Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/217

Rh hould in Truth, be kept out of Ditance, of either Seeing or Hearing Ill Examples: Epecially in an Age that is Govern'd more by Preident then by Reaon.

Hen the Toy had once taken Jupiter in the Head to Enter into a State of Matrimony, he Reolv’d for the Honour of his Celetial Lady, that the Whole World hould keep a Fetival upon the Day of his Marriage, and o Invited all Living Creatures, Tag-Rag and Bob-Tail, to the Solemnity of his Wedding. They all came in very Good Time, aving only the Tortoie. Jupiter told him ‘twas Ill done to make the Company Stay, and Ask'd him, Why o Late? Why rruly ays the Tortoie, I was at Home, at my Own Houe, my Dearly Beloved Houe, and [Home is Home, let it be never o Homely. Jupiter took it very Ill at his Hands, that he hould think himelf Better in a Ditch, then in a Palace, and o he pas'd this Judgment upon him; that ince he would not be perwaded to come out of his Houe upon that Occaion, he hould never Stir abroad again from that Day forward, without his Houe upon his Head.

WE are to Learn from hence (ays the Old Moral) that there's no Trifling, Dallying, or Delaying with Men in Power: And that Contentment in a Mean Condition at Home, is beyond all the Luxurious Treats in the World, Abroad, with Pomp and Envy. The Danger of Trifling with Great Men does not come up methinks, to the Full Force, and Intent of this Fable, which eems rather to et forth the Mitakes of Impotent Greatnes, in Mis-judging the Tet and Standard of Humane Happines. What's a Voluptuous Dinner, and the Frothy Vanity of Dicoure that commonly attends chef Pompous Entertainments? What is it but a Mortification, to a Man of Sene and Virtue, to pend his time among People that take Good for Evil, and Punih where they hould Reward, and Reward where they hould Punih! The Tortoie was Forbidden the Court; That is to fay, he was Banihed from the ight of Vain, Wicked, and Unprofitable Examples. Jupiter gave the Tortoie the Honour of an Invitation, but that Honour was yet to the Poor Tortoie's Los; for He that’s Tranported out of his Nature, and out of his Element, let the Change be what it will, is a Loer by the Bargain. A Plain, and a Homely Home, with Competency and Content,