Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/201

Rh He that does Nothing at all, does Wore then He, that upon the Account of Humane Frailty, does Amis; for Nothing can be more contrary to God Himelf, who is a Pure Act, then the Sleeping and Drowing away of our Life and Reaon, that was given us for o many Better Purpoes. The Frog in the High-way here, is the Lively Figure of uch a Man; for a Life of Sloth is the Life of a Log, rather then the Life of a Reaonable Creature. 'Tis as much as a Body can well do, even with the Uttermot of his Prudence and Indutry, to Rub through the Difficulties of the World, though he hould keep himelf perpetually a Doing. There is not perchance a more Inupportable Miery in Nature, then it would be, to put the Body into a Frame, that hould keep it always in the fame Poture. What can be aid Wore of Slothfulnes now, when the very Vice is Equal to the mot Exquiite of Torments? It is odious to God and Man, Ueles to the World, Irkome to it Self, Mierable in All Etates, and utterly Incapable, either of Tating or Enjoying any thing of Comfort. The Frog was us'd to the Place, he aid, and rather then Stir to help her elf, there he lay till her Guts were pah’d out.

Here came a Thief into a Bee-Garden in the Abence of the Mater, and Robb’d the Hives. The Owner Dicover'd it upon his Return, and tood Pauing a while to Be-think himelf, how This hould come to pas. The Bees, in This Interim, came Laden home out of the Fields from Feeding, and Miing their Combs, they fell Powdering in Swarms upon their Mater. Well (ays he) you area Company of Senceles and Ungrateful Wretches, to let a Stranger go away Quietly that has Rifled ye, and to bend All your Spite againt your Mater, that is at this Intant Beating his Brains how he may Repair and Preerve ye.

THE Mitake of a Friend for an Enemy, or of an Enemy for a Friend, is one of the mot Pernicious Errors of a Rah Man's Life; for there's Judgment, good Nature, Generoity, Jutice, common Prudence, and All at Stake. Nothing can be more Diobliging toa Friend on the One hand, or more Ruinous to my elf on the Other. Charity however bids me Hope and Think the Bet, provided at the Same Time, that I Secure the main Chance. Now this Caution holds as well in Politiques, as in Morals;