cares of gain.
His head was filver'd o'er with age,
And long experience made him fage;
In fummer's heat, and winter's cold,
He fed his flock, and pen'd the fold;
His hours in chearful labour flew,
Nor envy-nor ambition knew;
His wifdom and his honeft fame,
Through all the country rais'd his name.
A deep Philofopher (whose rules
Of moral life were drawn from schools)
The Shepherd's homely cottage fought,
And thus explor'd his reach of thought:
K

Whence

Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil
O'er books confum'd the midnight oil?
Haft thou old Greece and Rome furvey'd,
And the vaft fenfe of Plato weigh'd?
Has Socrates thy foul refin'd?

And haft thou fathom'd Tully's mind?
Or, like the wife Ulyffes, thrown,
By various fates on realms unknown,
Haft thou through many cities ftray'd,
Their cuftoms, laws, and manners weigh'd?
The Shepherd modeftly reply'd,

I ne'er the paths of learning try'd;
Nor have I roam'd in foreign parts,
To read mankind, their laws and arts;
For man is practis'd in disguise,
He cheats the moft difcerning eyes:
Who by that fearch fhall wifer
grow,
When we our felves can never know?
The little knowledge I have gain'd,
Was all from fimple Nature drain'd;
Hence my life's maxims took their rife,
Hence grew my fettled hate to vice.
The daily labours of the Bee
Awake my foul to industry.
Who can obferve the careful Ant,
And not provide for future want?
My Dog (the truftieft of his kind)
With gratitude inflames my mind:
I mark his true, his faithful way,
And in my fervice copy Tray.
In conftancy, and nuptial love,
I learn my duty from the Dove.
The Hen, who from the chilly air
With pious wing protects her care;
And ev'ry fowl that flies at large
Inftructs me in a parent's charge.
From Nature too I take my rule,
To fhun contempt and ridicule.