Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/213

Rh dence it elf does not only Allow, but Precribe it; for the Common Comfort and Benefit of Humane Society, and of Mankind; for Life would be no longer Life without it. But the Crime and the Danger lies in the Exces, and in the Immoderate Love and Ue of them. Was not the Apple in Paradie Fair to the Eye, and Graceful to the Tat, and yet there was Death in't. What were the Poets Sirens, but Figures of our Seducers, that Charm us by the Ear, and Tempt us to leap Over-board: That is to ay by Debauching us into Fale Doctrines and Opinions, which do but Anwer, In the One ide,the Moral of the Songs on the Other. And o for the Touch, and the Smell, the Former ‘tis true, has made more Havock in the World, but yet a Man may be Poyon'd with a Perfume, as well as with a Naueous Potion. To Conclude, we have Snakes in our Beds, in our Cups, in our Dihes, and whoever dips too deep, will find Death in the Pot.

Daw took Particular Notice of the Pigeons in uch a Certain Dove-Houe, that they were very Well Fed, and Provided for: So he Went and Painted himelf of a Dove-Colour, and took his Commons with the Pigeons. So long as he kept his Own Counfel, he Pas'd for a Bird of the Same Feather; but it was his Hap once at Unawares, to Cry [KAW,] upon which Dicovery, they Beat him out of the Houe, and when he came to his Old Companions again, They’d have None of him neither; o that he Lot himfelf Both Ways by This Diguie.

This is to Caution us againt All Superluous and Dangerous Deires. Our Own Lot is Bet, and by Aiming at what we have Not, and what is Impoible to be had, we loe what we have already. No Man goes out of Himelf but to his Los. Imitation is Servile, let it be Where, How, and What it will. Nature Points out to us which way Every Man’s Talent and Genius lies; and He that keeps to his Own Province, or Bias, peeds Bet. The Painting of the Daw like a Pigeon, did not make him One, neither can any Man do himelf Right in Another bodies Shape: Beides, that when he is once Out, 'tis Hard to find his Way Home again. The Hypocrite is never o far from being a Good Chritian, as when he looks Liket One. ’Tis much a Cae with a Faction in a Government, and a Daw in a Pigeon-Houe. There's a Fraud driven on, and they Aimilate themelves, as much as may be, to the Interet they Propoe to be the Better for. They