Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/420

370 umm’d up in a few Words, to make the cae Mierable and Shameful. The Morality in fine, of this Fable, may be fairly enough apply'd to the Errors on Both Hands: That is to ay, of thoe that put a Lawful Authority upon the Stretch, to the Abue of that Power, under the Colour of Prerogative; and of thoe that take upon them to Exercie the Offices of Power, without any Right to’t at all. But the Sheep however are well Guarded in the mean time, that have a Wolf for their Keeper.

N Old Time, when a Generous Beat made more Concience of his Word then many a Modern Chritian has done of an Oath; a Lion hook Hands with an As, and o they agreed upon't to Jog on up and down in the Woods, Lovingly and Peaceably together. As they were upon this Adventure, they dicover'd a Herd of Wolves; the As immediately ets up a Hideous Bray; and fetches a Run at them Open Mouth, as if he would have Eaten ‘em. The Wolves only Snear'd at him for his Pains, but Scamper'd away however as hard as they could drive. By and by comes the As back again, Puffing and Blowing from the Chae. Well, ays the Lion, and what was that Horrid Scream for, I prithee?. Why (ays ’tother,) I frighten’d 'em all away, you ee. And did they run away from you, ays the Lion, or from me, d'ye think?

are Braying Men in the World, as well as Braying Aes; for what's Loud and Senelefs Talking, Huffing, Damming and Blapheming, any other then a more fahionable way of Braying; Only the one is that to the Ear, which the other is to the Mind, and a Man may better endure the Shocking of his Sene, then the Affronting of his Reaon. The Lion, ’tis true, might have kept better Company; but o long as it was only for his Diverion, it gives us to Undertand how far Great Men may be allow'd to make themelves Merry with Buffoons. The Wolves running away from the As, while the Lion was looking on, tells us in the Allegory, that Favourite Aes have the Privilege of Favorite Dogs; they may Snap and Snarl where they pleae, Gratis: But ‘tis for their Mater's