Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/549

Rh. But, in times of oppression, when every one followed

the wandering hero ever ready to risk his life in defence of the injured, was governed by a noble and useful institution.

"Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit." This gives us the origin, probably, of the proverb, "All's well that ends well." "Finis coronat opus," is of a similar character.

The interpretation of the language of birds, is clearly an oriental fiction; several instances of which are furnished by the Arabian Tales. It has since been made the vehicle of many instructive fables. See Spectator, Vol. VII. No. 512. which is copied from the "Story of the two Owls," in the Turkish Tales.