Page:Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists.djvu/156

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102
Æſop's FABLES.

and over, and not one Penny of Mony to be found there; but the Profit of the Next Vintage Expounded the Riddle.

The Moral.

Good Councell is the Beſt Legacy a Father can leave to a Child, and it is ſtill the Better, when it is ſo wrapt up, as to Beget a Curioſity as well as an Inclination to follow it.

REFLEXION.

There's No Wealth like That which comes by the Bleſling of God upon Honeſt Labour and Warrantable Induſtry. Here’s an Incitement to an Induſtrious Courſe of Life, by a Conſideration of the Profit, the Innocence and the Virtue, of ſuch an Application. There is one Great Comfort in Hand, beſide the Hope and Aſſurance of more to come. The very Exerciſe procures us Health, and Conſequently All the Pleaſures and Satisfactions that Attend it. We have the Delight of Seeing and Reaping the Fruit of our own Labour, and the Inward Joy of Contemplating the Benedictions of Another World, that ſhall be ſuperadded to the Advantages of This. Æſop very well underſtood, that Naked Leſſons and Precepts, have Nothing the Force that Images and Parables have, upon our Minds and Affections: Beſide, that the very Study to Unriddle a Myſtery, furniſhes the Memory with more Tokens to Remember it by. A Tale in Emblem finks Deeper, where the Life and Spirit of it is Inſinuated by a kind of Biaſs and Surprize. It was a Touch of Art in the Father to Cover his Meaning in ſuch a manner, as to Create a Curioſity, and an Earneſt Deſire in his Sons to find it out. And it was alſo a Treble Advantage to them beſides; for there was, I ſay, Health in the Exerciſe, Profit in the Diſcovery, and the Comfort of a Good Conſcience in Diſcharging the Duty of a Filial Obedience.




Fab. CIX.

A Fiſherman and his Pipe.

A Fiſherman that underſtood Piping better than Netting, ſet himſelf down upon the Side of a River, and Touch'd his Flute, but not a Fiſh came near him. Upon This, he layd down his Pipe and Caſt his Net, which brought him up a very Great Draught. The Fiſh fell a Frisking in the Net, and the Fiſherman obſerving it. What Sotts, are Theſe (ſays he) that would not Dance when I Play'd to ‘em, and will be Dancing now without Mufique!

The Moral.

There are Certain Rules and Methods for the Doing of All Things in This World; and therefore let Every Man ſtick to the Bus'neſs he Underſtands, and was brought up to, without making One Proſeſſion Interfere with Another.

RE-