XVIII. The STAG Drinking.

A Stag quenching his thirft in a clear lake, was

ftruck with the beauty of his horns, which he faw reflected in the water. At the fame time, obferving the extreme flenderness of his legs,-What a pity it is, faid he, that so fine a creature fhould be furnished with fo defpicable a set of spindle fhanks! What a truly noble animal fhould I be, were my legs in any degree anfwerable to my horns! In the midft of this foliloquy, he was alarmed with a pack of Hounds. He immediately flies over the foreft, and left his purfuers fo far behind, that he might probably have efcaped; 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 own true advantages! the legs which I defpifed would have borne me away in safety, had not my fa vourite antlers betrayed me to ruin.

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XIX. The LION and the MOUSE.

Lion by accident fet his paw upon a poor innocent Mouse. The frighted little creature, imagining the was just going to be devoured, begged hard for her life; urged that clemency was the fairest attribute of power, and earneftly intreated his majefty not to ftain his illuftrious claws with the blood of fo infignificant an animal: Upon which the Lion very generously fet her at liberty. It happened a few days afterwards, that the Lion, ranging for his prey, fell into the toils of the hunter. The Mouse hearing his roarings, knew the voice of her benefactor; and immediately repairing to his affiftance, gnawed in pieces the mefhes of the net; and by delivering her preferver, convinced him, that there is no creature fo much below another, but may have it in his power to return à good office.The Great and the Little have need of each other.

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XX. The Ass and the LAP-DOG.

N Afs who lived in the fame family with a favourite Lap-dog, obferving the fuperior degree of affection which the little minion enjoyed, imagined he had nothing more to do, to obtain an equal share in their good graces, than to imitate the Lap-dog's playful and endearing careffes. Accordingly, he began to frisk about before his mafter, kicking up his heels and braying, in an aukward affectation of wantonnefs and pleafantry. This ftrange behaviour could not fail of raifing much laughter; which the Afs mifraking for approbation and encouragement, he proceeded to leap upon his mafter's breast, and began very familiarly to lick his face: But he was prefently convinced by the force of a good cudgel, that what is fprightly and agreeable in one, may in another be juftly cenfured as rude and impertinent; and that the fureft way to gain efteem, is for every one to act fuitably to his own natural genius and character.

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XXI.

The SWALLOW and other BIRDS.

Swallow obferving a farmer employed in fowing hemp, called the little Birds together, informed them what he was about, and told them that hemp was the material from which the nets, fo fatal to the feathered race, were compofed; adviting them unanimoufly to join in picking it up, in order to prevent the confequences. The Birds, either disbelieving his information, or neglecting his advice, gave themfelves no trouble about the matter. In a little time the hemp appeared above ground: The friendly Swallow again addreffed himfelf to them, told them it was not yet too late, provided they would immediately fet about the work, before the feeds had taken too deep root: But they still rejecting his advice, he forfook their fociety, repaired for fafety to towns and cities, and there built his habitations, and kept his refidence.

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One day, as he was fkimming along the treet, he happened to fee a large parcel of thofe very birds imprifoned in a cage, on the fhoulders of a bird-catcher. Unhappy wretches, faid he, you now feel the punithment of your former neglect: But those who, having no forefight of their own, defpife the wholefome admonitions of their friends, deserve the mifchiefs which obftinacy or negligence brings upon their heads.

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XXII. The Old MAN and DEATH.

Feeble old Man, quite fpent with carrying a burden of sticks, which with much labour he had gathered in a neighbouring wood, called upon, Death to releafe him from the fatigues he endured, Death hearing the invocation, was immediately at his elbow, and asked him what he wanted. Frighted and trembling at the unexpected appearance,-O good Sir! faid he, my burden had like to have flipt from me, and being unable to recover it myself, I only implored your affistance to lay it on my fhoulders again.-Few have courage to face Death.

XXIII. The COUNTRYMAN and the SNAKE.

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N honeft Countryman obferved a Snake lying under a hedge, almoft frozen to death: He was moved with compaffion; and bringing it home, he laid it near the fire, and gave it fome new milk. Thus fed and cherished, the creature presently began to revive: But no fooner had he recovered ftrength enough to do mifchief, than he fprung upon the countryman's wife, bit one of his children, and, in fhort, threw the whole family into confufion and terror. Ungrateful wretch! faid the man, thou haft fufficiently taught me how ill-judged it is to confer benefits on the worthlefs and undeferving. So faying, he fnatched up a hatchet, and cut the Snake in pieces.

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XXIV. The WOLF and the LAMB.

THEN cruelty and injuftice are armed with power, and determined on oppreffion, the ftrongest pleas for innocence are preferred in vain.

A Wolf and a Lamb were accidentally quenching. their thirst together at the fame rivulet. The Wolf stood towards the head of the stream, and the Lamb at fome diftance below. The injurious beaft, refolved on a quarrel, fiercely demands-How dare you disturb the water which I am drinking? The poor Lamb, all trembling, replies, How, I befeech you, can that poffibly be the cafe, fince the current fets from you to me? Difconcerted by the force of truth, he changes the accufation: Six months ago, fays he, you vilely flandered me. Impoffible, returns the Lamb, for I was not then born. No matter, it was your father then, or fome of your relations; and immediately feizing the innocent Lamb, he tore him in pieces.

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XXV. The LARK and her YOUNG.

Lark having built her neft in a field of orn, ie grew ripe before her young were well able to fly. Apprehenfive of their fafety, fhe enjoined them, while fhe went out in order to provide for their Tub fiftence, to liften very attentively, if they fhould hear any difcourfe concerning the reaping of the field. At her return they told her, that the farmer and his fon had been there, and had agreed to fend to fome of their neighbours, to affist them in cutting it down the next day. And fo they depend, it feems, upon neighbours, faid the mother: Very well; then I think wer have no occafion to be afraid of to-morrow. The next day fhe went out, and left with them' thes fame injunction as before. When the returned, they acquainted her, that the farmer and his for had again been there; but as none of their neighbours came, to their affiftance, they had deferred reaping tijl the next

day, and intended to fend for help to their friends and relations. I think we may still venture another day, fays the mother; but, however, be careful as before, to let me know what paffes in my abfence. They now inform her, that the farmer and his fon had a third time visited the field; and finding that neither friend nor relation had regarded their fummons, they were determined to come 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 upon themselves for doing their own business, it will undoubtedly be performed.

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XXVI. The FROG and the Ox.

Frog being wonderfully struck with the fize and majefty of an Ox that was grazing in the marshes, could not forbear endeavouring to expand herfelf to the fame portly magnitude. After puffing and fwelling for fome time,-What think you, fifter, faid she, will this do? Far from it. Will this? By no means. But this furely will? Nothing like it. In fhort, after many ridiculous efforts to the fame fruitless purpose, the fimple Frog burst her skin, and miferably expired upon the fpot. Wretched Pride is often fatal to

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XXVII. The COURT and COUNTRY MOUSE.

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Contented Country Moufe had once the honour to receive a vifit from an old acquaintance belonging to the Court. The Country Moufe, extremely glad to fee her gueft, very hofpitably fet before her the best cheese and bacon which her cottage aforded; and as to their beverage, it was the pureft water from the fpring. The repaft was homely indeed, but the welcome hearty: They fat and chatted away the evening together very agreeably, and then retired in peace and quietnefs cach to their little cell.

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