Truth of Opinion; a Truth of Fact, and a Truth in Simplicity and Sincerity of Thought, Word, and Deed. The Laſt of the Three is the Truth that is here in queſlion. The Knack of Faſt aud Looſe paſſes with a world of Fooliſh People for a Turn of Wit; but they are not aware all this while, of the Deſperate Conſequences of an Ill Habit, and that the Practice of Falſifying with Men, will lead us on Inſenfibly to a Double-Dealing even with God Himſelf.
Fab. LIX.
A Dog and a Butcher.
AS a Butcher was Buſy about his Meat, a Dog runs away with a Sheeps Heart. The Butcher ſaw him upon the Gallop with a piece of Fleſh in’'s Mouth, and call'd out after him, Heark ye Friend (ſays he) you may e'en make the Beſt of your Purchaſe, ſo long as Y’ave made Me the Wiſer for't.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
No man is to Account any thing a Loſs, if he gets Wiſdom by the bargain: Beſide, that Bought Wit is Beſt. It is in ſome Proportion, in the Buſineſs of this World, as it is in that of the Next: In the Caſes (I mean, of Loſſes, Miſcarriages and Diſappointments: We are in Both Reſpects the Better for them (Provided they be not Mortal, that is) for they are Monitory and Inſtructive. Affliction makes a man both Honeſt and Wiſe; for the ſmart brings him to a ſenſe of his Errour, and the Experiment to the Knowledge of it. We have I know not how many Adages to back the Reaſon of This Moral, Hang a Dog upon a Crab-Tree (we ſay) and He'll never love Verjuyce. And then we have it again in That Common ſaying, The Burnt Child Dreads the Fire. ’Tis Wandring Many times, whether it be in Opinion, or in Travelling, that ſets a man Right in his Judgment, and brings him into the way. The Dogs running away with the Fleſh, Does as good as bid the Cook look Better to’r Another time.
A Dog and a Sheep. See Fable and Moral 29.
Fab.
