Fab. CXII.
Fiſhermen Diſappointed.
SOme Fiſhermen that had been Out a Whole Day with a Dragner, and Caught Nothing, had a Draught toward the Evening, that came home very Heavy, which put ’em in hope of a Sturgeon at leaſt, but upon bringing the Net aſhore, it prov'd to be Only One Great Stone, and a few Little Fiſhes. Upon This Diſappointment they were Down in the Mouth again; but ſays One of the Company that was a Little Graver then the Reſt, You are to Conſider, my Maſters, that Joy and Sorrow are Two Siſters that follow One Another by Turns.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
Hopes and Diſappointments are the Entertainment of Humane Life: The One ſerves to keep us from Preſumption, the Other from Deſpair. The Fiſherman's Caſe in the Fable is many a man's Caſe in the World; as with a Wife for the Purpoſe, with an Office, with an Eſtatc, with a Court-Commiſſion: He's fayn to Tug Hard for’t before he can Catch it, and Meaſures the Bleſſing all the while by the Difficulty of Obtaining it. And what's the Purchaſe at laſt when he comes to Caſt up his Account but Great Stones and Little Fiſhes? His only Comfort is, That This World will not Laſt always; and that Good Luck, and Bad Luck take their Turns.
Fab. CXIII.
Death and an Old Man.
AN Old Man that had Travell'd a Great Way under a Huge Burden of Sticks, found himſelf ſo Weary, that he Caſt it Down, and call'd upon Death to Deliver him from a more Miſerable Life. Death came preſently at his Call, and Asked him his Bus'neſs, Pray Good Sir, ſays he, Do me but the favour to Help me up with my Burden again.
The
