Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/298

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Abstemius’s ¥F ABLES.

a Poor Devil noFlefh on’s back, they'll Quarrel for his very Skin too, as the Filting-Fade here did for her Cully’s Coat, when fhe had left him No- thing elfe.

Fas. CCLXX. AFly upon a Wheel.

Hat a Dujt do I Raife! fays the Fly,upon the Coach-Wheel 2 and what a Rate do I Drive at, fays the fame Fly again,

upon the Horfes Buttock 2

Th MORAL.

This Fly in the Fable, is Every Trifling Arrogant Fop in Nature, by what Nume or Title foever Dignify'd, or Diftinguifh'd,

REFLEXION.

THIS may be Apply’d to well-nigh All forts of Vain Perfons and Hu- mours: As Thofe that Affume to Themfelves the Merit of Other Mens Services. Thofethat Talk, and Think, and ButSle, as if Nothing were done without them. All Meddlers, Boafters, and Impertinents, that Steal away the Reputation of Better Men for their Own Ufe. The World is Full, in fine, of Thefe Pragmatical Flies that Value themfelves for being In at Every thing, and are found Effectually, at laft to be juft good for Nothing.

dt ete Fortune, and it is the Humour of Weak and Trifling Men to Valic themfelves upon Idle and Trivial Matters; and many times, in Truth, upon Juft Nothing at all: That is to fay, upon a Falfe Perfwafion that they Do Things, which they do Not do, and Govern Affairs wherein they have No Manner ofIntereft. They Place a Reputation alfo upon Things thata Sober Man would be out of Countenance to Own,and Contend for the Credit of being the Authors of Foolerics. What a Duft do I Raife, fays the filly Fly? And have we not Millions of Vain, Empty Pretenders in the World, that Talk at the fame Rate, and with as Little Colour, cither of Truth, or of Reafon? “Twas [1] carry’ fuch a Cauie; fuch a Debate, fucha Queftion. “Twas [1] that Advis'd, Brought abour, or Prevented ‘This and That ; when yet upon the Uplhot, This fame [I] was no more then the Fool,that fancy’ he play’d upon the Organ,when he only Drew the Bellow, Whence comes it now that Men Arrogate to Themlelyes thus, where they have Nothing todo, and Claim a Title, 2s Matter of Credit, to the Weakeft Thingsin the World ; but for want of Underflanding the True Mealitres of Honour and Vertue : The Moral of This Vanity runs through All Degrees of Men, and All Functions. There’s Nothing fo Great ; There's Nothing fo Little, as notto Atford Subject for This Butie and Over-Ween- ing Conceit to Work upon ? No not from the Modelhng of gic me

wealths ;