Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/347

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Certain Pragmatical, Senceles Companion would make a Viit to a Philoopher. He found him Alone in his Stuty, and fell a VVond’ring how he could Endure to Lead o Solitary a Life, The Learned Man told him; Sir, ays he, You are Exceedingly Mitaken; for I was in very Good Company till You came In.

A Wie Book is much better than a Foolih Companion; And the Dead, in uch a cae, are much Better then the Living. It is one of the mot vexatious Mortifications perhaps, of a Sober, and a Studious Mans Life, to have his Thoughts Diorder'd, and the very Chain of his Reaon Dicompos'd, by the Importunity of a Tedious, and an Impertinent Viit. Epccially, if it be from a Fool of Quality, where the very Figure of the Man Entitles him to All Returns of Good Manners and Repect. And the Aff;iction is yet more Grievous, where That Prerogative of Quality, is further Back’d and Corroborated, with a Real Kindnes, and Good Will: For a Man mut be Inhumane, and Ungrateful, as well as Rude, if he does but o much as Offer, at the Eaing, or the Relieving of Himelf. The Drift of This Fable at lat, is to tell us, that Good Books and Good Thoughts are the Bet Company, and that they are Mitaken that think a Wie Man can ever be Alone. It prepares us alo to Expect Interruptions, and Diappointments, and to Provide for 'em; but withal, to take the Bet Care we can