Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/60

6 Feet too of the Wort of Men, we find at the bottom of the Account, that all the Enjoyments under the Sun, are not worth Struggling for. What can be Vainer now, than to Lavih out our Lives and Fortunes in the Search and Purchae of Trifles; and at the ame time to lye Carking for the Unprofitable Goods of this World, and in a retles Anxiety of Thought for what's to come. The Folly, in fine, of thee Vexatious and Frivolous Puruits, hews it elf in all the Tranports of our Wild and Ungovern'd Affections.

Here is further et forth in this Emblem, All the Fabulous Torments of Hell, even Above Ground. Men that are Tainted with this Appetite are ready to dye of Thirt, with Tantalus, and the Water running at their very Lips. They are Condemn'd, with the Siters, to the Filling of Tubs with Holes in 'em; which is but a Lively Figure of o much Labor pent in Vain, upon the Gratifying of Unreaonablc Deires. What's a Man's Contending with Inuperable Difficulties, but the Rolling of Siiphus's Stone up the Hill, which is ure before-hand, to Return upon him again? What's an Eternal Circulation of the ame Things, as well as the ame Steps, without Advancing one Inch of Ground toward his Journey's End, but Ixion in the Wheel? And all this while, with Cares, and Horrors at his Heart, like the Vultur that's Day and Night Quarrying upon Prometheus' s Liver.

But after all that's aid upon this Subject, of our Mitake, and Punihment, the Great Nicety will lye in Rightly Ditinguihing betwixt the Subtance, and the Shadow; and in what degree of Preference the one tands to the other. Now this mut be according to Epictetus's Ditribution of Matters, into what we have in our own Power; and what not; and in Placing things Honet and Neceary, before other Subordinate Satisfactions. Æop's Dog here was in the Poeion of a very Good Breakfat, and he knew very well what he had in his Mouth; but till, either out of Levity, Curioity, or Greedines, he mut be Chopping at omething ele, that he neither Wanted, nor Undertood, till he lot All for a Shadow; that is to ay, for jut nothing at All.

Lion, an As, and ome other of their Fellow-Forreters, went a Hunting one day; and every one to go hare and hare-like in what they took. They pluck'd down a Stag, and cut him up into o many Parts; but as they were entering upon the Dividend, Hands off ays the Lion: This Part is mine by the Privilege of my Quality: This, becaue I'll have it in pite of your Teeth: This again, becaue I took mot Pains for't; and if you Dipute the Fourth, we mut e'en Pluck a Crow about it. So the Confederates Mouths were all topt, and they went away as mute as Fihes.