Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/137

Rh of this Fable: Firt, as a Diuaive to Thoe that pend their Time in Idle Inipid Compaay. Secondly, As a Caution to Thoe that are Tainted with this Levity, not to make Themelves Ridiculous any longer. Nature has Written Fool upon the Tip of That Man’s Tongue that will always be telling Stories with an [I did This,] and [I ayd That.] Travelicrs, they ay, may lye by Authority; and yet our Travellers Privilege here was not uicient to Protect him in his Vanity from making Sport to the Company.

Here was a certain Bantering Droll that took a Journey to Delphos, a purpoe to try if he could put a Trick upon Apollo. He carry'd a Sparrow in his Hand under his Coat, and told the God, I have omewhat in my Hand, ays he, Is it Dead or Living? If the Oracle hould ay ‘twas Dead, he could hew it Alive; If Living, ‘twas but queezing it, and then 'twas Dead. Now He that aw the Malice of his Heart gave him this Anwer: It hall e’en be which of the Two you pleae; for ‘tis in Your Choice to have it either the One or the Other.