REFLEXION.
THERE is no State of Life without a Mixture in't of Good and Evil; and the Higheſt Pitch of Fortune is not without Dangers, Cares, and Fears. This Doctrine is Verify’d by Examples Innumerable, thorough the Whole Hiſtory of the World, and that the Mean is Beſt, both for Body, Mind, and Eſtate. Pride is not only Uneaſie, but Unſafe too, for it has the Power and Juſtice of Heaven, and the Malicious Envy of Men to Encounter at the ſame Time; and the Axe that Cuts down the Fir, is Rightly Moralliz'd in the Stroke of Divine Vengeance, that brings down the Arrogant, while the Bramble Contents it ſelf in its Station: That is to ſay; Humility is a Vertue, that never goes without a Bleſſing.
Fab. CCXXXVIII.
A Covetous Man and an Envious.
THere was a Covetous, and an Envious Man, that Joyn'd in a Petition to Jupiter, who very Graciouſly Order'd Apollo to tell them that their Deſire ſhould be Granted at a Venture; provided only, that whatever the One Ask’d, ſhould be Doubled to the Other. The Covetous Man, that thought he could never have enough, was a good While at a Stand: Conſidering, that let him Ask Never ſo much, the Other ſhould have Twice as much: But he came however by Degrees, to Pitch upon One Thing after Another, and his Companion had it Double. It was now the Envious Man's turn to Offer up His Requeſt, which was, that One of his Own Eyes might be put out, for his Companion was then to loſe Both.
The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
THERE are ſome Peſtilent Humours and Froward Natures, that Heaven it ſelf has much ado to pleaſe. Envy Places it’s Happineſs in the Miſery and Misfortune of Others; and Avarice is never to Pieas'd, unleſs it can get All to it ſelf They may ſeem to be nearer a-Kin then in truth they Are, though the One is ſeldom or never to be found without the Other. The Beſt Uſe of This Application, is to Poſſeſs us with a True Senſe of the Reſtleſneſs of theſe Two Paſſions; and Conſequently to make Thoſe Weakneſſes Odious to our ſelves, that are ſo Troubleſome to the World; and in truth, no Better then the Common Peſt of Mankind.
FAB.
