CII. The BEAR.

beria, had an inclination to fee the world. He travelled from foreft to forest, and from one kingdom to another, making many profound obfervations in his way. Among the reft of his excurfions, he came by accident into a farmer's yard, where he faw a number of poultry ftanding to drink by the fide of a pool. Obferving that at every fip they turned up their heads towards the sky, he could not forbear enquiring the reafon of fo peculiar a ceremony. They told him it was by way of returning thanks to Heaven for the benefits they received; and was indeed an ancient and religious cuftom, which they could not, with a fafeconfcience, or without impiety, omit. Here the Bear burst into a fit of laughter, at once mimicking their gestures, and ridiculing their fuperftition, in the most contemptuous manner. On this, the Cock, with a spirit fuitable to the boldness of his character, addreffed him in the following words: "As you are a ftranger, Sir, you perhaps may be excufed the indecency of this behaviour; yet give me leave to tell you, thati none but a Bear would ridicule any religious ceremo→ nies whatsoever, in the prefence of thofe who believe them of importance."

CIII. DEATH and CUPID.

UPITER fent forth Death and Cupid 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 the difpofer of human affairs, that the arrows of Love fhould only wound the young, in order to fupply the decays of mortal men; and those of Death were to ftrike old age, and free the world from useless charge. Our travellers being one day extremely fa tigued with their journey, rested themfelves under the covert of a wood; and throwing down their arrows in

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a promifcuous manner before them, they both fell faft afleep. They had not reposed themfelves long, before they were awakened by a fudden noise; when hastily gathering up their arms, each in the confufion took by miftake fome of the darts that belonged to the other. By this means it frequently happened that Death vanquifhed the young, and Cupid fubdued the old. Jupiter obferved the error, but did not think proper to redress it; foreseeing that fome good might arise from their unlucky exchange. And in fact, if men were wife, they would learn from this mistake to be apprehenfive of death in their youth; and to guard against the amorous paffions in their old age.

CIV. The SPECTACLE S.

OW ftrangely all mankind differ in their opi

HOW nions! and how ftrongly each is attached to his

own! Jupiter one day, enjoying himself over a bowl of nectar, and in a merry humour, determined to make mankind a prefent. Momus was appointed to convey it to them; who, mounted on a rapid car, was prefently on earth. Come hither, fays he, ye happy mortals; great Jupiter has opened for your benefit his all-gracious hands. It is true, he made you fomewhat fhort-fighted; but to remedy that inconvenience, behold how he has favoured you! So faying, he unloofed his portmanteau; an infinite number of fpectacles tumbled out, and mankind picked them up with great eagernefs; there was enow for all, every man had his pair. But it was foon found that thefe fpectacles did not represent objects to all mankind alike: For one pair was purple, another blue; one was white, and another black; fome of the glaffes were red, fome green, and fome yellow. In fhort, there were all manner of colours, and every fhade of colour, However, notwithstanding this diverfity, every man was charmed with his own, as believing it the beft; and enjoyed in opinion, all the fatisfaction of truth.

Cv. The

CV. The POET and the DEATHWATCH.

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Sa Poet fat in his closet, feafting his imagination on the hopes of fame and immortality, he was startled on a fudden with the ominous sound of a Deathwatch. However, immediately recollecting himfelf,-Vain infect, faid he, cease thy impertinent forebodings, fufficient indeed to frighten the weakness of women or of children; but far beneath the notice of a Poet and Philofopher. As for me, whatever accident may threaten my life, my fame, fpite of thy prognostics, fhall live to future ages. May be fo, replied the infect, I find at least thou hadft rather liften to the maggot in thy head, than to the worm beneath thy table: But know, that the fuggeftions of Vanity are altogether as deceitful as thofe of Superstition.

CVI. The TWO LIZARDS.

S two Lizards were basking under a south wall, how contemptible, faid one of them, is our condition! We exift, it is true, but that is all; for we hold no fort of rank in the creation, and are utterly unnoticed by the world. Curfed obfcurity! Why was I not rather born a ftag, to range at large, the pride and glory of some foreft? It happened, that in the midst of thefe unjuft murmurs, a pack of hounds was heard in full cry after the very creature he was envying, who being quite fpent with the chace, was torn in pieces by the dogs in fight of our two Lizards. And is this the lordly ftag, whofe place in the creation you wifhed to hold? replied the wifer Lizard to his complaining friend. Let his fad fate teach you to blefs Providence for placing you in that humble fituation, which fecures you from the dangers of a more elevated rank.

CVII. The

CVII. The LITIGIOUS CATS.

WO Cats having ftolen fome cheefe, could not agree about dividing their prize. In order therefore to fettle the difpute, they confented to refer the matter to a monkey. The proposed arbitrator very readily accepted the office; and producing a balance, put a part into each feale. "Let me fee (said he) aye-this lump outweighs the other ;" and immediately bit off a confiderable piece, in order to reduce it (he obferved) to an equilibrium. The oppofite fcale was now become the heavier; which afforded our confcientious judge an additional reafon for a fecond mouthful. Hold, hold, faid the two Cats, who began to be alarmed for the event, give us our respective fhares, and we are fatisfied. If you are fatisfied, returned the monkey, juftice is not; a cafe of this intricate nature is by no means fo foon determined: Upon which, he continued to nibble firf one piece and then the other, till the poor Cats, feeing their cheese gradually diminishing, intreated him to give himself no farther trouble, but to deliver to them what remained. Not fo faft, I befeech ye, friends, replied the monkey; we owe justice to ourtelves as well as to you; what remains is due to me in right of my office: Upon which, he stuffed the whole into his mouth, and with great gravity difmiffed the court.

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CVIII. The STORK and the CROW.

Stork and a Crow had once a strong contention which of them food highest in the favour of Jupiter. The Crow alledged his skill in omens, his infallibility in prophecies, and his great ufe to the priefts of that deity, in all their facrifices and religious ceremonies. The Stork urged only his blameless life, the care he took to preferve his offspring, and the affiftance

affiftance he lent his parents under the infirmities of age. It happened, as it generally does in religious difputes, that neither of them could confute the other; fo they both agreed to refer the decifion to Jupiter himself. On their joint application, the God determined thus between them: Let none of my creatures defpair of my regard: I know their weaknefs; I pity their errors, and whatever is well meant, I accept as it was intended. Yet facrifices or ceremonies are in themselves of no importance, and every attempt to pe netrate the counfels of the Gods, is altogether as vain as it is prefumptuous: But he who pays to Jupiter a just honour and reverence, who leads the moft temperate life, and who does the moft good in proportion to his abilities; as he best answers the end of his crcation, will affuredly ftand higheft in the favour of his

creator.

CIX. The TUBEROSE and the SUNFLOWER.

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Tuberofe in a bow-window on the north fide of a ftately villa, addreffed a Sunflower which grew on a flope that was contiguous to the house. Pray, fays he, neighbour Turnfole, to what purpose do you pay all this devotion to that fictitious deity of yours, the Sun? Why are you continually diftorting your body, and cafting up your eyes to that glaring fuminary? What fuperftition induces you to think, that we flowers exift only through his influence? Both you and I are furely indebted to the hot-bed, and to the diligence of the gardener, for our production and fupport. For my part, I fhall reserve my homage, together with my fweets, for that benevolent mafter who is continually watering and refrefliing me: Nor do I defire ever to fee the face of that fun you fo vainly idolize, while I can enjoy the cool thade of this magnificent falcon. Fruce with thy blafphemies, replied the Sunflower: Why doft thou G

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