Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/109

Rh as to Wound him; That is, either in a Word, or in a Thought. But then 'tis Death perhaps to be Impos’d upon by an Hypocrite under That Maquce. So that the Character of a Wife Man, lyes at Stake upon Matter of Judgment, One Way, and of a Good Natur'd Man, the Other Way. The Middle Coure is to Hide our Ditrut where we are Doubtful, and to be Free, and Open, where we may be Secure. There's No Living without Truting ome body or Other, in ome Caes, or at ome Time or Other: But then if People be not Cautious, Whom, When, and Wherein, the Mitake may be Mortal; for there mut be omewhat of a Trut to make way for a Treachery; ince No man can be Betray’d, that does not either Believe, or eem to Believe: So that the Fox did well to Weigh All Circumftances before he came to a Reolution, The 's Deign was well enough Cover'd under the Diguife of a Counterfeit Sicknes, and a Dilembled Tendernes and Repect, for the Drawing of the Fox into the Toyle. For there was the Civility of an Invitation, on the One hand, and ome Colour of a Right co a Viit, though but out of Compaion and Good Manners, on the Other: But the Foxes Sagacity, and the Prints of the Feet Spoil’d All. This Fable in One Word more, bids us be Careful how we Trut in Any Cae without looking Well about us: for 'tis Half the Bus'nes of One part of the World to put Tricks upon T'other. The Heart of Man is like a Bog, it looks Fair to the Eye; but when we come to lay any Weight upon’t, the Ground is Fale under us. Nothing could be more Obliging and Repectful then the ’s Letter was, in Terms and Appearance; but there was Death yet in the True Intent and Meaning on’t.

Slam, Thin-Gutted Fox made a Hard Shift to Wriggle his Body into a Hen-Root, and when he had tuff’d his Guts well, he queez’d hard to get out again; but the Hole was too Little for him. There was a Weazle a pretty way off, that tood Learing at him all This While. Brother Reynard; (ays he) Your Belly was Empty when you went In, and you mut e'en ftay till Your Belly be Empty again, before you come Out.

a Middle State, both of Body, and of Fortune a man is better Dipos'd for the Offices of Humane Society, and the Functions of Reaonable Nature; and the Heart is alo Freer from Cares and Troubles. There are