Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/174

120 Same Time he makes a Mock on’t, and Provokes it. He tands Convinc'd that God knows All the Secrets of his Heart, and yet tells him a Lye to his Face. There is No uch Maque, in fine, for the Greatet of Impietyes, as a Veil of Religion. This Praying Carpenter here would have made Mercury a Broaker to his Knavery: and we have a world of Praying Chritians too, that write after his Copy.



Here was a Time, when a Fox would have Ventur'd as far for a Bunch of Grapes, as for a Shoulder of Mutton, and it was a Fox of Thoe days, and of That Palate, that tood Gaping under a Vine, and licking his Lips at a mot Delicious Cluter of Grapes that he had Spy’d out there; He fetch'd a Hundred and a Hundred Leaps at it, till at lat, when he was as Weary as a Dog, and found that there was No Good to be done; Hang 'em (ays He) they are as Sour as Crabs; and o away he went, turning off the Diappointment with a Jet.

S a Wolfe and a Lyon were abroad upon Adventure together, Heark, (ays the Wolfe) Don't you hear the Bleating of Sheep? My Life for Yours Sir, I'le go fetch ye a Purchae. Away he goes, and follows his Eare, till he came jut under the Sheepfold: But it was o well fortify d, and the Dogs aleep o Near it, that back he comes Sneaking to the Lyon again, and tells him, There are Sheep Yonder (ays he) 'tis true, but they are as Lean as Carrion, and we had e'en as good let ‘em alone ‘till they have more Fleh on their Backs.