Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/436

386 Daily Converation for we have Banterers in Religion, in Point of Honour, and upon all the Ditees of Human Life. He that has no Pity or Compaion for the Mierable, is not in Truth of a Reaonable Make; for Tendernes of Nature is but a kind of Lay-Charity; and a Body can be no more a Good Man without the One, then a Good Chritian without the Other. Let a Man be never o Wicked, 'tis a Bae and an Unmanly thing to Inult upon him in his Calamity, His Punihment may be Jut; and when he uffers Jutice, 'tis all that a Good and a Generous Man can wih for in the Cae.

The Scomms of Great Men, or Buffoons of Quality, are every jot as Wolvih in Converation, as they are here in the Fable; though 'tis look'd upon, I know, as a Mark of Breeding, and the Indication of a Man that has Notable Skill in the World, to turn the Earnet of all Things and Duties, Sacred and Civil, into a Jet, and to put the Common Principles of Faith, Truth, Jutice and Repect, out of Countenance. Now in all thee Caes, the Preident is as Dangerous, as the Practice is Odious, where the Quality of the Droll erves to Authorie the Indignity; But from a Fox, that's made up of Trick and Treachery, there’s no better to be Expected.

S Two Men were Walking by the Sea-Side, at a Low-water, they aw an Oyter, and they both Pointed at it together: The One Stoops to take it up; the other gives him a Puh, and tells him, ‘tis not yet Decided whether it hall be Yours or Mine. In the Interim, while they were Diputing their Title to’t, comes a Paenger that way, and to him they referr'd the Matter by Conent, which of the Two had the Better Right to the Oyter. The Arbitrator very Gravely takes out his Knife, and Opens it; the Plaintiff and Defendant at the ame time Gaping at the Man, to ee what would come on't. He Looens the Fih, Gulps it down, and o oon as ever the Morel was gone the way of all Fleh, wipes his Mouth, and Pronounces Judgment. My Maters, (ays he, with the Voice of Authority) The Court has Order'd each of ye a Shell, withcut Cots; and o pray go Home again, and Live Peaceably among your Neighbours.