and Fair Allowances of Wit, Good Nature, and Good Breeding. The Skill and Faculty of Governing This Freedom within the Terms ot Sobriety and Diſcretion, goes a Great Way in the Character of an Agreeable Converſations for That which we call Raillery, in This Senſe, is the very Sawce of Civil Entertainment: And without ſome ſuch Tincture of Urbanity, even in Matters the moſt Serious, the Good Humour Flattens, for want of Refreſhment and Relief: But there’s a Medium yet betwixt All-Fool, and All-Philoſopher. I mean, A Proper and a Diſcreet Mixture, that in ſome ſort Partakes of Both, and renders Wiſdom it ſelf the more Grateful, and Effectual for it, The Gravity, in ſhort, of the One, is Enliven'd with the Spirit and Quickneſs of the Other; and the Gayety of a Diverting Word ſerves as a Vehicle to Convey the Force of the Intent, and Meaning of it: But the Main Drift at laſt of This Fable, is to ſhew us the Dangerous Conſequences of an Improper, and an Unſeaſonable Fooling: With All Reſpect however to the Ornament and Advantage of a Facetious Freedom of Di'courſe, within the Compaſs of Sobriety and Honour, To Conclude; The Shepherds Boy went too far upon a Topique that he did not Underſtand.
Fab. LXXV.
An Eagle and a Daw.
AN Eagle made a Stoop at a Lamb; Truſs’d it, and took it Cleverly away with her, A Mimical Daw, that ſaw This Exploit, would needs try the ſame Experiment upon a Ram: But his Claws were ſo Shackled in the Fleece with Lugging to get him up, that the Shepherd came in, and Caught him before he could Cleare Himſelf; He Clipt his Wings, and carry'd him Home to his Children to Play withal. They came Gaping about him, and ask’d their Father what Strange Bird that Was? Why, ſays he, He'l tell you Himſelf that he's an Eagle; but if you'll take My Word for't; I know him to be a Daw.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
