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380. A Gourd and a Pine.

There was a Gourd planted close by a large well-spread Pine: The Season was kindly, and the Gourd shot itself upon in a short time, climbing by the Boughs, and twining about 'em, till it topp'd and cover'd the Tree itself. The Leaves were large, and the Flowers and the Fruit fair; insomuch, that the Gourd had the Confidence to value itself above the Pine, upon the Comparison. Why, says the Gourd, you have been more Years a growing to this Stature, than I have been Days. Well, says the Pine again, but after so many Winters and Summers as I have endur'd, after so many Blasting Colds, and Parching Heats you see me the very same thing still that I was so long ago. But when you come to the Proof once, the first Blight or Frost shall most infallibly bring down that Stomach of yours, and strip ye of all your Glory.

The Moral. Nothing so Insoldent and Intolerable as a Proud Upstart that's rais'd from a Hunghill; he forgets both his Master and his Maker.

381. TITLE. xxx.A Raven and Wolves.

A Raven that had waited upon a Herd of Wolves a whole Day's Ramble, came to 'em at Night for a share of the Prey they had got. The Wolves answer'd him, that if he had gone along with 'em for Pure Love, and not for his Gut, he should have had his Part: But (said they) a Dead Wolf, if it had so fall'n out, would have serv'd a Raven's turn as well as a Dead Sheep.

The Moral. Most People Worship for the Loaves, from the very Plough-tail to the Crosier and Scepter; and the World bows to him that's uppermost.

382. Arion and a Dolphin.

This famous Arion was a Great Favourite of Periander the King of Corinth; he Travelled from thence into Sicily and Italy, where he gathered a great Mass of Treasure, and gain'd over and above, the Good-Will and Esteem of all People wherever he came. From thence he put himself aboard a Corinthian Vessel, to go back again, where he got an Inkling among the Ship's Crew, of a Conspiracy to take away his Life. he discours'd the Mariners about it, and came in the end to this Composition; That if he would cast himself presently into the Sea, and let the Conspirators have his Money, there should be no farther Violence offer'd to his Person. Upon this Agreement he obtain'd Liberty to give them only one Song before he leap'd Over-board, which he did, and then plung'd into the Sea. The Seamen had no Thought of his ever coming up again; but by a wonderful Providence, a Dolphin took him upon his Back, and carried him off safe to an Island, from whence he went immediately to Corinth, and presented himself before Periander, just in the Condition the Dolphin left him, and so told the Story. The King order'd him to be taken into Custody as an Impostor; but at the same time caused Enquiry to be made after the Ship, and the Seamen that he spake of, and to know if they had heard any thing of one Arion where they had been? They said, Yes, and that he was a Man of great Reputation in Italy, and of a vast Estate. Upon these Words, Arion was produc'd before them, with the very Harp and Cloaths he had when eh Leapt into the Sea. The Men were so confounded at the Spectacle, that they had not the Face to deny the Truth of the Story.

The Moral. Money is the Universal Idol. Profit governs the World, and Quid Dabitis et Tradam may be the Motto: But Providence yet in the Conclusion makes all things work for the Best.

383. A Spider and the Gout.

A Spider that had been at Work a Spinning, went Abroad once for a little Country Air to Refresh her self; and fell into Company with hte gout, that (by the way) had much ado to keep Pace with her. When they came at Night to take up their Lodging, very inquisitive they were into the Character and Condition of their Host: But the Spider without any more Ceremony, went into the House of a Rich Burgher, and fell presently to her Net-work of Drawing Cobwebs up and down from one side of the Room to the other; but there were so many Brooms, and Devillish House-wenches still at hand, that whatever she set up this Moment, was swept away the next: So that this miserable Insect was the only Creature within those Walls that felt either Want or Trouble. But the Gout all this while, was fina to Kennel in the very Dendezvous of common Beggars, where she was as uneasie, as hard Lodging, Course Bread, and Puddle-Water could make her. After a tedious and restless Night on't, they met again next Morning by Sun-Rise, and gave one another the History of their Adventure. The Spider tells first how Barbarously she had been us'd; how cursedly Nice and Cleanly the Master of the House was; how impertinently Diligent his Servants were, etc. And then the Gout Requited the Spider with the Story of her Mortifications too. They were in short, so unsatisfied with their Treatment, that they resolved to take quite contrary Measures the next Night. The Spider to get into a Cottage, and the Gout to look out for a Palace. They did what they Propos'd, and never were Creatures better pleas'd with their Entertainment. The Gout had her Rich Furniture, Down-Beds, Beccafica's, Pheasants, Partridges, Generous Wines; the best in fine, of every thing that was to be had for Mony, and all with Pure Heart, and Good will as we say. The Spider was as much at Ease on the other hand; for she was got into a House where she might draw her Lines, Work, Spin, Mend what was Amiss, Perfecdt what she had Begun, and no Brooms, Snares or Plots to Interrupt or disturb her. The Two Travellers after this met once again, and upon conferring Notes, they were both so well satisfied, that the Gout took up a Resolution for ever after to keep Company with the Rich, the Noble, and the Voluptuous; and the Spider with the Poor and Needy. What Wise Man I say, upon these Terms; would not rather take up his Lodging with the Spider in the Fable here, then with the Gout?

