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lestrange18

Page history last edited by Laura Gibbs 14 years, 8 months ago

 

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180. A CROW AND A DOG (Perry 127)

A Crow invited a Dog to Joyn in a Sacrifice to Minerva. That will be to no Purpose (says the Dog) for the Goddess has such an Aversion to ye, that you are particularly excluded out of all Auguries. Ay, says the Crow, but I'll Sacrifice the rather to her for That, to try if I can make her my Friend.

THE MORAL. We find it in the Practice of the World, that Men take up Religion more for Fear, Reputation, and Interest, than for true Affection.

  

181. A DAW AND PIGEONS (Perry 129)

A Daw took a particular Notice of Pigeons in a certain Dovehouse , that they were well Fed and Provided for: So he went and Painted himself of a Dove-colour, and took his Commons with the Pigeons. So long as he kept his Own Counsel, he pass’d for a Bird of the same Feather; but it was his Hap once at Unawares, to cry [KAW] upon which Discovery they beat him out of the House, and when he came to his Old Companions again, they’d have none of him neither; so that he Lost himself both Ways by this Disguise.

THE MORAL. He that Trims betwixt Two Interests, loses himself with Both, when he comes to be Detected, for being True to Neither. 

 

182. JUPITER AND FRAUD (Perry 313)

Jupiter appointed Mercury to make him a Composition of Fraud and Hypocrisy, and to give every Artificer his Dose on't. The Medicine was prepar'd according to the Bill, and the Proportions duly Observ'd, and Divided: Only there was a great deal too Much of it made, and the Overplus remain'd still in the Mortar. Upon Examining the whole Account, there was a mistake, it seems, in the Reck'ning; for the Taylors were forgotten in the Catalogue: So that Mercury for Brevity sake, gave the Taylors the whole Quantity that was Left; and from hence comes the Old Saying; There's Knavery in all Trades, but Most in Taylors.

THE MORAL. It is in some sort Natural to be a Knave. We are Made so, in the very Composition of our Flesh and Blood; Only Fraud is called Wit in One Case, good Husbandry in Another, &c. while 'tis the whole Business of the World for One Man to Couzen Another. 

 

183. A DAW WITH A STRING AT'S FOOT (Perry 131)

A Country Fellow took a Daw, and ty'd a String to his Leg, and so gave him to a little Boy to Play withal. The Daw did not much like his Companion, and upon the first Opportunity gave him the Slip, and away into the Woods again, where he was Shackled and Starv'd. When he came to Die, he Reflected upon the Folly of exposing his Life in the Woods, rather than Live in an easy Servitude among Men.

THE MORAL. 'Tis Fancy, not the Reason of Things, that makes Life so Uneasie to us as we find it. 'Tis not the Place, nor the Condition; but the Mind alone that can make any Body Miserable or Happy. 

 

184. JUPITER'S WEDDING (Perry 106)

When the Toy had once taken Jupiter in the Head to enter into a State of Matrimony, he resolv'd, for the Honour of his Celestial Lady, that the whole World should keep a Festival upon the Day of his Marriage, and so Invited all Living Creatures, Tag, Rag, and Bob-tail, to the Solemnity of the Wedding. They all came in very good Time, saving only the Tortoise. Jupiter told him 'twas ill done to make the Company Stay, and ask'd him, Why so late? Why truly, says the Tortoise, I was at Home, at my Own House, my dearly Beloved House, and [Home is Home let it be never so Homely.] Jupiter took it very Ill at his Hands, that he should think himself Better in a Ditch, than in a Palace, and so he pass'd this Judgment upon him; that since he would not be persuaded to come out of his House upon that occasion, he should never Stir abroad again from that Day forward, without his House upon his Head.

THE MORAL. There's a Retreat of Sloth and Affection, as well as of Choice and Virtue: and a Beggar may be as Proud, and as happy too in a Cottage, as a Prince in a Palace. 

 

185. JUPITER AND MODESTY (Perry 109)

Man was made in such a Hurry (according to the Old Fable) that Jupiter had forgotten to put Modesty into his Composition, among his other Affections; and finding that there was no way of Introducing it afterwards, Man by Man, he proposed the turning of it Loose among the Multitude: Modesty took her self at first to be a little hardly Dealt withal, but in the end, came over to Agree to't, upon Condition that Carnal Love might not be suffer'd to come into the same Company; for where-ever that comes, says she, I'm gone.

THE MORAL. Sensual Love knows neither Bars nor Bounds. We are all Naturally Impudent; only by Custom, and Fig-leaves, we have been taught to Disguise the Matter, and look Demurely; and that's it which we call Modesty. 

 

186. A WOLF AND A SHEEP (Perry 160)

A Wolf that lay Licking of his Wounds, and extreamly Faint and Ill upon the Biting of a Dog, call’d out to a Sheep that was passing by. Hark ye Friend (says he) if thou wouldst but help me to a Soup of Water out of the same Brook there, I could make a Shift to get my self somewhat to Eat. Yes, said the Sheep, I make no Doubt on’t; but when I bring ye Drink, my Carcase shall serve ye for Meat to’t.

THE MORAL. It is a Charitable and Christian Office to relieve the Poor and the Distressed; but this Duty does not Extend to Sturdy Beggars, that while they are receiving Alms with One Hand, are ready to Beat out a Man’s Brains with the Other.

  

187. HARES, FOXES, AND EAGLES (Perry 256)

There goes an Old Story of a bloody War betwixt the Hares, and the Eagles; and the Hares would fain have drawn the Foxes into their Alliance; but very Frankly and Civilly they gave them this Answer, That they would serve them with all their Hearts, if they did not perfectly understand both the Hares themselves, and the Enemy they were to Cope withal.

THE MORAL. There’s no Entering into any League, without well Examining the Faith and Strength of the Parties to’t.

  

188. AN ANT FORMERLY A MAN (Perry 166)

The Ant, or Pismire, was formerly a Husband-man, that secretly Filch'd away his Neighbour's Goods and Corn, and stor'd up all in his own Barn. He drew a General Curse upon his Head for't, and Jupiter as a Punishment, and for the Credit of Mankind, turn'd him into a Pismire; but this Change of Shape wrought no Alteration, either of Mind, or of Manners; for he keeps the same Humour and Nature to this very Day.

THE MORAL. That which Some call Good Husbandry, Industry and Providence, Others call Raking, Avarice, and Oppression: So that the Vertue and the Vice, in many Cases, are hardly Distinguishable but by the Name.

  

189. A WILD ASS AND A TAME (Perry 183)

As a Tame Ass was Airing himself in a Pleasant Meadow, with a Coat and Carcase in very good Plight, up comes a Wild One to him from the next Wood, with this short Greeting. Brother (says he) I Envy your Happiness; and so he left him: It was his Hap some short time after this Encounter, to see his Tame Brother Groaning under an Unmerciful Pack, and a Fellow at his Heels Goading him forward. He rounds him in the Ear upon't, and Whispers him, My Friend (says he) your Condition is not, I perceive, what I took it to be, for a Body may buy Gold too Dear: And I am not for Purchasing good Looks and Provender at this Rate.

THE MORAL. Betwixt Envy and Ingratitude, we make Our selves twice Miserable; out of an Opinion, First, that Our Neighbour has too Much; and, Secondly, that We are Selves have too Little.

 

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