The next morning, when the guest was to take her leave, the kindly preffed her country friend to attend her; fetting forth in very pompous terms the great elegance and plenty in which they lived at Court. The Country Moufe was eafily prevailed upon, and they fet out together. It was late in the evening when they arrived at the palace; however, in one of the rooms they found the remains of a fumptuous entertainment. There were creams, and jellies, and fweatmeats; and every thing, in fhort, of the most delicate kind; the cheefe was Parmefan, and they wetted their whiskers in exquifite champaign. But before they had half finifhed their repaft, they were alarmed with the barking and fcratching of a lap-dog; then the mewing of a cat frighted them almoft to death; by and by, a whole train of fervants burft into the room, and every thing was fwept away in an inftant. Ah! my dear friend, faid the Country Moufe, as foon as the had received courage enough to fpeak, if your fine living is thus interrupted with fears and dangers, let me return to my plain food, and my peaceful cottage: For what is elegance, without cafe; or plenty, with an aching heart!

XXVIII. The SUN and the WIND.

HEBUS and Eolus had once a difpute which

PHO

prevail with

veller to part with his cloak. Bolus began the attack, and affaulted him with great violence: But the man wrapping his cloak still closer about him, doubled his efforts to keep it, and went on his way. And now Phoebus darting his warm infinuating rays, which melting our traveller by degrees, at length obliged him to throw afide that cloak, which all the rage of Æolus could not compel him to refign. Learn hence, faid Phoebus to the bluftering God, that foft and gentle means will often accomplish what force and fury can never effect.

XXIX. The

combs being claimed by a fwarm of Wafps, the right owners protefted against their demand, and the caufe was referred to a Hornet. Witneffes being examined, they depofed, that certain winged creatures who had a loud hum, were of a yellowish colour, and fomewhat. like Bees, were obferved a confiderable time hovering about the place where this neft was found. But this did not fufficiently decide the question; for these characteristics, the Hornet obferved, agreed no lefs with the Bees than with the Wafps. At length, a fenfible old Bee offered to put the matter upon this decifive iffue: Let a place be appointed, faid he, by the court, for the plaintiffs and defenders to work in; it will then foon appear which of us are capable of forming fuch regular cells, and afterwards of filling them with fo delicious a fluid. The Wafps refufing to agree to this propofal, fufficiently convinced the Judge on which fide the right lay, and he decreed the honey comb accordingly.

XXX. The WOLF and the CRANE.

Wolf having with too much greediness swallowed

A a bone, it unfortunately stuck in his throat; and

in the violence of his pain, he applied to feveral animals, earnestly intreating them to extract it. None cared to hazard the dangerous experiment, except the Crane, who, perfuaded by his folemn promifes of gratuity, ventured to thruft her enormous length of neck down his throat, and fucceffively performed the operation. When claiming the recompence, See the unreasonableness of some creatures, replies the Wolf: Have I not fuffered thee fafely to draw thy neck out of my jaws, and haft thou confcience to demand a further reward.'Tis a nice queftion, how far wicked men in their diftreffes ought to be relieved;-but an Ingrate is a monster! XXXI. The

XXXI. The BEAR and the Two FRIENDS.

AWO Friends fetting out together upon a journey which led through a dangerous defart, mutually promifed to affift each other in whatever manner they might be affaulted. They had not proceeded far, before they perceived a Bear making towards them with great rage. There were no hopes in flight; but one of them, being very active, fprung up into a tree; Upon which, the other, throwing himfelf flat on the ground, held his breath, and pretended to be dead remembering to have heard it afferted, that this crea ture will not prey upon a lifelefs carcafe,The Bear came up, and after fmelling to him fome time, left him, and went on. When he was fairly out of fight and hearing, the hero from the tree calls out,-Well, my Friend, what faid the he whisper

Deated to other

to you very clofely. He replied

and gave me this good piece of advice, "Never to affociate with a wretch, who, in the hour of danger, will defert his Friend."

