Philoſophers, for Councell and Satisfaction, But this, under favour, is a Great Miſtake; for it is with Philoſophers, as it is, I ſay, with other Arts and Profeſſions that have their Functions a part the One from the Other. Wiſdom, 'tis true, may be called properly enough the Knowledge of Things Divine and Humane, but will you therefore expect that a Philoſopher ſhould do the Office of a Shoomaker or a Barber, becauſe the Trades are converſant about Humane Things? No No Gentlemen, a Man may be a Great Philoſopher without any Skill at All in the Handling of the Awl, or the Razor. But if the Queſtion were Concerning the Government of Life and Manners, the Nature of Things Celeſtial or Terreſtrial; The Duties that we owe to God or Man; you could not do better then repair to Philoſophers for ſatisfaction. But for reading upon Prodigies; or Commenting upon the Flights of Birds, or the Entrails of Beaſts, Theſe are Things quite Beſide the Philoſophers Buſineſs. If there be any thing you doubt of that falls under the Cognisance of Philoſophy, I am ready to ſerve you in't; But your preſent Point being Augury, I ſhall take leave to Acquaint you that a Servant I have at home, is as likely to make a Right Judgment that way as any Man I know. I ſhould not Preſume to name a Servant; Neither Perchance would you think fit to make uſe of one; If the Neceſſity of your preſent Diſtreſs, were not a very Competent and Reaſonable Excuſe.
Here's your Speech, ſays Æſhop and your Credit ſav'd whether They'l hear me or Not, If they ſend for me, The Honour will be yours, in Caſe I Deliver my ſelf to their Liking, and the Diſgrace will be Mine then if I Miſcarry. His Maſter was pleaſed beyond Meaſure with the Advice, but he did not as yet Underſtand Whether it Tended.
Xanthus Preſented himſelfe Early the next Morning before the Councell, Where he Dilated Upon The Matter according to his Inflections, and ſo referr'd Them to his Servant for the Clearing of the Difficulty. The People with one Voyce cry'd out Where is he? Why does he not Appear? Why has not tns Maſter Brought him along with him? In ſhort, Æſhop was Immediately fetchd into the Court, and at the very Firſt Sight of him, They All burſt out a Laughing by Conſent. This Fellow, ſays one, may have Skill perhaps in Divining, but he has Nothing that's Humane about him. Another asked Where he was Born, and whether or no Blocks had the Faculty of Speech in his Country. Æſhop, upon This, Addreſs'd himſelfe to the Councell.
You have here before ye, (ſays Æſhop) an Ungracious Figure of a Man, which in truth is not a Subject for your Contempt, Nor is it a Reaſonable Ground for your Deſpaire, upon the Matter in Queſtion. One
