Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/222

160

THIS is to Caution us againt running the Rique of Diappointments that are greater then the Preent Inconveniences; and where the Miery, and Hazzard, docs more then Countervail the Benefit.

In the Fable of the Hore and the As, () The As finds himelf Mitaken in his Opinion, both of the Foundation of Happines, and of the Stability of it. His Mitake in This, looks another way; for he took his Brother to be Happy when he was not o: Even according to his own Standard: But we are too too apt to think other People more Happy, and our elves Les, then in Truth, They, or We are: Which Savours of a Malevolence on the One hand, and an Ingratitude on the Other. Nay it falls out many times, that the Envious Perons are rather to be Envy'd of the Two. What had the Wild As here to Complain of, or the Tame One to be Envy’d for: The Former was but in the Plight that Wild Aes uually are; and in truth ought to be. When they are in the Woods they are at Home, and a Forret-Life, to them, is but according to Nature. As to the State and Rudenes of his Body, ‘tis but Anwerable to the Condition of his Lot. The Tame As, 'tis true, was Better Fed, but then he was Harder Wrought, and in the Carrying of Packs, he did but erve Mankind in the Trade that Providence had Aign’d him; for he was made for Burdens. 'Tis a Fine Thing to be Fat and Smooth; but 'tis a Finer Thing to Live at Liberty and Eae.

To peak Properly, and to the Point, there is no uch Thing as Happine or Miery in this World (commonly o Reputed) but by Comparion; neither is there any Man o Mierable, as not to be Happy, or o Happy as not to be Mierable, in ome Repect or Other: Only we are apt to Envy our Neighbours the Poeion of Thoe Advantages that we Want, without ever giving Thanks for the Bleings that They Want, and We ourelves Enjoy. Now This Mixture in the Ditributions of Providence, duly Conider'd, erves to make us Eay, as well as Neceary One to Another; and o to Unite us in a Conitence both of Friendhip, and of Civil Convenience: For it is no le Requiite to Maintain a Truck in the Matter of Moral Offices, and Natural Faculties, then in the Common Bus'nes of Negotiation, and Commerce; and Humane Society can no more Subit without the One, then without the Other. One Man furnihes Brains, Another Mony, a Third, Power, Credit, Mediation, Intelligence, Advice, Labour, Indutry: (to ay Nothing of a Thouand other Intances Reducible to This Head) o that the Rule of Communication holds as well betwixt Man and Man; as betwixt Country and Country; What One has Not, Another Has, and there is not That Man Living, but in ome Cae, or Other, tands in Need of his Neighbour, Take away This Correpondence, and the very Frame of all Political Bodies drops to pieces. Every thing is Bet in fine, As God has Made it, and where God