. SELECT FABLE S. He that will not help himself, fhall have FABLE I. Of the Waggoner and Hercules. As a Waggoner was driving his Team, his Waggon› funk into a Hole, and fuck faft. The poor Man immediately fell upon his Knees, and prayed to Hercules, that he would get his Waggon out of the Hole again. Thou Fool, fays Hercules, whip thy. Horfes, and fet thy Shoulders to the Wheels; and then if thou wilt call upon Hercules, he will help thee.. The Interpretation.. Lazy Wishes never do a Man any Service; but if he would have Help from God in the Time of Need, let him not only implore his Affifiance, but make use of his own best Endeavours. G. 5: Be Be mindful of past Favours. FABLE II. Of the Hound defpifed by his Master. N aged Hound being in Purfuit of his Game, caught out; for which, his Maiter corrected him very feverely. The Dog begged that he might not be punished, alledg ing, that he was old; yet he faid, he had been ftout in his youthful Days, and therefore hoped he might be pardoned, if it were only for his former Services: But I fee, continues he, nothing pleafeth without Profit. The Interpretation. If a Favour is rot continued, it is forgot. Many People are fo ungrateful as to take no Notice of the Ninety-nine good Turns which they have received, if the Hundredth is denied them. Young 1 Young Folks think old Folks to be Fools, but old Folks know young Folks to be Fools. FABLE III. Of the Kid, the Goat, and the Wolf. THEN the Goat was going abroad, fhe charged the Kid to shut the Door after her, and open it to none, till she should return; and then to look out of the Window first. Very well Mother, fays the Kid: If you had not told me, I fhould have Wit enough to keep the Door fhut, and to take care of myself. At the fame time the Wolf happend to be behind the House, and heard the Charge given to the Kid. Some time after the Goat's Departure, the Wolf knocks at the Door, and counterfeiting the Goat's Voice, demands Entrance. The Kid fuppofing it to be her Dam, forgot to look out at the Window, but immediately open'd the Door, and let in the Wolf, who inftantly made a Prey of her and tore her to Pieces.. The Interpretation. Children bould obey their Parents, who are always better able to advise them, than the Children can themselves. It is convenient alfo for young Men, to lend an Ear to the Aged, who being more experienced in the Affairs of the World, can give them better Counsel, whereby they may avoid many Dangers Witne's Eli'sSons, and Rehoboam's Fall. A. Man A. Man may forgive an Injury; but he cannot eafily forget it. FABLE IV. Of the Husbandman and the Snake. A luft being angry with her, Bruck her with his Hatchet, Hufbandman had brought up a Snake in his House and wounded her, for which Reafon fhe fled from him. Afterwards the Hufbandman falling into Want, imagined' that this Misfortune befel him for the Injury done to the Snake, and therefore humbly requested of her that she would' come and live with him again. The Snake replied, That the forgave him, but fhe would not return to live with him who kept a Hatchet in his Houfe;, adding, that although the Smart of the Wound was gone, yet the Mark was left, and the Remembrance of it was ftill fref in her Memory. The Interpretation. It is not fafe to trust that Man, who hath once made a Breach in Friendship. It is God-like to forgive an Injury; but, no harm to remember it, because it keeps us on our Guard. Make Make no Friendship with an ill-natur❜d Man. FABLE V. Of the Wolves and the Sheep. THE "HE Wolves made a League with the Sheep, and Hoftages were given on both Sides. The Wolves gave their young Ones to the Sheep, and the Sheep gave their Dogs to the Wolves. Some time after, while the Sheep were quietly feeding in the Meadow, the young Wolves began to howl for their Dams; at which the Wolves came rufhing in among them, and charged them with breaking the League. The Sheep began to excufe themfelves, faying, They were feeding by themfelves, and therefore could not hurt the young Wolves, not having any Dogs with them. But the Wolves infifted on it, that they were guilty of a Breach of Friendship; alledging at the fame time, That those. Innocents, who never did any harm in their Lives, would not make fuch dreadful Lamentations, unless fome Violence had been offer'd to them; and knowing the Sheep to be without their Guard, they fell upon them and tore them to Pieces. The Interpretation.. He Be always upon your Guard when an Enemy is near. who has always run counter to the Rules of Friendship, will never become a true Friend, though you should bind him by the frange Engagements, Honefly |