Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/44

18 ''Philoophers, for Councell and Satisfaction, But this, under favour, is a Great Mitake; for it is with Philoophers, as it is, I ay, with other Arts and Profeions that have their Functions a part the One from the Other. Widom, 'tis true, may be called properly enough the Knowledge of Things Divine and Humane, but will you therefore expect that a Philoopher hould do the Office of a Shoomaker or a Barber, becaue the Trades are converant about Humane Things? No No Gentlemen, a Man may be a Great Philoopher without any Skill at All in the Handling of the Awl, or the Razor. But if the Quetion were Concerning the Government of Life and Manners, the Nature of Things Celetial or Terretrial; The Duties that we owe to God or Man; you could not do better then repair to Philoophers for atisfaction. But for reading upon Prodigies; or Commenting upon the Flights of Birds, or the Entrails of Beats, Thee are Things quite Beide the Philoophers Buines. If there be any thing you doubt of that falls under the Cognisance of Philoophy, I am ready to erve you in't; But your preent Point being Augury, I hall take leave to Acquaint you that a Servant I have at home, is as likely to make a Right Judgment that way as any Man I know. I hould not Preume to name a Servant; Neither Perchance would you think fit to make ue of one; If the Neceity of your preent Ditres, were not a very Competent and Reaonable Excue.''

Here's your Speech, ays Æhop and your Credit av'd whether They'l hear me or Not, If they end for me, The Honour will be yours, in Cae I Deliver my elf to their Liking, and the Digrace will be Mine then if I Micarry. His Mater was pleaed beyond Meaure with the Advice, but he did not as yet Undertand Whether it Tended.

Xanthus Preented himelfe Early the next Morning before the Councell, Where he Dilated Upon The Matter according to his Inflections, and o referr'd Them to his Servant for the Clearing of the Difficulty. The People with one Voyce cry'd out Where is he? Why does he not Appear? Why has not tns Mater Brought him along with him? In hort, Æhop was Immediately fetchd into the Court, and at the very Firt Sight of him, They All burt out a Laughing by Conent. This Fellow, ays one, may have Skill perhaps in Divining, but he has Nothing that's Humane about him. Another asked Where he was Born, and whether or no Blocks had the Faculty of Speech in his Country. Æhop, upon This, Addres'd himelfe to the Councell.

''You have here before ye, (ays Æhop) an Ungracious Figure of a Man, which in truth is not a Subject for your Contempt, Nor is it a Reaonable Ground for your Depaire, upon the Matter in Quetion. One''