velling; but above All other Places, he had the Greateſt Mind to ſee Babylon: To which End he got Letters of Recommendation from Crœſus to the King there: who, according to Herodotus, was a Friend, and an Ally of Crœſus's, and his Name, Labynetus; not Lycerus, as Planudes has Handed it down to us upon a Great Miſtake. But his Curioſity led him firſt to paſs through Greece, for the ſake of the Seven Wiſe Men, whoſe Reputation was at That Time Famous All over the World. He had the Good Hap in his Travels to find them at Corinth, together with Anacharſis, and ſeveral of their Followers and Diſciples, Where they were All Treated by Periander at a Villa of his not far off the Towne. This Encounter was to the Common Satisfaction of the Whole Company; the Entertainment Philoſophical, and Agreeable, and among other Diſcourſes, they had ſome Controversy upon the Subject of Government; and which was the moſt Excellent Form: Æſop being ſtill for Monarchy, and the Reſt for a Common-wealth. He Travell'd thence, a while after into Aſia, and ſo to Babylon, according to his firſt Intention.
Cap. XVI.
Æſop Adopts Ennus. Ennus's Ingratitude and Falſeneſs, and Æſop's Good Nature.
IT was the Faſhion in thoſe Days, for Princes to Exerciſe Tryalls of Skill in the Putting and Reſolving of Riddles, and Intricate Queſtions; and He that was the Bell: at the Clearing or Untying of Knotty Difficulties carry'd the Prize. Æſop's Faculty lay notably that way,and render'd him ſo ſerviceable to the King, that it brought him both Reputation and Reward. It was his Unhappineſs to have No Children, for the Comfort and Support of his Old Age; So that with the Kings Conſent, he Adopted a young Man, who was Well Born, and Ingenious enough, but Poor; His Name was Ennus. Æſop took as much care of his Inſtitution, as if he had been his own Child, and Train'd him up in thoſe Principles of Vertue and Knowledge that might moſt probably render him Great and Happy. But there's no working upon a Flagitious and Perverſe Nature, by Kindneſs and Diſcipline, and 'tis time loſt to think of Mattering ſo Incurable an Evil: So that Ennus, after the Manner of other Wicked Men, heaping One Villany up-