The Moral. An Industrious Poverty in a Cell, with Quiet Thoughts, and Sound Sleeps, is infinitely to be Prefer'd before a Lazy Life of Pomp and Pleasure: For Courts are but Nurseries of Diseases and Cares.

384. A Lamb, a Wolf and a Goat.

A Wolf overheard a Lamb Bleating among the Goats. D'ye hear Little One, (says the Wolf) if it be your dam you want, she's yonder in the Field. Ay (says the Lamb) but I am not looking for her that was my Mother for her Own sake, but for her that Nurses me up, and Suckles me out of Pure Charity, and Good Nature. Can any thing be Dearer to you, says the Wolf, then she that brought you forth? Very Right, says the Lamb; and without knowing or caring what she did: And pray, what did she bring me forth for too; but to Ease her self of a Burden, and to deliver me out of her own Belly, into the Hands of the Butcher? I am more Beholden to her that took Pity of me when I was in the World already, then to her that brought me into't, I know not how. 'Tis Charity, not Nature, or Necessity that does the Office of a Tender Mother.

The Moral. There's a difference betwixt Reverence and Affection; the one goes to the Character, and the other to the Person, and so distinguishes Duty from Inclination. Our Mothers brought us into the World; a Stranger takes us up, and Preserves us in't. So that here's both a Friend and a Parent in the case, and the Obligation of the one, must not destroy the Respect I owe to the other; nor the Respecdt the Obligation: And none but an Enemy will advise us to quit either.

385. Jupiter's Altar Robb'd.

A Thief Kindled his Torch at Jupiter's Altar, and then Robbed the Temple by the Light on't. As he was Packing away with his Sacrilegious Burden, a Voice, either of Heaven, or of Conscience, pursu'd him. The Time will come (says that Voice) when this Impious Villany of Yours shall cost ye Dear; not for the Value of what you have Stoll'n, but for the Contempt of Heaven and Religion, that you ought to have a Veneration for. Jupiter has taken care however to prevent these Insolent Affronts for the Time to come, by an Express Prohibition of any Communication for the future, betwixt the Fire upon his Altars, and that of Common Use.

The Moral. Nothing more Familiar then to cover Sacrilege, Murder, Treason, etc. with a Text. And we are also to learn from hence, that we have no greater Enemies many times, then those we have Nurs'd and Bred up; and that Divine vengeance comes sure at Last, though it may be long first.

386. The Crows and Pigeons.

There happen'd a Suit in Law betwixt the two Families of the Crows and the Pigeons; but for Quietness sake, they agreed upon an Order of Reference, and the Kite was to be Arbitrator. The Cause was Heard, and Judgment given for the Crows.

The Moral. Ask my Brother if I'm a Thief. One Criminal upon the Bench, will be sure to bring off another at the Barr.

387. A Gard'ner and his Landlord.

A Man that had made himself a very Fine Garden, was so Pester'd with a Hare, among his Roots, his Plants, and his Flowers, that away goes he immediately to his Landlord, (a great Huntsman it seems) and tells him a Lamentable Story of the Havock that this poor Hare had made in his Grounds. The Gentleman takes Pity of his Tenant, and early the next Morning goes over to him with all his People and his Dogs about him: They call in the First Place for Breakfast, Eat up his Victuals, Drink him Dry, and Kiss his Pretty Daughter into the Bargain. So soon as they have done all the Mischief they can within Doors, out they march into the Gardens to Beat for the Hare: And there down with the Hedges; the Garden-stuff goes all to Wreck, and not so much as a Leaf scapes 'em to ward the Picking of a Sasllad. Well, (says the Gard'ner) this is the way of the World, where the Poor sue for Relief to the Great. My Noble Friend here has done me more Damage in the Civility and Respect of these Two Hours, than the uttermost Spite of the Hare could have done me in twice as many Ages.

The Moral. Appeals are Dangerous from the Weaker to the Stronger, where the Remedy proves many times worse then the Disease.

388. Jupiter's Two Wallets

When Jupiter made Man, he gave him two Satchels; one for his Neighbours Faults, t'other for his Own. These Bags he threw over his Shoulders, and the Former he carried Before him, the Other Behind. So that this Fashion came up a great while ago it seems, and it has continued in the World ever since.

The Moral. Every Man Living is Partial in his own Case; but it is the Humour of Mankind to have our Neighbours Faults always in our Eye, and to cast our own over our Shoulders, out of Sight.

389. A King and a Rich Subject.