Cap. XII.
Æſop Baffles the Superſtition of Augury.
IN the days of Æſop, The World was mightily addicted to Augury; that is to ſay, to the Gathering of Omens from the Cry and Flight of Birds. Upon this Account it was, that Xanthus one Day ſent Æſop into the Yard, and bad him look well about him. If you ſee Two Crows (ſays he) you’l have good Luck after it, but if you ſhould Chance to ſpye One Crow Single, ’tis a Bad Omen, and ſome Ill will betide you. Æſop ſtept out and came Immediately back again, and tols his Maſter that he had ſeen Two Crows. Hereupon Xanthus went out himſelf, and finding but One, (for the Other was flown away) he fell Outragiouſly upon Æſop for making Sport with him, And order’d him to be ſoundly Laſh’d for’t, but juſt as they were ſtripping him for the Execution, In comes One to Invite Xanthus abroad to Supper. Well Maſter, ſays Æſop, and where’s the Credit of your Augury Now? When, I that ſay Two Crows, am to be beaten like a Dog, and You that ſaw but One, are going to make merry with your Friends? The Reaſon and Quickneſs of this Reflexion, Pacified the Maſter for the Preſent, and ſaved the Poor Fellow a ſound Whipping.
Cap. XIII.
Æſop finds hidden Treaſure.
AS Xanthus was Walking once among certain Monuments, with Æſop at his Heels; and Plodding upon ſeveral Epitaphs, there was one Inſcription in Greek Letters, that Xanthus with all the Skill he had, could not tell what to make of. Well, ſays Æſop, let me ſee a Little If I can Uncypher it. And ſo after laying Things and Things together a While, Maſter, ſays he, What will you give me, If I find you out a Pott of Hidden Treaſure now? One Halfe of it, ſays Xanthus, and your Liberty. So Æſop fell to Digging, a Matter of four Yards from the Stone that had the Inſcription; and there found a Pott of Gold which he took up and Delivered to his Maſter; and Claimed his Promiſe. Well, ſays
