Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/89

Rh Twenty times their Etate, and therefore mut needs Burt in the Concluion! But Pride and Ambition Puhes men forward, not only to Extravagances, but Impoibilities, though to the Certain Undoing of the Weaker and the Meaner: When they come to Vie Power and Expence with Thoe that are too High, and too many for them.

Men that would be Bigger than God has made them, mut e'en Expect to fall to Nothing. This Affectation trikes upon All the Weaknees that Pride, Envy, or Ambition can fancy to it elf, provided always that we do not take Emulation for Envy. In One Word, when men's Hearts and Thoughts are puff'd up into a Deire of Things Unnatural, the Tumour is Incurable. But they are Weak Minds commonly, that are Tainted with This Evil. They take Fale Meaures, both of Themelves, and of Others, without conidering the Limits, Bulk, Fortune, Ability, Strength, &c. or in truth, the very Nature of the Things, Matters, or Peron in Quetion. They let up Competitors for Learning, Power, Etate, Policy; They Cenure their Betters, Depie their Equals, and Admire Themelves: But their Greatnes all this while, is only in Imagination, and they make All fly with the Frog at lat, by Straining to be Bigger than they Are, and Bigger than 'tis poible for them to Be.



N Ae had got a Thorn in's Foot, and for want of a Better Surgeon, who but a Wolf at lat, to draw it out with his Teeth! The Ae was no ooner Eas'd, but he gave his Operator uch a Lick under the Ear with his Sound Foot for his Pains, that he Stunn'd him, and o went his way.

Here was an Old Hungry Lion would fain have been Dealing with a piece of Good Hore-Fleh that he had in his Eye; but the Nag he thought would be too Fleet for him, unles he could Supply the want of Heels, by Artifice and Addres. He puts himelf into the Garb, and Habit of a Profeor of Phyick, and according to the Humour of the World, ets up for a Doctor of the College. Under this Pretext, he lets fall a Word or two by way of Dicoure, upon the Subject of his Trade; but the Hore Smelt him out, and preently a Crotchet came in his Head how he might Countermine him. I got a Thorn in my Foot T'other Rh