Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/136

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

82
Æſop's FABLES.


The Moral.

'Tis No Wonder to find Thoſe People Troubleſome to Strangers, that Cannot Agree among Themſelves. They Quarrel for the Love of Quarrelling; and provided the Peace be broken, No matter upon What Ground, or with Whom.

REFLEXION.

There's No Peace to be Expected among thoſe that are Naturally Fierce and Quarrelſome. But we are to Diſtinguith however, betwixt Injuries of Malice, and of Evil Nature, as we do betwixt Violences in Hot Bloud, and Thoſe of Deliberate Spite and Intention; which we find in the Common Caſes of Manſlaughter, and Murder. The Doctrine may be briefly This, that ſo far as Poſſible, we are to Avoid Ill Company: but where we are forcd upon’t, there’s No Remedy but Patience. The Cocks here Did but according to their Kind; And it is the Same Thing with Wicked Men too, (as Birds of the ſame Feather) to be Troubleſome to Other People as well as to One Another.



Fab. LXXXV.

A Bragging Traveller.

A Vain Fellow that had been abroad in the World, would ſtill be Tiring All Peoples Ears at his Return, with Stories of his Wonderful Actions and Adventures in his Travels; and particularly, he told of a Leap he took at Rhodes, that No Body there could come within Six Foot on't. Now This (ſays he) I am able to Prove by ſeveral Witneſſes upon the Place. If This be True (ſays one of the Company) there's No Need of going to Rhodes for Witneſſes: Do but You fancy this to be Rhodes, and then ſhew us the Leape.

The Moral.

Travellers have a kind of Privilege to Romance it; and to Tell Stories at large. And for Thoſe that Doubt the Truth of the Matter, they had e'en better paſs it over than go to Difſprove it.

REFLEXION.

'Tis Fooliſh to Appeale to Witneſſes for the Proofe of any thing, when °tis not a Pin Matter, whether the Fact in Queſtion be True or Falſe; and ſo it is alſo to talk of Proofes that are not within Call: Bur Vain Boaſters are Naturally Impertinent, for they Talk at Random, without any Regard to Truth and Judgment. There may be a Double Uſe madeof