Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/68

14 'Tis in it felt an Unmanly, Slavih Vice; but it is much Wore yet for the Alliance it has to Hypocriie: for while we make other people think Better of themelves than they Deerve, we make them think Better of Us too than We Deerve: For Self-love and Vanity on the One hand, Ails the Falenes and the Confidence on the Other, while it erves to confirm weak Minds in the Opinion they had of Themelves before; and makes them Parties, effectually, in a Conpiracy, to their Own Ruin. The Meaures, and the Artifices of it are Many, and in divers Caes o like Sincerity, that what betwixt Cutom and the Nature of the Thing, it looks, in truth, like a Virtue, and a Duty; that is to ay, where it is o manag'd, as to be rather Intructive than puffing up. As for Example, for a body to ay, [This or That was Wiely foreeen,] Or [You intend, I preume, to go This or That Way to Work:] and the like. Such an Ininuation as this is, carries the Force in it of a Tacite, and a prudent Advice; for it both erves to point out the Reaon of the thing, and it preerves the Decency of that Repect which ought to go along with it. 'Tis a good Hint, the very uggeting of uch or uch a Precaution, though the conideration perhaps never came near the t' others Thought. But there is a curtain Habitual Meannes of Soul, which has o far prevail'd in the World, that Common Civility is no les Tainted by Coure and Cutom, than Friendhip and Converation is by Corruption.

It is the Paraites Act to cat himelf into all Shapes that may ort with the Figure of his Patron, in what Poll, Function, or Adminitration oever; and to frame the Air and Countenance of his Words, Looks, and Actions accordingly, with a repeclt to his Power, Widom, Conduct, Bravery, Generoity, Jutice, or what other Subject he thinks fit to treat upon. So that let him be never o Peridious, Shallow, Rah, Timorous, Eavious, Malicious, Proud, Covetous, &c a Little Court Holy-Water Wahes off all Stains. And what is this upon the Main now, but an Exchange of Air for Subtance, and parting with All that either is, or ought to be Dear to us, for a Song. The Flatterer, firt Counels his Patron to his Los; and then betrays him into the making himelf Ridiculous; as what can be more o, than for a Raven to Value Himelf upon his Croaking, or an Ae on his Braying? The only Benefit or Good of Flattery is this; that by Hearing what we are Not; we may be Intructed what we Ought to be.

Lion that in the Days of his Youth and Strength, had been very Outrageous and Cruel, came in the end to be Reduced by Old Age, and Infirmity, to the lat Degree of Miery, and Contempt: Inomuch that All the Beats of the Forret; ome out of Inolence, others in Revenge, ome in fine, upon One Pretence, ome upon Another, fell upon him by Content. He was a Miserable Creature to all Intents and Purpoes; but Nothing went o near the Heart of him in his Ditres, as to find himelf Batter'd by the Heel of an Ae. The