Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/126

72 quel, We are likewie to take Notice that Jutice is Sacred, and that No Provocation, eithcr of Inolent Language, or Behaviour, can Warrant the Violation of it.

And it is further Suggeted to us, that when People are in a Train of Wickednes, One Sin Treads upon the Heel of Another. The Eagle begins with an Invaion upon the Rights of Hopitality, and Common Faith; and at the Next Step Advances to Sacrilege, in Robbing the Altar. And what follows upon it now, but a Divine Judgment, that ets fire to her Net, and Avenges the Caue of the very Fox, though One of the Falet of Creatures! From hence we are to Gather Thoe Two Doctrines for our Intruction. Firt, That the Midemeanors of Temporal Sovereign Powers are ubjected only to the Animadl [sic] verion of the upreme Lord of the Univere. And econdly, That in the Cae of Tyranny it is not for Private Men to pretend to any Other Appeal.

Poor Innocent Stork had the Ill Hap to be taken in a Net that was layd for Geee and Cranes. The Storks Plea for her elf was Simplicity, and Piety: The Love he bore to Mankind, and the Service he did in Picking up of Venomous Creatures. This is all True, ays the Husbandman; But They that Keep Ill Company, if they be Catch’d with Ill Company, mut Expect to uffer with Ill Company.

is to bid men have a care What Company they keep; for when the Good and Bad are Taken together, they mut Go together. Not but that a man may lye under ome Obligation of Duty and Repect, to Viit, Eat and Correpond with Many People that he does not Like. And This may be well enough Done too; provided it be out of Decency, Dicretion, or Good Manners, rather then upon Choice and Inclination. We cannot Honetly let a Civil Enemy into a Town that’s Beieg'd, or hold any ort of Intelligence with him (though but in a Bare Curioity) about the Affairs of the Garrion. Let a man Conider now, how much more, Dangerous, and Unwarrantable it is to take an Enemy into Our Souls, then into our Forts. With all Honour yet to a Brave Adverary, apart from his Caue.