Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/95

Rh Vices, to be Pointed at his Peron, and finds himelf Wounded in the Morality of the mot Innocent Reproofs. He's a Slave to All Paions, All Accidents, and All orts of Men. A Jet, a Banter, a Lampoon; Nay a Glance, an Ininuation, or a Bare Cauality, with the Help of a Guilty Concience, and a Supicious Glos of Application, is enough to Murder him; for he Conceits himelf to be Struck at, when he is not o much as Thought of: as I dare appeale to the Conciences of a Thouand Top-Gallant Sparks, that will fancy their Own Cae to be the Key to This Moral. He makes himelf Odious to his Superiours. by his Haughtines; to his Equals, by a Retles Coure of Factious Competitions; and then he never fails of a Virulent Hatred and Envy, from thoe that are Below him; So that he's Beet with Enemies on All hands, the Meanet of which is not without Many and Many a Way to the Wreaking of a Malice, and to the Gratifying of a Revenge. As to the Wretchednes of his Condition, 'tis all a cae to Him, whether he be Teiz'd out of his Life by a Judgment of Flies and Lice, or Stung to Death by Fiery Serpents. And he is not only Tormented by Others, but the very Tormenter of Himelf too. Nay, rather than want a Colourable Ground of Trouble, he Creates it. His Pride is a Continual Drought upon him, and a Thirt never to be Quench'd. His Concience, his Fancy, his Fears, Jealouies, and Mitakes; Every thing helps on toward his Undoing. And now to the Infinite Variety of Plagues that Wait upon Pride, there is likewie as Great a Diverity of Imperious Humours for This Miery to Work upon. As for Example, There is a Pride of Stomach, a Pride of Popularity, a Pride of Brow, Equipage, and Parade. There's a Pride of Tongue without either Brains, or Heart to Support it. There is an Abject, (in fine) and there is a Surly Pride; But to Conclude, there is All This, and a Thouand times more of the ame Kind and Colour, that lies Naturally Couch'd under This Allegory. And not One Intance at lat, that is not verify'd by Many and Many an Example.

Now as to the Envy of the As it was a Double Folly; for he Mitakes both the Hores Condition, and his Own. 'Tis Madnes to Envy any Creature that may in a Moment become Mierable; Or for any Advantage that may in a Moment be taken from him. The As Envies the Hore to day; and in ome Few Days more, the Hore comes to Envy Him: Wherefore let no man Depair, o long as it is in the Power, either of Death, or of Chance, to Remove the Burden. Nothing but Moderation and Greatnes of Mind can make, either a Properous, or an Advere Fortune Eaie to us. The Only Way to be Happy is to ubmit to our Lot; for No man can be properly aid to be Mierable that is not wanting to Himelf. It is Certainly True, that many a Jolly Cobler has a Merrier Heart in his Stall, than a Prince in his Palace. Rh