meant to be their proper food: That this, at least, was his opinion; and whatever fate attended him, he fhould not fcruple to rifque his life in the purfuit of his lawful prey.

The Farmer having heard their pleas, determined the cause in the following manner :- The Hare, faid he, deferves compaffion, for the penitence he fhews, and the humble confeffion he has made: As for the Fox and Wolf, let them be hanged together; their crimes themselves alike deferve it, and are equally heightened by the aggravation of hypocrify and of impudence.

CXXVII. The STARS and the SKY-ROCKET.

A S a Rocket, on a rejoicing night, afcended thro the air, and obferved the ftream of light that diftinguifhed his paffage, he could not forbear exulting in his elevation, and calling upon the ftars to do him reverence. Behold, faid he, what gazing multitudes admire the luftre of my train, whilft all your feeble, fparks of light pass unobserved, or difregarded! The Stars heard his empty boaft with filent indignation: The Dog-ftar only vouchfafed to answer him. How erroneous, faid he, are their conclufions who liften to the voice of popular applaufe! It is true, the novelty of thy appearance may procure to thee more admiration than is allotted to our daily course, although indeed a lafting miracle. But do not estimate thy importance by the capricious fancy of mifguided men. Know thyfelf to be the ufelefs pageant, the frail production of a mortal hand. Even while I fpeak, thy blaze is extinguished, and thou art funk into oblivion. We, on the other hand, were lighted up by Heaven for the advantage of mankind, and our glory fhall endure for ever.

CXXVIII.

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The TWO TROUTS and the GUDGEON.

Fisherman in the month of May, stood angling on the banks of the Thames, with an artificial fly: He threw his bait with fo much art, that a young Trout was rushing towards it, when she was prevented by her mother. Never, faid fhe, my child, be too precipitate, where there is a poffibility of danger. Take due time to confider, before you risk an action that may be fatal. How know you whether yon appearance be indeed a fly, or the fnare of an enemy ? Let fome one elfe make the experiment before you. If it be a fly, he very poffibly will elude the first attack; and then the fecond may be made, if not with success, at least with fafety. She had no fooner uttered this caution, than a Gudgeon feized upon the pretended fly, and became an example to the giddy daughter, of the great importance of her mother's council.

CXXIX. The TENTYRITES and the ICHNEUMON.

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Crocodile of prodigious fize, and uncommon fiercenefs, infefted the banks of the Nile, and fpread defolation through all the neighbouring country. He feized the fhepherd, together with the fheep, and devoured the herdfmen, as well as the cattle. Emboldened by fuccefs, and the terror which prevailed wherever he appeared, he ventured to carry his incurfions even into the island of Tentyra, and to brave the people who boaft themselves the only tamers of his race. The Tentyrites themselves were struck with horror, at the appearance of a monster so much more terrible than they had ever feen before: Even the boldeft of them dared not attack him openly; and the most experienced long endeavoured with all their art and addrefs to furprize him, but in vain. As they were confulting together, what they should do in

thefe

thefe circumstances, an Ichneumon stepped forth, and thus addreffed them. I perceive your diftrefs, neighbours: And though I cannot affift you in the prefent difficulty, yet give me leave to offer you fome advice that may be of use to you for the future. A little prudence is worth all your art and your courage: It may be glorious to overcome a great evil, but the wifeft way is to prevent it. You defpife the Crocodile while he is fmall and weak; and do not fufficiently confider, that as he is a long lived animal, fo it is his peculiar property to grow as long as he lives. You fee I am a poor, little, feeble creature; yet am I much more terrible to the Crocodile, and more useful to the country, than you are. I attack him in the egg; and while you are contriving for months together, how to get the better of one Crocodile, and all to no purpose, I effectually deftroy fifty of them in a day.

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CXXX. The De V E.

Dove that had a mate and young ones, happening to fpy her cage door open, was driven by a fudden impulfe to fly out into an adjacent grove. There, perched upon the bough of a fycamore, fhe fat as it were wrapt in deep contemplation; not recovering from her reverie, until the owner drew nigh unfeen, and brought her back to her little family.

Art thou not afhamed then, fays her mate, thus to defert thy helpless offspring? Art thou not base to abandon me, for the company of birds to whom thou art a stranger? Could I have harboured fuch a thought? I, who have been ever conftant to our first engagement? and muft have died of mere despair, hadft thou not returned to my embraces? But how, alas, returned! Not, as it feems, by choice; but enfnared by dint of artifice, and brought hither by constraint.

Have patience, replied the rambler, and hear the plea of thy repentant mate. Witnefs, all ye powers of wedlock, ye that know what paffes in the hearts of doves, if ever, before this unhappy moment, I happened to decide amifs! When removed to yonder wood, the air of liberty breathed fo fweet, that, with horror I fpeak it, I felt a fufpenfe about returning to the cage. Pardon, I pray thee, this one crime, and be well affured I will relapfe no more. And that thou may' be the more induced to pardon it, know that the love of liberty burns ever the strongest in bofoms that are moft prone to conjugal affection and the love of young.

CXXXI. The FIGHTING COCKS and the TURKEY.

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WO Cocks of the genuine game breed met by chance upon the confines of their respective walks. To fuch great and heroic fouls the fmalleft matter imaginable affords occafion for difpute. They approach each other with pride and indignation; they look defiance; they crow a challenge; and immediately commence a long and bloody battle. It was fought on both fides with fo much courage and dexterity, they gave and they received fuch deep and defperate wounds; that they both lay down upon the turf utterly spent, blinded, and difabled. While this was their fituation, a Turkey that had been a spectator of all that paffed between them, drew near to the field of battle, and reproved them in this manner. "How foolish and abfurd has been your quarrel, my good neighbours! A more ridiculous one could fcarce have happened, among the most contentious of all creatures, men. Because you have crowed perhaps in each other's hearing, or that one of you has picked up a grain of corn upon the territories of his rival, you have both rendered yourselves miferable for the remainder of your days.'

CXXXII. The

CXXXII.

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The NIGHTINGALE and the BULLFINCH.

Nightingale and a Bullfinch occupied two cages in the fame apartment. The Nightingale perpetually varied her fong, and every effort the made afforded fresh entertainment. The Bullfinch always whistled the fame dull tune that he had learnt, till all the family grew weary of the difguftful repetition. What is the reason, faid the Bullfinch one day to his neighbour, that your fongs are always heard with peculiar attention, while mine, I obferve, are almost as wholly difregarded? The reason, replied the Nightingale, is obvious; your audience are fufficiently acquainted with every note you have been taught, and they know your natural abilities too well, to expect any thing new from that quarter. How then can you fuppofe they will liften to a fongfter, from whom nothing native or original is to be expected?

CXXXIII. The TOAD and the GOLD-FISH.

Sa Gold-Fifth newly brought from the warm regions of the Eaft, difplayed his beauties in the fun; a toad, who had long eyed him with no small degree of envy, broke out into this exclamation. How partial and how fantastic is the favour of mankind Regardless of every excellence that is obvious and familiar; and only ftruck with what is imported from a diftant climate at a large expence! What a pompous bafon is here conftructed, and what extreme fondnefs is here fhown, for this infignificant stranger! when a quadrupede of my importance is neglected, fhunned, and even perfecuted. Surely were I to appear in China, I should receive the fame, or perhaps greater honours than are lavished here upon this tinfel-favourite.

The