The Moral.
REFLEXION.
No Innocence can be Safe, where Power and Malice are in Confederacy againſt it. There's No Fence againſt Subornation, and Falſe Evidence. What Greater Judgment can befall a Nation, than for Sheep to be made Treſpaſſers, and Wolves, Kites, and Vulturs to ſet up for Witneſſes! This is a Large Field, if a body would Amplifie upon it: But the Hiſtory of of the Age in Memory will be the Beſt Moral of This Fable. There's No Living however without Law: and there's No Help for't in many Caſes, if the Saving Equity be Over-rul'd by the Killing Letter of it. 'Tis the Verdict that does the Buſineſs; but 'tis the Evidence, True, or Falſe that Governs the Verdict. So that, (as it ſometimes falls out) the Honour of the Publick may come to be Concern'd in the Defence and Support of an Undetected Perjury. The only Danger is the giving too much Credit to the Oaths of Kites and Vulturs. That is to ſay, of Witneſſes ſo Profligate as to bring a Scandal even upon Truth it ſelf, where it is ſo Aſſerted.
Fab. XXX.
A Countryman and a Snake.
THere was a Snake that Bedded himſelf under the Threſhold of a Country-Houſe: A Child of the Family happen'd to ſet his Foot upon't; The Snake bit him, and he Di'd on't. The Father of the Child made a Blow at the Snake, but Miſs'd his Aim, and only left a Mark behind him upon the Stone where he Struck. The Countryman Offer'd the Snake, ſome time after This, to be Friends again. No, ſays the Snake, ſo long as you have This Flaw upon the Stone in Your Eye, and the Death of the Child in your Thought, there's No Truſting of ye.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
'Tis Ill Truſting a Reconcil'd Enemy, but 'tis Worſe yet, to Proceed at One Step, from Clemency and Tenderneſs, to Confidence and Truſt:Eſpe-