A&G

Xxx11. The WOLF and the MASTIFF.
XXXII. The Wolffe

Leany half-ftarved Wolf inadvertently ftrolled in the way of å strong well-fed Maftiff. The Wolf being much too weak to act upon the offenfive, thought it most prudent to accoft honeft Towfer in a friendly manner; and among other civilities, very.complaifantly congratulated him on this goodly appear ance. Why, yes, returned the Maftiff, I am indeed in tolerable cafe; and if you will follow me, you may foon be altogether in as good a plight. The Wolf pricked up his ears at the propofal, and requested to be informed what he must do to earn fuch plentiful meals. Very little, replied the Maftiff; only drive away beggars, carefs my mafter, and be civil to his family. To these conditions the hungry Wolf had no objection, and readily confented to follow his new acquaintance

quaintance wherever he would conduct him. As they were trotting along, the Wolf obferved, that the hair was worn in a circle round his friend's neck; which raifed his curiofity to enquire what was the occafion of it? Nothing, anfwered the Maftiff, or a mere trifle; perhaps the collar to which my chain is fometimes faftened. Chain! replied the Wolf, with much furprize; it fhould feem then that you are not permitted to rove about where you pleafe. Not always, returned Towfer, hanging down his head; but what does that fignify? It fignifies fo much, rejoined the Wolf, that I am refolved to have no fhare in your dinners: Half a meal with liberty, is in my eftimation, preferable to a full one without it.

XXXIII. The LION and other BEASTS bunting in Partnership.

A Leopard, à Lynx, and a Wolf, were ambitious

of the honour of hunting with the Lion. His favage majefty graciously condefcended to their defire; and it was agreed, that they should all have an equal fhare in whatever might be taken. They fcour the foreft, are unanimous in the purfuit, and, after a very fine chace, pull down a noble Stag. It was divided with great dexterity by the Lynx into four equal parts; but juft as each was going to fecure his fhare, Hold, fays the Lion, let no one prefume to ferve himfelf, till he hath heard our just and reasonable claims. I feize upon the firft quarter by virtue of my preroga tive; the fecond is due to my fuperior conduct and courage; I cannot forego the third, on account of the neceffities of my den; and if any one is inclined to dispute my right to the fourth, let him fpeak. Awed by the majesty of his frown, and the terror of his claws, they filently withdrew, refolving never to hunt again but with their equals.

Xxxiv. The

XXXIV. The FARMER, the CRANES, and the STORE.

A

Stork was unfortunately drawn into company with fome Cranes, who were juft fetting out on a party of pleafure, as they called it, which in truth was to rob the fish-ponds of a neighbouring Farmer. Our fimple Stork agreed to make one; and it fo happened, that they were all taken in the fact. The Cranes having been old offenders, had very little to fay for themselves, and were prefently dispatched: But the Stork pleaded hard for his life; he urged that was his firft fault; that he was not naturally addicted to stealing fish; that he was famous for piety to his parents; and, in fhort, for many other virtues. Your piety and virtue, faid the Farmer, may, for aught I know, be exemplary; but your being in company with thieves, renders it very fufpicious; and you muft, therefore, fubmit with patience to fhare the fame punishment with your companions.

AN

XXXV. The ANT and the FLY.

N Ant and a Fly had once a ridiculous conteft about precedency, and were arguing which of the two was the moft honourable. Such difputes moft frequently happen amongst the lowest and most worthlefs creatures. The Fly expreffed great refentment, that fuch a poor, crawling infect fhould prefume to lie bafking in the fame funfhine, with one fo much her fuperior! Thou haft not furely the infolence, faid the, to imagine thyfelf of an equal rank with me. I am none of your low mechanic creatures, who live by their induftry; but enjoy in plenty, and without labour, every thing that is truly delicious. I place myfelf uncontrouled upon the heads of kings; I kifs, with freedom, the lips of beauties; and feaft upon the choiceft facrifices that are offered to the Gods. To cat with the Gods, replied the Ant, and to enjoy the favours of the fair and powerful, would be great honour indeed